How To Install Zoom On Linux

Video conferencing on Linux requires installing Zoom from the official website or using a package manager. If you’re wondering how to install Zoom on Linux, you’ve come to the right place. This guide covers every major Linux distribution with clear, step-by-step instructions. Whether you’re using Ubuntu, Fedora, or Arch, you’ll be up and running in minutes.

Zoom is one of the most popular video conferencing tools, and it works great on Linux. The installation process is straightforward, but it varies slightly depending on your distribution. Let’s break it down so you can start your next meeting without any hassle.

Before we dive into the specifics, know that there are two main ways to install Zoom: using the official .deb or .rpm packages, or through your distribution’s package manager. Both methods work well, but the package manager approach is often easier for updates.

First, check if your system is 64-bit. Zoom only supports 64-bit Linux systems. You can verify this by opening a terminal and typing uname -m. If you see “x86_64,” you’re good to go.

Installing Zoom On Ubuntu And Debian

Ubuntu and Debian users have the easiest path. You can download the .deb package directly from Zoom’s website or use the terminal.

Method 1: Download From The Official Website

Open your web browser and go to zoom.us/download.
Under “Linux,” click the “Download” button for the .deb package.
Once downloaded, open your file manager and double-click the .deb file.
The Ubuntu Software Center or GDebi will open. Click “Install.”
Enter your password when prompted, and the installation will complete in seconds.

Method 2: Using The Terminal

Open a terminal with Ctrl+Alt+T.
Run wget https://zoom.us/client/latest/zoom_amd64.deb to download the package.
Then run sudo apt install ./zoom_amd64.deb.
Enter your password, and apt will handle the rest.

After installation, you can launch Zoom from your applications menu or by typing zoom in the terminal. The first time you run it, it will ask you to sign in or join a meeting.

Installing Zoom On Fedora And RHEL

Fedora and Red Hat Enterprise Linux users need the .rpm package. The process is similar to Ubuntu but uses different commands.

Method 1: Graphical Installation

Visit zoom.us/download and download the .rpm package.
Open the downloaded file with your package manager (usually GNOME Software).
Click “Install” and enter your password.

Method 2: Terminal Installation

Open a terminal.
Run wget https://zoom.us/client/latest/zoom_x86_64.rpm.
Then run sudo dnf install ./zoom_x86_64.rpm.
Wait for the installation to finish. DNF will resolve any dependencies automatically.

If you’re using an older version of Fedora or RHEL 7, you might need to use yum instead of dnf. The command would be sudo yum install ./zoom_x86_64.rpm.

Installing Zoom On Arch Linux And Manjaro

Arch-based distributions have Zoom available in the AUR (Arch User Repository). This is the preferred method for Arch users.

Using An AUR Helper (Yay Or Paru)

First, ensure you have an AUR helper installed. If not, install yay by running sudo pacman -S yay.
Then run yay -S zoom.
Follow the prompts to build and install the package.

Manual Installation From AUR

Clone the PKGBUILD from the AUR: git clone https://aur.archlinux.org/zoom.git.
Change into the directory: cd zoom.
Run makepkg -si to build and install.

Manjaro users can also find Zoom in the official repositories. Just run sudo pacman -S zoom and you’re done.

Installing Zoom On OpenSUSE

OpenSUSE users can install Zoom using the .rpm package or via the terminal.

Download the .rpm from zoom.us/download.
Open a terminal and navigate to the download directory.
Run sudo zypper install ./zoom_x86_64.rpm.
Zypper will handle dependencies and install the package.

You can also use YaST if you prefer a graphical interface. Just open YaST, go to Software Management, and add the .rpm file manually.

Installing Zoom Via Snap Or Flatpak

If you prefer sandboxed applications, Zoom is available as both a Snap and a Flatpak. These are great for security and automatic updates.

Snap Installation

Ensure Snap is installed on your system. Most Ubuntu systems have it pre-installed.
Run sudo snap install zoom-client.
Wait for the download and installation to complete.

Flatpak Installation

First, add the Flathub repository if you haven’t already: flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo.
Then run flatpak install flathub us.zoom.Zoom.
Launch it with flatpak run us.zoom.Zoom or from your application menu.

