Zoom: Downloading and Installing

Objectives and Overview

Once you’ve created a Zoom account, the next step is to download the application. If Zoom is already installed on your computer you can skip this lesson.

Lesson Objectives

• Download and install Zoom on your computer

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Downloading and Installing Zoom

While you’re able to use Zoom in your browser, it’s beneficial to download it if you’re using it a lot. Let’s walk through how to download and install the Zoom application.

Open your browser and head to zoom.us. You’ll see the Zoom homepage. Click the Resources menu in the top right and you’ll see the Download Zoom Client menu item. Click the Download Zoom Client link.

There are several options. Make sure that you click the Download button in the Zoom Client for Meetings section. It should be the first option:

The download will start. Once it finishes, open the downloaded file and install to your computer.

Zoom Interface

Now that Zoom is downloaded and installed, let’s look at the interface. Open the Zoom application.

You’ll be prompted to either Join a Meeting or Sign In. Click the Sign In button:

Next, you’ll need to log in. Enter your account information into the username and password fields and click the Sign In button:

Once you’re logged in, you’ll see the Zoom app dashboard with the following key areas:

1. The meetings buttons
2. Navigation buttons (Home is the main screen)
3. Your Zoom account settings

Joining a Meeting

You’ll likely use this option more than creating your own meetings. This is what you choose if you’re joining a meeting that someone else is hosting. For example, if you’re joining a staff meeting you’d want to choose this option. To do this, click the Join Meeting button:

After clicking that, you’ll need to enter the meeting information. This is usually provided to you by the meeting host:

You’ll need the meeting ID to be able to join. If you don’t have this, you’ll need to ask the host. Sometimes you’ll be prompted to enter a password to join. This is also something you’ll need to get from the host.

Creating a New Meeting

Sometimes you may need to host a meeting. To do this, click the New Meeting button:

Zoom Meeting Interface

You’ll now see the Zoom meeting interface. This shows the meeting information (password, URL) and the meeting controls:

There are key items on this view. Let’s take a look:

1. Mute button – clicking this turns your mic on and off (when muted, it has a red line through it)
2. Start Video button – clicking this turns your video on and off (when off, you won’t see your video and it has a red line through it)
3. Participants button – clicking this shows participants attending your meeting

Zoom has a chat tool. You open this by clicking the Chat button:

The chat area appears on the right side of the Zoom interface. You can send messages to the whole group (Everyone) or private messages to participants:

Leaving a Meeting

When you’re ready to end a meeting you’re hosting (or leave one you’ve joined), click the End Meeting button in the bottom right corner:

You’ll be prompted to confirm your choice. If you’re ready to close a meeting you’re hosting, click the End Meeting for All button.

Now that you know how to join and host meetings, the next lesson covers some tips, best practices, and security settings. Be sure to review the content in this lesson before moving on.