How to Use Zoom on Windows 11

Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet have all been around for a while. However, it was during the pandemic that these applications saw massive growth in their user base. As the world became more focused on working from home or remotely, apps like Zoom became more important for everyone. 

Zoom, regardless of its purpose, is an excellent application for hosting video meetings. You can use Zoom to run your business, host corporate meetings, teach your students remotely, or even attend classes from afar if you are a student. This guide will introduce you to Zoom, discuss its various aspects, and walk you through the fundamentals of Zoom.

Here's a comprehensive guide on how to use Zoom on your Windows 11 computer. In this ultimate guide to Zoom, you will learn how to download and install Zoom on Windows 11, how to log in to Zoom, find out what are some key features of the app, and get some tips to maximize your performance on this video communications app.

What is Zoom, and Why Should You Use It?

Zoom is a cloud-based video communication program that is available for computers as well as mobile devices. On December 10, 2012, the program was first released. Although, as previously stated, the app gained the majority of its fame and userbase during the pandemic.

When it comes to why you should use Zoom, here are a few reasons:

The application is primarily free to use, but there are a number of premium subscription options with additional benefits tailored to specific uses. This means you are more likely to find a plan that meets your requirements.

The app is compatible with all devices and platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Android.

Before participants can join the meeting, Zoom allows you to place them in a virtual waiting room.

With zoom, up to 49 people can be shown on the screen.

Zoom allows you to record your video conference and save it to the cloud for future use.

Zoom allows hosted video conferences to be shared or streamed on social media platforms such as Facebook.

Zoom includes collaboration and engagement tools that enhance the experience and aid in conference management.

Zoom Plans and Pricing

You can use Zoom for free if you want. However, Zoom also provides various paid subscription options for users who want to do more with the program. Zoom offers different plans for general use, educators, healthcare, and developers. You can browse all of their available plans by visiting the pricing section of their website.

Here, we will quickly go over the plans for general use, their prices, and offerings. The first is the 'BASIC' plan, which allows you to host unlimited group meetings. However, the maximum time limit for those meetings will be 40 minutes, and a maximum of 100 people will be able to attend. You will also be able to participate in private and group chat rooms.

The 'PRO' plan, which costs Rs. 1300 or USD 14.99 per license and includes all of the features of the 'BASIC' plan as well as 1 Gigabyte of cloud storage to store video meeting recordings.

Following that are the 'BUSINESS' and 'ENTERPRISE' plans, both of which cost Rs 1800 or USD 18.99 per license per month. These plans include more features tailored to large-scale businesses, such as increasing the meeting participant limit to 300 or 500 in the case of the 'ENTERPRISE' plan.

What are the Requirements for Running Zoom?

Zoom's creators designed the program to run on almost any device. Although there are some recommended specifications that the developers have stated are required for the application to run smoothly on your Windows 11 computer. Here are the suggested requirements:

• Processor: Dual-Core Intel/AMD processor or higher
• RAM: 4 Gigabytes or greater
• Built-in, USB, or wireless headset/speaker for audio output
• Built-in, USB, or wireless microphone for audio input
• Built-in, USB, or wireless video capture device

Aside from the hardware requirements, you will, of course, require an active internet connection. However, the speed or bandwidth required may vary depending on what you do. With a 1Mbps connection, you can easily make a simple audio call. However, if you want to make an HD or 720p video call with screen sharing, you will need a 2.5 to 3 Mbps connection. In the case of a Full HD or 1080p call with screen sharing, the requirement can rise to 4-5Mbps.

How to download and install Zoom on Windows 11

You must have the Zoom client installed on your computer before you can join or create your own video conference. Zoom can now be installed on your computer in two ways in Windows 11. You can either use your web browser to download Zoom from its official website, or you can install Zoom from the Microsoft Store. We'll show you both ways so you can do it however you want.

How to download and install Zoom from Microsoft Store

1. Open the Start Menu then type Microsoft Store.

2. Click on Microsoft Store to open it. 

3. When the Microsoft Store window opens, type 'Zoom' into the search bar at the top of the screen

4. Select the 'Zoom Cloud Meetings' app from the search results.

5. Click the 'Install' button to begin downloading and installing the app on your computer.

6. Wait for the download to complete, which should take no more than 2-3 minutes, after which it will be installed on your computer.

7. You can now search for 'Zoom' in the Start Menu and it will appear in the results. Zoom has been successfully installed on your computer. Simply click on the application once from the search results to launch it.

How to download and install Zoom from Zoom website

1. Open a new tab in your web browser and navigate to zoom.us/download.

2. Once on the 'Download Center' page, click the blue 'Download' button to under Zoom Desktop Client.

3. Double-click the installer to begin the installation process.

4. Wait for a few seconds until another window appears, with the message 'The installation was successful.'

5. To enable auto-updates for Zoom, check the 'Automatically keep up to date' box and then choose 'Slow' or 'Fast' from the dropdown menu next to it. Then click the 'Done' button to close the window.

