How to Use Zoom on a desktop or laptop PC
What is Zoom?
Zoom is a cloud-based video conferencing service you can use to
virtually meet with others - either by video or audio-only or both, all while
conducting live chats. The Zoom app is available on all major desktop
and mobile operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Android and
iOS.
You have 2 choices of accessing a Zoom meeting via a laptop/desktop.
Option 1 (recommended) solution: Install the Zoom software client.
To do this enter https://zoom.us/download in your internet browser i.e
Google Chrome / Internet Explorer / Microsoft Edge
Click on “Download” as above.
At the bottom left of the screen you will see “Zoominstaller.exe”
appear as shown above. Double click on this to start the Zoom
client install. You may get a prompt to check that you want to install
/ make changes – hit OK / Yes at this prompt.
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After a few moments Zoom will complete installing and you will see
a “Start Zoom” icon on your desktop.
Double click on this to launch Zoom.
Click on “Join a Meeting” and enter the meeting ID (and password)
supplied by the meeting organiser..
Simply use the desktop “Start Zoom” shortcut to access all future
Zoom meetings…you do not have to repeat the install process
again.
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Option 2 : Access Zoom via web browser : in your internet browser
go to https://zoom.us/
Joining a meeting
Whoever is hosting the meeting will have sent you the meeting ID
and password.
• Open and click ‘join a meeting’ – you don’t have to sign up to
enter.
• You can also sign in or sign up at this stage on mobile
• Type in the meeting ID which the person who has set it up will
have.
•
• Add your screen name
• Type in the meeting password (if there is one)
• Click “Yes” to audio if you want to go in speaker on
• Click “Yes” to the video if you want to go in with video on
• Use earphones if you can to help with sound quality
• If you are having issues with connectivity try getting closer your
router, switch off all other WiFi connections, use the LAN cable
to directly plug into the laptop if the model allows it
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Here’s the Zoom toolbar you should see at the bottom of your
screen. The main functions you may need to use are Mute /
Unmute , Stop Video / Start Video, Share Screen, and Exit/End
Meeting
Zoom Tips
• It’s nice to switch your audio off unless you are speaking
• This stops others having to listen to you take a drink, sniff and
other natural bodily noises!
• To do this hit the mute button/picture of the microphone at the
bottom of your screen
• You can also hover over your image on desktop and select mute
• If you need to leave the meeting temporarily you can block your
screen off by hitting the stop video button next to audio
• If you click ‘chat’ a column appears where you can type to
people in private or to everyone in the group
• On mobile, this is accessed by hitting the three dots [Apple]
• To change your background click on the arrow next to ‘stop
video’ and select ‘choose virtual’ background
• Upload your image of choice.
• You can also share your screen so it shows what you are looking
at, just hit ‘share screen’
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