Zoom stops working at the worst possible moments. Whether it is refusing to open, the camera shows a black screen, the audio has cut out, or the app keeps crashing, most Zoom problems have a straightforward fix. Here is a quick reference for the most common issues.
Zoom Will Not Open or Keeps Crashing
If Zoom closes immediately after opening or freezes on the loading screen:
- Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and end any Zoom processes still running
- Restart your computer
- If it still crashes, uninstall Zoom via Settings > Apps and download a fresh copy from zoom.us/download
Corrupted installation files are a common cause of Zoom crashes, especially after a Windows update.
Zoom Shows a Black Screen
A black screen when joining a meeting is almost always a graphics driver issue:
- Try turning off hardware acceleration: open Zoom settings > click your profile picture > Settings > General > scroll down and toggle off Use hardware acceleration
- Restart Zoom
If the black screen is in a browser version of Zoom, try switching to the desktop app instead.
Camera Not Working in Zoom
See our dedicated guide: Camera Not Working in Zoom. The most common fix is checking Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera in Windows and ensuring Zoom is permitted.
No Audio — Cannot Hear Anyone or They Cannot Hear You
Audio problems usually come down to the wrong device selected or the microphone muted:
- In the Zoom meeting, click the ^ arrow next to the microphone icon
- Check that the correct microphone and speaker are selected under Select a Microphone and Select a Speaker
- Click Test Speaker & Microphone to run a quick check
Also confirm you are not muted at the Windows level: right-click the speaker icon in the taskbar > Sound settings > check the input level moves when you speak.
Zoom Audio Echo
If people hear their own echo, it is almost always caused by speakers playing audio that your microphone is picking up. Fixes:
- Use headphones instead of speakers
- Move the microphone away from the speakers
- Ask the participant who hears the echo to check their own audio setup — the issue is usually at their end
Zoom Connection Problems (Unstable or Dropping)
- Move closer to your Wi-Fi router or use a wired ethernet connection
- Turn off video to reduce bandwidth if the connection is poor
- Close other bandwidth-heavy apps (streaming, downloads) during the call
- Check your internet speed at fast.com — Zoom needs at least 1.5Mbps for video calls
Zoom Update Required Error
Some Zoom meetings require participants to be on a minimum version. To update: open Zoom, click your profile picture in the top right, and select Check for Updates. Install any available updates and rejoin the meeting.
Zoom Screen Share Not Working
If Screen Share is greyed out or not starting:
- Check that the host has allowed participants to share (host setting)
- On Mac, check System Preferences > Security & Privacy > Screen Recording — ensure Zoom is listed and ticked
- On Windows, close any full-screen apps before sharing — some applications prevent screen capture
