How to Update Zoom on Windows or Mac (2026 Guide)

1. Open Zoom and sign in.
2. Click your profile picture, then Settings.
3. Go to the General tab and scroll to Zoom Updates.
4. Check Automatically keep Zoom desktop client up to date.
5. Close Settings. You can usually pick a channel — Slow (stable, recommended) or Fast (newest features sooner).

Choose the Slow ring unless you specifically want early features; it gets well-tested releases and you avoid the occasional bug that ships on the fast channel.

When Updating Fails: Clean Reinstall

If the updater errors out or Zoom keeps crashing, a fresh install clears the problem. Uninstall first, then reinstall.

Uninstall on Windows

1. Right-click the Start menu and open Apps and Features (or Installed apps on Windows 11).
2. Scroll to Zoom and select it.
3. On Windows 11, click the three dots, then Uninstall. On Windows 10, click Uninstall directly.

Uninstall on Mac

1. Open Finder > Applications.
2. Control-click zoom.us and choose Move to Trash.
3. Enter your Mac password if prompted.
4. For a thorough cleanup, remove leftover files: ZoomOpener in ~/.zoomus/, ZoomAudioDevice.kext in /System/Library/Extensions/, and the zoom.us folder in ~/Library/Application Support/.

Reinstall on either platform

1. Go to the official Zoom Download Center.
2. Download the installer that matches your OS and chip (for Mac, choose Apple Silicon or Intel correctly).
3. Double-click the installer and follow the prompts. Sign back in and you're on the newest version.

Warning: only download Zoom from zoom.us. Fake "Zoom update" sites and email links are a common malware vector. If an update prompt arrives by email, ignore it and update from inside the app instead.

Updating Zoom on Mobile

The desktop app and phone app update separately, so don't forget your mobile client.

• Android: open the Google Play Store, search Zoom, and tap Update if it appears.
• iPhone/iPad: open the App Store, search Zoom, and tap Update.

Enable automatic app updates in your device settings so both phones and tablets stay current without manual checks.

How to Check Which Zoom Version You Have

Before updating, it helps to know where you stand — especially if a host says you need a minimum version. Open Zoom, click your profile picture, then Help > About Zoom. The version number appears there, something like 5.17.x. You can compare that against Zoom's release notes to see how far behind you are. If you're more than a couple of minor versions back, update sooner rather than later; older clients lose access to newer meeting features and may be blocked from some calls entirely.

How Often Should You Update Zoom?

If automatic updates are on, the honest answer is "never think about it." Zoom pushes updates regularly — sometimes monthly, sometimes faster when a security fix is urgent. With auto-update enabled on the Slow channel, you get stable releases without lifting a finger. If you update manually, a good rhythm is to check once a month and any time a host warns your version is too old. Businesses with managed IT often push updates centrally, so check with your admin before installing on a work machine.

Updating a Company-Managed Zoom Install

On a work computer, you may find Check for Updates grayed out or missing. That's deliberate. Many organizations lock Zoom updates so IT can test and deploy versions company-wide, keeping everyone in sync and avoiding surprise bugs mid-quarter. If you can't update and you need a newer version, don't fight the lock — contact your IT helpdesk. They can push the update to your machine, usually within a day.

Pro tip: if Zoom asks you to update right as a meeting starts, you can often join from your browser instead. Click "Join from your browser" on the launch page to get into the call now, then update the desktop app afterward when you're not under pressure.

What Happens to Your Settings After an Update?

Updating Zoom is non-destructive. Your sign-in, saved meetings, virtual backgrounds, and preferences all carry over — the updater only swaps the program files. The one exception is a full uninstall-and-reinstall, where deep cleanup steps can clear cached settings and virtual backgrounds. If you go the reinstall route to fix a problem, expect to sign in again and re-add any custom backgrounds. A normal update leaves everything exactly as you left it.

Quick Reference

Common Update Errors and Fixes

Most update failures fall into a handful of buckets, each with a quick fix:

If a fix doesn't take on the first try, the clean reinstall covered earlier resolves nearly everything the in-app updater can't. It clears out corrupted files and gives you the newest version in one move.

Why Staying Current Actually Matters

It's tempting to dismiss "please update" prompts, but with a tool you join meetings on, lagging behind has real costs. Outdated clients miss security patches, and video apps are a known target for attackers. They also lose features — better noise suppression, new layout options, AI meeting tools — that ship in newer builds. And the practical kicker: hosts can require a minimum version, so an old client can lock you out of a meeting at the worst possible moment. Keeping Zoom current is a two-minute habit that prevents all three problems at once. Auto-update makes even that habit optional, so there's no reason to put it off.

The Bottom Line

Updating Zoom takes seconds: profile picture, Check for Updates, Update. Switch on automatic updates so it never becomes a last-minute scramble, and keep mobile current too. If the updater ever jams, a clean uninstall and reinstall from zoom.us fixes it for good.