Zoom is a versatile video conferencing tool that unifies cloud video conferencing, simple online meetings, group messaging, and a software-defined conference room solution into one easy-to-use platform. You can host and join Zoom video conferences from your computer, tablet, or smartphone. 

The Zoom Help Center has full instructions on using Zoom. The instructions below are specific to Virginia Tech. To see other Zoom topics, please see Video Conferencing - Holding Zoom Conferences on a PC or Mobile Device.

Current Virginia Tech students, faculty, and staff have Zoom Pro accounts. This article details how to install and set up Virginia Tech Zoom.

Contents

• Logging into the Zoom Web Portal
  
  • Setting up Default Meeting Settings
• Installing the Zoom Client & Mobile App
  • Logging into the Zoom Client
  • Updating the Zoom Client
• Logging into the Zoom Mobile App
• Getting Help

Logging into the Zoom Web Portal

Current Virginia Tech students, faculty, and staff are eligible for Zoom Pro accounts. Logging in for the first time will create your Zoom account.

To set up your Zoom account:

1. Go to the Virginia Tech Zoom Portal.
2. Click Sign in and log in with your Virginia Tech Username (PID) and passphrase.
   
   • If you've forgotten your PID, go to Finding My Forgotten VT Username (PID).
   • If you've forgotten your PID passphrase, go to Changing or Resetting My Password.
     
3. You'll go to your Zoom Profile page. From the menu on the left, you can schedule meetings, view your meeting recordings, and update your Zoom profile.
   

Setting up Default Meeting Settings

1. Go to the Virginia Tech Zoom Web Portal and click Sign in and log in with your Virginia Tech Username (PID) and passphrase. You'll go to your Meetings by default.
2. Click Settings. It will default to the Meetings tab in the Security section.
3. Below are the possible default settings for new meetings. If you change your default settings here, you can still override them when scheduling individual meetings. 
   
   • Waiting Room - Enable to make meetings default to requiring a Waiting Room. 
   • Require a passcode - You can set meeting defaults to require passcodes for various meeting types and participants:
     
     • Require a passcode when scheduling new meetings - You can override when scheduling individual meetings.
     • Require a passcode for instant meetings - You can override when scheduling individual meetings.
     • Require a passcode for Personal Meeting ID (PMI) - You can override when scheduling individual meetings.
     • Require a passcode for Personal Audio Conference - Not available at Virginia Tech.
     • Require passcode for participants joining by phone - Participants key in the passcode to join.
     • Embed passcode in invite link for one-click join - Invitation link contains passcode, so people with the link can join without having to key it in.
       
       
   • Only authenticated users can join meetings - Authentication (login) profiles prevent people who haven't logged into Zoom from joining your meeting.
     
     • Once activated in Settings, you can choose an authentication profile when scheduling meetings. 
     • You can only access authentication profiles when scheduling via the Virginia Tech Zoom Portal, not the Zoom client. 
     • Virginia Tech has two authentication profiles:
       
       • Need to be signed into Zoom: Anyone signed into any Zoom account can join. 
       • Need to be signed into Virginia Tech Zoom: Only those signed into Virginia Tech Zoom can join. 
     • If participants aren't signed in and attempt to join your meeting, they will be directed to the Zoom login page. Once they log in, they join the meeting. 
       
   • Only authenticated users can join meetings from Web client - Requires people joining meetings from a web portal to also be logged into Zoom. 

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Installing the Zoom Client & Mobile App

The Zoom web portal is for managing your account settings. On a computer, you can use the Zoom client (a desktop application) for hosting and joining meetings. 

To host or join a meeting, you need to install the Zoom client or app:

• From a computer - go to Zoom Download Center. In the Zoom Desktop Client section, click Download.
• From a smart phone - go to the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store and search for Zoom - One Platform to Connect. 

If you don't want to install the client, you can use the Zoom Launcher Plugin in a browser. We don't recommend this approach, because the plug-in has less functionality than the client. 

Logging into the Zoom Client

Logging into the Zoom client is different from logging into the web portal.

1. Open the Zoom client.
2. Click Sign In.
   
3. At the bottom, click on SSO.
   
4. Type: virginiatech in the company domain text box and click Continue.
   
5. Your default browser will open.
   • If you haven't logged in recently, you'll get a login screen. Enter your Virginia Tech Username (PID) and passphrase, and click Login and complete your 2-factor authentication.
6. You'll see a popup to allow Zoom to open. The popup will differ depending on your browser.
7. You are now logged into your Zoom client.

Updating the Zoom Client

See: Updating Zoom to the latest version

1. Open the Zoom client and log in. 
2. Click your icon at the top right of the window.
3. Click Check for Updates. Your Zoom client version will be listed.
   
4. If a newer version is available, click Install in the Update Available popup. 
   

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Logging into the Zoom Mobile App

1. On your mobile device, download, install, and open the app called Zoom Cloud Meetings.
2. On the app home page, tap Sign in.
   
3. Scroll down to OTHER SIGN IN METHODS, and tap Continue with SSO. 
   
4. Type: virginiatech in the company domain text box and tap Continue.
   
5. Your mobile browser will open and go to Virginia Tech's single sign on (SSO) page. Enter your Virginia Tech Username (PID) and PID passphrase, and authenticate with your 2-factor authentication. 
   
6. Allow your browser to open the Zoom app. You will be redirected back to the app and be logged in.

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Getting Help

For instructions on resolving common issues with Zoom, see: Video Conferencing - Troubleshooting Zoom.

• Go to 4Help, log in with your Virginia Tech Username (PID) and passphrase, and click Get Help.
• Call 540-231-4357.

For problems using Zoom, contact Zoom Support:

• Search Zoom documentation in the Zoom Help Center.
• Chat live (24-7) with Zoom support. Go to Zoom Video Communications Technical Support and click Chatbot.
• Call Zoom support (24-7) at 888-799-9666 ext 2.
• Check the status of Zoom services. 

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