Both Snap and Flatpak versions work identically to the native package. They update automatically in the background, which is a nice convenience.

Post-Installation Configuration

After installing Zoom, you might want to configure a few settings for the best experience.

Setting Up Audio And Video

Launch Zoom and click the gear icon to open Settings. Under the Audio tab, select your microphone and speaker. Under Video, choose your camera. Zoom will test these devices automatically.

Enabling Virtual Backgrounds

Zoom on Linux supports virtual backgrounds, but you need a compatible graphics driver. Go to Settings > Background & Filters and choose a virtual background. If it doesn’t work, try updating your GPU drivers.

Keyboard Shortcuts

Zoom has several useful keyboard shortcuts. Alt+A mutes/unmutes your audio. Alt+V starts/stops your video. Alt+F toggles full screen. These work on Linux just like on other platforms.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Sometimes things don’t go as planned. Here are solutions to common problems.

Zoom Won’t Launch

If Zoom doesn’t start after installation, try running it from the terminal to see error messages. Type zoom and press Enter. Common errors include missing libraries. Install them with sudo apt install libxcb-xinerama0 on Ubuntu or sudo dnf install libxcb on Fedora.

No Sound In Meetings

Check your audio settings in Zoom first. If that doesn’t work, ensure PulseAudio is running. Run pulseaudio --start in the terminal. Also check if your microphone isn’t muted in system settings.

Camera Not Detected

Make sure your camera isn’t being used by another application. You can test it with cheese or guvcview. If it works there but not in Zoom, try reinstalling Zoom or updating your kernel.

Zoom Crashes On Startup

This often happens due to graphics driver issues. Try running Zoom with software rendering: QT_QUICK_BACKEND=software zoom. If that works, update your GPU drivers.

Keeping Zoom Updated

Zoom updates frequently with new features and security patches. How you update depends on your installation method.

Package Manager Updates

If you installed via apt, dnf, or pacman, just run your system’s update command. For Ubuntu: sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade. For Fedora: sudo dnf update. For Arch: sudo pacman -Syu.

Snap And Flatpak Updates

Snap updates automatically in the background. For Flatpak, run flatpak update periodically.

Manual Updates

If you downloaded the .deb or .rpm manually, you’ll need to download the latest version from the website and reinstall. The installer will overwrite the old version.

Uninstalling Zoom

If you need to remove Zoom for any reason, here’s how.

Ubuntu And Debian

Run sudo apt remove zoom or use the Ubuntu Software Center to uninstall.

Fedora And RHEL

Run sudo dnf remove zoom.

Arch Linux

Run sudo pacman -R zoom.

Snap And Flatpak

For Snap: sudo snap remove zoom-client. For Flatpak: flatpak uninstall us.zoom.Zoom.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I install Zoom on 32-bit Linux?
A: No, Zoom only supports 64-bit Linux systems. There is no 32-bit version available.

Q: Is Zoom free on Linux?
A: Yes, the basic version is free. You can host meetings up to 40 minutes with three or more participants. Paid plans remove this limit and add features.

Q: Does Zoom work on all Linux distributions?
A: Zoom officially supports Ubuntu, Debian, Fedora, RHEL, CentOS, OpenSUSE, and Arch. It should work on most distributions with some tinkering.

Q: How do I install Zoom without root access?
A: You can use the Snap or Flatpak versions, which don’t require root. Alternatively, download the AppImage from Zoom’s website if available.

Q: Why does Zoom ask for my password during installation?
A: Installing system-wide software requires root privileges. The password is needed to write files to system directories like /usr/bin.

Now you know exactly how to install Zoom on Linux. The process is simple once you understand the steps for your distribution. Whether you choose the official package, Snap, or Flatpak, you’ll be video conferencing in no time. Remember to keep Zoom updated for the best experience and security. If you run into issues, the troubleshooting section above should help you resolve them quickly.

Zoom on Linux is fully functional and reliable. You get all the features available on other platforms, including screen sharing, chat, and virtual backgrounds. The only thing missing is end-to-end encryption for some meeting types, but that’s a limitation on all platforms, not just Linux.

Give it a try today. Open your terminal, follow the steps for your distribution, and join your next meeting with confidence. Linux users deserve great video conferencing tools, and Zoom delivers.