How to Update Zoom: A Comprehensive, Step-by-Step Guide

Staying up-to-date with the latest version of Zoom is essential for getting all the newest features and security enhancements. With Zoom updating every 2-3 weeks on average, how do you make sure your desktop client install doesn‘t fall behind?

In this detailed guide, I‘ll walk you through multiple methods for keeping Zoom current on desktop, including both automatic and manual updating. I‘ve included annotated screenshots and step-by-step instructions to make the process crystal clear.

By the end, you‘ll understand how to:

Check which Zoom version you currently have installed
Configure Zoom to update itself automatically in the background
Manually download and install the newest Zoom version on desktop
Address any potential issues with the update process

So let‘s dive in and make sure your Zoom is never out of date again!

Why Zoom Updates Frequently

Before covering how to actually update Zoom, it‘s helpful to understand why Zoom releases new versions so often.

According to Zoom‘s published update schedule, they ship updates every 2-3 weeks. Major releases with significant new features come quarterly, while minor releases focus on bug fixes, performance and security.

Here are some of the main reasons Zoom pushes regular app updates:

New features – Zoom frequently adds new capabilities like virtual backgrounds, touch up appearance, polling and more. Staying current gives you access to the latest collaboration tools.
Bug fixes – With millions of users, bugs inevitably crop up. Updates resolve crashes, glitches and other issues reported by users.
Security patches – Cybersecurity experts discover vulnerabilities regularly. Updates patch these to keep Zoom meetings secure.
Usage trends – Zoom adapts the app based on how people use it. For example, increasing focus on webinars led to webinar-centric updates.
Platform integration – Updates add integration with other tools like Slack, Dropbox, Oracle, etc. This expands Zoom‘s capabilities.

Clearly, updating frequently is crucial for Zoom to quickly improve the app and protect users. But this does require you to keep your Zoom desktop client current. So let‘s cover how.

Checking Your Currently Installed Version

The first step is to check which version of Zoom you have installed currently. Here‘s how:

Launch the Zoom app on your Windows or MacOS machine.
Click on your profile picture in the top right.
Select Check for Updates from the dropdown menu.

In the popup that appears, you‘ll see the version number under "Zoom client version currently installed on this machine".

For example, the latest release as of this article is 5.12.4 (11557).

Now that you know your current version, you can determine if you need to update.

Enabling Zoom to Auto-Update

Instead of having to manually check for new Zoom releases, you can enable automatic updates. This way, Zoom will download and install new versions silently as soon as they become available.

Here are the steps:

Click your profile picture > Settings to open settings.
Select the General tab.
Under the Updates heading, check the Automatically keep Zoom up to date option.
Choose between Install automatically or Update available for the update frequency.

The Install automatically option will download and apply updates immediately when Zoom releases them.

Whereas Update available will just download updates but wait for you to manually install them when convenient.

With this enabled, you won‘t have to think about checking for Zoom updates anymore!

However, some organizations prefer manual control over updates. In those cases, you may wish to disable auto-updates and follow the next steps for updating manually.

Manually Updating Zoom on Desktop

If you choose to update Zoom manually, here is the process to download and install the latest version:

Open the Zoom desktop app.
Click on your profile picture > Check for Updates.

In the update window popup, click the blue Update button to download the new version.

A progress bar will track the status of the Zoom update downloading.
Once the download completes, Zoom may ask you to restart the app to apply the update. If not prompted, close and re-open Zoom manually.
Repeat steps 2-3 to verify you‘re now on the latest version.

And that‘s all it takes to manually update your Zoom desktop client! I‘d recommend doing this every 2-3 weeks to stay current with new releases.

Updating Zoom on Mobile

So far we‘ve focused on desktop, but you can also update Zoom on your iOS or Android devices.

The process is similar and automated:

iOS – Zoom updates come through the App Store. Enable automatic App Store updates or check manually.
Android – Updates come via Google Play Store. Again, enable auto-updates or install manually.

One difference is mobile Zoom updates typically lag 1-2 releases behind desktop. But keeping mobile apps current is still important for security and features.

Troubleshooting Update Issues

Of course, sometimes the update process doesn‘t go smoothly. Here are some common issues and fixes:

Update seems stuck – Try restarting your computer. Check internet connectivity. Temporarily disable antivirus software if interfering.
Zoom won‘t launch after update – Reinstalling Zoom often resolves corruption issues. Or install pending Windows/macOS updates that could impact Zoom.
Error message shown – Zoom‘s troubleshooting guide covers many common error messages and solutions. Consult this if issues persist.
No updates showing up – On corporate networks, security policies may block updates. Contact your IT administrator in this case.

Don‘t hesitate to reach out to Zoom customer support if you encounter an update issue that persists.

Best Practices for Updating

Here are some tips from IT and security experts on safely and effectively updating Zoom:

Test first – IT staff often test new versions on pilot groups before broad rollout, to catch regressions.
Update during downtime – Schedule updates during low usage periods, especially for core meeting room systems.
Stagger updates – Deploy to subsets of devices first to isolate impact if issues emerge.
Review release notes – Verify new version doesn‘t introduce regressions for your use cases.
Communicate changes – Notify users of updates that alter functionality to avoid confusion.
Configure groups – Utilize Update Settings to target and schedule updates across multiple devices.

Following these best practices helps ensure a smooth update experience for your organization.

Conclusion

I hope this comprehensive guide has demystified keeping your Zoom desktop and mobile apps up-to-date.

Updating regularly may seem tedious, but it‘s crucial for getting the latest Zoom capabilities and protecting your security.

Now you have a complete reference for checking your installed version, automating updates, manually updating, troubleshooting issues, and following expert best practices.

With these steps, you can rest assured knowing your Zoom install will never fall behind. So go forth and keep Zooming on the newest and greatest release!