6. After that, you can either sign in to your Zoom account or directly join a meeting using a room code or a link.

Zoom login

1. Click on the Start Menu.

2. Type Zoom to search for it.

3. Click on Zoom to launch the application.

4. Enter your Zoom email and password or click to sign in with SSO, Google, or Facebook.

5. Click Sign In.

Zoom Sign Out

1. Open the Zoom client.

2. Click your profile picture in the top-right corner.

3. Click Sign Out.

The Basic Operations of Zoom

The home screen will appear after you sign into the Zoom client on your Windows computer. You can do a variety of things from here. With the meeting ID or a join link, you can either host a meeting or join an existing one. You can even use this menu to schedule a future meeting. In this section of the guide, we'll show you how to do some of these tasks on your own.

Add People to your Zoom Contacts List

Zoom has a Contacts list feature that allows you to add other Zoom users and invite them to your meetings or join their meetings more easily. To add another user to your contact list, go to the 'Contacts' tab and click the icon.

Then, click the small '+' icon and then choose 'Invite a Zoom Contact.'

Following that, a small window titled 'Invite to Zoom' will appear. You must know another user's email address in order to add them to your Zoom contacts list. To send an invite, enter their email address in the 'Email' textbox and then click the 'Invite' button.

The window will now indicate that an invitation has been sent to the user.

After that, you can see that the invite is still pending if you expand the 'External' list under the contacts section.

You will be notified once the person you added accepts the contact request. They have now been added to your contact list, and you can initiate contact with them or invite them to a meeting.

How to Host a Meeting on Zoom

When you're on the Zoom homepage, click the 'New Meeting' button to begin a meeting. To begin the meeting without using your camera, click the small drop-down arrow below the orange icon and next to the 'New Meeting' text and uncheck the 'Start with video' option. You can also use your Personal Meeting ID from here if you want.

Following that, the main 'Zoom Meeting' window will appear, with a smaller window labeled 'Join Audio' within it. You can join the meeting with the default audio settings, or you can test the audio input and output devices.

In general, it is a good idea to check your audio devices before entering a meeting to avoid any audio issues once the meeting begins. To test your audio devices, click the 'Test Speaker and Microphone' text below the blue 'Join with Computer Audio' button.

The window will now play audio that you should be able to hear. If you can clearly hear that audio, you can proceed with the test by clicking the blue 'Yes' button.

It is now time to put your audio input device or microphone to the test. Your default audio input will be selected first in this case as well. You can say whatever you want as long as the 'Input Level' meter does not rise. This will serve as an indicator that your microphone can hear your voice. Whatever you say will be repeated for you to hear as additional confirmation.

After you've finished configuring your audio output and input devices, you'll be taken to the main Zoom interface. With the options available here, you can perform a variety of actions.

Related: How to mute Zoom.

How to Share Zoom Meeting Link

If you are hosting a meeting, you must share the meeting link with other participants who wish to participate. This is simple to accomplish with the meeting link. Now, while the 'Zoom Meeting' window is open, press ALT+i on your keyboard or click on the three dots next to the 'Apps' button, and then select 'Invite' to get the meeting link.

Now, select the 'Copy Invite Link' option.

The link will be copied to your clipboard, and you can now share it with the participants or people you want to invite to your meeting. They can join your meeting by clicking on the meeting link.

How to Schedule a Meeting on Zoom

You can easily schedule a future meeting with Zoom. To begin, launch Zoom by searching for it in the Start Menu and selecting it from the search results. Then, beneath the 'New Meeting' button, click the 'Schedule' button.

Now, a window called 'Schedule meeting' will appear, and from here, you can change the meeting's properties and set parameters such as the date, time, duration, and so on.

To begin, you can use the text box below 'Topic' to inform the participants of the meeting's subject or purpose. Then, next to 'Start:,' there are two dropdown boxes. Use these to set the meeting's date and time. Finally, set the length of the meeting using the two dropdown menus next to 'Duration:'

You can also choose whether or not the meeting will be recurring by checking the box next to it. In that case, the calendar invitation must include the date and time. There's also the option to choose your time zone.

There are even more options and settings to play with. You have the option of creating a Meeting ID or using your Personal Meeting ID. It is generally recommended that you generate a Meeting ID rather than using your Personal Meeting ID.

You can assign a password to each participant in the Security section so that they can access the meeting. There is also the option to enable a waiting room where participants will be placed once they have arrived at the meeting. You can also specify whether video should be enabled for the host and participants, as well as which calendar service to use.

Finally, if you click on 'Advanced options,' you will be given even more options, such as muting new participants or recording the meeting and saving it to your computer. When you've finished customizing the parameters for your future meetings, click 'Save.'

