Zoom has proved fantastically useful to millions of people all around the world in recent years, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact it’s had on our ability to socialize face-to-face.
If you’d like to learn how to download zoom on a laptop, simply follow our step-by-step tutorial below.
For all other information, or if you have further questions, please direct your attention to our FAQ section at the end of this article.
Table of Contents
How to download Zoom on a laptop
- On your laptop, open up your preferred web browser
- Next, click here: https://zoom.us/support/download
- The Zoom installer should automatically download to your ‘Downloads’ folder, but if does not do so immediately, click ‘Restart the download’ on the Zoom downloader page
- Once the Zoom installer package has finished downloading to your laptop (it should only take a moment), left-click on it in your browser, or double-click it in your ‘Downloads’ folder
- Finally, follow the instructions in the installer pop-up window to complete the installation, and set yourself up with a new Zoom account (or sign in using an existing one)
And there you have it! Five (5) simple steps to help you download Zoom on a laptop. If you’ve got any further questions, or want some more info on Zoom (including how to start and join calls/Meetings), see our FAQs below. Happy Zooming!
FAQs
Why would I need to download Zoom onto my laptop?
Zoom is a US-based video conferencing application and web service which has seen an incredible boom in user numbers over the past two years. This is largely, if not entirely, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which swept the world and forced millions to withdraw to their homes.
As a result, video calls became the de facto means of socializing, conducting work calls, holding work meetings, and even celebrating parties and occasions with friends and families. Chances are, you’ve probably used Zoom yourself, but it’s not guaranteed that you’ve done so on your own computer.
If you’re now being asked to download Zoom onto your laptop by your boss or friend, you may be asking why you would need to. The answer is that Zoom works fastest from a computer or laptop when used via the downloadable Zoom app. Therefore your calls will be higher quality, and easier to access, if you download Zoom onto your laptop.
Can you use Zoom on a web browser instead of through the laptop app?
Yes, you can still use Zoom via your preferred web browser instead of via the laptop app if you so choose. To do so, you need simply log into your Zoom account via the Zoom homepage, and conduct your meetings from there. However, the likelihood is that Zoom will urge you to download the app and use that to conduct your calls.
The app is designed to maximize the efficiency and call quality of your Zoom meetings, whereas the online web browser version may be limited by any number of factors, and may indeed be less secure than the downloaded app version. We recommend following our tutorial up above to learn how to download Zoom on your laptop.
Can you download Zoom onto a smartphone?
Yes, Zoom can also be used and downloaded as an easy-to-use app on any Android or iOS smartphone. Simply navigate to your App Store or Play Store, search for ‘Zoom’ in the search bar, choose the correct ‘Zoom’ from the generated list of apps, and tap ‘Install’.
Zoom is free to install on both your laptop and your smartphone, and each version of the app is customized and optimized for the devices they are intended for. As such, it is super easy to use both the smartphone and laptop versions of the downloadable Zoom app, and both have the exact same functionality.
How do I start a Zoom call on a laptop?
Once you’ve downloaded the Zoom app onto your laptop, simply open it up by locating it from the Start menu, or the Desktop shortcut icon, and then sign into your Zoom account using your Zoom User ID and password once the app opens.
Following this, to start a Zoom call, simply left-click ‘New Meeting’. Your laptop’s webcam will automatically open in a new Zoom Meeting and you should see yourself. You will be asked to join the Meeting using your computer’s audio. Click ‘Join with computer audio’.
To invite other participants to the meeting, left-click ‘Participants’ and then either send them your meeting ID to use themselves, or enter their email address(es) or phone number(s), and send the invite(s).
How do I join a Zoom call on a laptop?
Once you’ve downloaded the Zoom app onto your laptop, simply open it up by locating it from the Start menu, or the Desktop shortcut icon, and click ‘Join a Meeting’. Next, input the Meeting ID you have been given by your friend or colleague, select how you want your name to appear, and then finally click ‘Join’.