A smaller window will appear after you click on save. You can invite people either by copying the link and sending it directly to the participants or by using a calendar invitation.

How to Join a Zoom Meeting

To join a Zoom meeting, you will need either a direct join link or the meeting ID and password. If you have a link to a meeting, click on it to open your browser window.

To join meetings, you will see a pop-up in your browser window requesting that you open the Zoom Meetings application.

Alternatively, you can also join the meeting using the Meeting ID and Passcode.

To do so, open the Zoom app and click the 'Join' button next to the 'New Meeting' button.

A small window will now appear. Two text boxes will be present. Enter the Meeting ID in the first text box and your username in the second text box.

If you want those settings to be enabled, check the box next to 'Don't connect to audio' or 'Turn off my video.'

After that, enter the Meeting Passcode into the text box and click 'Join Meeting.'

The first window that appears regardless of how you join the meeting is the 'Video Preview' window. You will be able to join the meeting with your camera enabled or disabled. Choose your preferred option.

After that, a new window called 'Join Audio' will appear before you join the meeting. Simply click 'Join with Computer Audio' from here to enter the meeting.

How to share your screen on Zoom

If you want to show a presentation or a project during a meeting, you can use the 'Share Screen feature.' To begin, go to the Zoom app's home page and click on the 'Share Screen' button.

Following that, the procedure is similar to attending a meeting. To begin, enter the Sharing Key or Meeting ID into the text box and then click 'Share screen.'

After that, enter the Meeting Passcode into the textbox and then click 'Join Meeting.'

After clicking 'Join Meeting,' you must choose a window to share. From the Basic tab, you can choose to share any currently open window on your computer, a Whiteboard, or the screen of your iPhone or iPad.

When you select the 'Advanced' tab, you will be able to share a portion of your screen or any content from a secondary camera.

Finally, if you go to the 'Files' tab, you can share content from various cloud services such as Dropbox or Google Drive. This is how you can share your Zoom screen.

How to Install Applications on Zoom

Zoom allows you to install apps as add-ons to enhance your Zoom experience. To install an application, first, navigate to the 'Apps' tab and then to the 'My Apps' section. All of the apps you've installed will be listed here.

1. To add apps, go to 'Discover' and you'll be presented with a list of apps that you can add to Zoom.

2. Press the 'Add' button.

3. When you click 'Add,' you will be redirected to a new browser window. There, it will display all of the information that this app has access to. Check the box next to 'Allow this app to use...' and then click 'Authorize.'

4. You will now see a pop-up on your browser window requesting that you launch the Zoom Meetings client. Select 'Open Zoom Meetings'.

5. When you launch Zoom, you'll notice that the app has been successfully added to the Zoom Meetings application.

6. Click 'My Apps' to close any currently running applications.

7. It will direct you to the 'My Apps' section. Under the 'Opened' section, you can see all of the applications that have been opened. Simply click 'Close All' to terminate the applications.

If you want to remove an app, go to the 'App Marketplace' page by clicking on 'Manage' next to the app in the 'My Apps' section.

There you will find some app information as well as options to update or uninstall the app. To remove the application from Zoom, click the 'Uninstall' button.

Now, another window called 'Uninstall app' will appear inside the browser window. Select the reason for uninstalling the application here, then click 'Uninstall,' and the app will be removed.

As previously stated, instead of uninstalling, you can use these steps to update any application. Simply click the 'update' button beneath Authorized.

Now that you know how to install and manage apps on Zoom, here is a list of some very useful apps that will undoubtedly improve your Zoom experience:

Google Workspace: Using Gmail and Google Calendar, you can schedule, join, and manage Zoom meetings.

Google Drive for Zoom: This app makes it simple to save and transfer meeting recordings to Google Drive.

Slack: If you install this app, you'll be able to launch a Zoom meeting or call from any Slack channel or group with a single slash command, "/zoom."

Coursera: This app is ideal for both teachers and students. To improve the learning experience, integrate the Coursera learning experience within Zoom meetings.

Evernote: From Zoom, you can access and edit your Evernote content.

Zapier: Using this app, you can automate tasks in Zoom such as meeting scheduling and invitations.

DocuSign: This addon connects your DocuSign account to Zoom and allows you to use bots to digitally sign documents.

Zoom Shortcuts

Menu navigation is fine, but knowing useful keyboard shortcuts will significantly increase your productivity on Zoom. Here's a list of some useful shortcuts to learn and use.

ALT+a : Mute/Unmute

Space Bar : Push-to-talk

ALT+F1 : Speaker View

ALT+F2 : Shortcut Gallery

ALT+m : Mute everyone except the host

ALT+i : Invite menu

ALT+Shift+s : Start/Stop screen share while hosting

ALT+t : Pause/Resume screen share

ALT+F4 : Close current window

ALT+y : Raise/Lower hand

F6 : Navigate between open windows on Zoom