Zoom Software Update Required
By Saturday, November 5, 2022, you must have Zoom software version 5.8.6 or higher in order to join or host UW Zoom meetings. After signing in to Zoom software, you will be prompted to update if your version is out of date. You may also visit the Zoom Download Center to download Zoom for your device or see Zoom’s instructions for updating on desktop and mobile devices.
Zoom will now require quarterly updates to the Zoom software. For more details about the quarterly update schedule, see Zoom’s quarterly updates required support page.
This policy will affect the following products:
| Product | Minimum Version Required by November 5, 2022 |
| Zoom client(Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Intune and Blackberry) | 5.8.6 |
| Chrome OS app | Zoom for Chrome PWA |
| Zoom Rooms (includes Zoom Room Controllers and Zoom Room Whiteboards) |
5.8.3 |
| Outlook Plug-in | 5.8.6 |
| VDI client | 5.5 |
| VDI plugin | 5.5 |
December 1, 2021 — New features available in UW Zoom
Enhanced slide control
Because the presenter isn’t always the one controlling a slide show, you can now select multiple people to control the movement of slides in a presentation (Zoom version 5.8.0 or higher). With enhanced slide control, presenters no longer have to ask another attendee to move the presentation forward, streamlining the presentation experience.
Polling enhancements
Meeting and webinar hosts now have more options for creating polls, including ranked responses, matching, short and long answers, and fill in the blank (Zoom version 5.8.3 or higher). This same functionality can be used for quizzes, creating more effective experiences for students, onboarding sessions, or lunch-and-learn events.
Two-way chat in a Waiting Room
Participants can now engage with meeting hosts in the meeting Waiting Room with two-way chat (Zoom version 5.8.0 or higher). Hosts can message the entire waiting room or specific attendees, and attendees can also reply, creating an environment where attendees can engage with the host and provide important updates before the meeting even starts.
Silent auto-update now enabled by default
Windows and macOS (version 5.8.6 or higher) Zoom software will now auto-update. Users can choose between 2 different update cadences: Slow (default) for fewer updates and better stability, or Fast for the newest features and updates. Learn more by visiting the Zoom Blog post.
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August 10, 2021 (updated August 31)
Mandatory update to version 5.7.4
On Wednesday, August 25, UW-IT began requiring an update for the Zoom application for UW Zoom users. After August 25, you must download and install the latest version (5.7.4 or higher) in order to join or host UW Zoom meetings. Note that you if you have installed version 5.7.4, you’ll need to ensure that it is build 804 or later.
If you have a Zoom account associated with your UW NetID, you will need to update to version 5.7.4 or higher. Version 5.7.4 is the minimum version required for all users of UW Zoom. This update applies to the Zoom app on the following operating systems: Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, as well as Zoom Rooms.
VDI has no minimum client version.
Until you update to version 5.7.4 (or higher), you will be prompted to update when you attempt to host or join a UW Zoom meeting. When you click the blue Update button in the prompt message, you will be guided through the update process.
Why Zoom requires this update
The mandatory update ensures that all UW Zoom users will have access to the latest security and privacy features, including features that are currently in progress and are planned for release later this year. Updating now supports a smoother transition back to school for UW Zoom users. It also brings these users current with Zoom’s new policy to require customers to update their Zoom software to ensure it is no more than nine months behind the current version. This change is in line with industry best practices and designed to help ensure that Zoom users receive the latest Zoom features.
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February 3, 2021
Identify guest participants during meeting
UW Zoom meeting hosts and authenticated meeting participants can check the participants list to see if a participant outside of the UW Zoom account has joined the meeting. Meeting guests will not see they are listed as guest.
A meeting guest is someone who is:
- Not signed in
- Signed in from an email address that is not in the same account as the host
- Signed in with a version of the Zoom client software older than the supported version
Closed captioning during meeting
Closed captioning and live meeting transcription is now enabled by default. Zoom meeting hosts can enable closed captioning and live transcription during the Zoom meeting.
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December 9, 2020
Planned service outage to add expanded breakout rooms
On Sunday, December 20, there will be a brief, planned service outage to the UW Zoom standard account, starting at 2:00 AM PST and ending at 2:05 AM PST. The purpose of this outage is to perform an upgrade to expanded breakout rooms. Active meetings and webinars hosted by UW Zoom users will be disconnected during the outage. Users will be able to re-join the meeting immediately after they are disconnected.
Users must update to current Zoom version
Immediately following the system upgrade, UW Zoom users with Zoom versions lower than 5.2.0 will be required to update Zoom software to join or start a Zoom meeting. Users with Zoom versions lower than 5.2.0 will see an update prompt when attempting to join a UW Zoom meeting or webinar.
The latest version of Zoom offers these improvements:
- Meeting hosts can use a new option in the Security panel to immediately suspend all participant activities during a meeting in the event of misconduct or other issues.
- Co-hosts have the same breakout room controls as the meeting host, such as starting or ending breakout rooms, assigning participants, etc.
- Pre-assigned attendees joining after the Breakout Rooms have started will now automatically be assigned to their Breakout Room.
- Starting December 20, the maximum number of breakout rooms will expand from 50 to 100 rooms. The maximum number of participants who can be assigned to breakout rooms will expand from 200 to 1000. Note: The default maximum number of participants is 300. Meeting hosts needing more than 300 participants must purchase a large meeting or webinar license to expand the number of participants.
Live Captioning (machine generated)
UW Zoom meeting and webinar hosts can now enable a machine-generated, live-captioning beta feature. UW has received early access to the beta live captioning feature before Zoom officially releases it in early 2021. For meeting hosts who enable the feature, when meeting and webinar participants speak, captions will appear. The machine-generated transcript can be saved as a local text file.
Because the speech-to-text is machine-generated, accuracy will vary, and does not meet disability accommodation requirements. The machine-generated live captioning feature should not be used as a replacement for professional captioning services.
November 18, 2020
New Security Enhancements
During a Zoom meeting, hosts and co-hosts now have the option to temporarily pause their meeting and remove a disruptive participant. During a meeting, click the Security icon, then Suspend Participant Activities. All video, audio, in-meeting chat, annotation, screen sharing, and recording during that time will stop, and Breakout Rooms will end.
The hosts or co-host will be asked if they would like to report a user from their meeting, share any details, and optionally include a screenshot. Once they click “Submit,” the reported user will be removed from their meeting, and Zoom’s Trust & Safety team will be notified. Hosts and co-hosts may resume their meeting by individually re-enabling the features they’d like to use. Zoom will also send them an email after the meeting to gather more information.
Update to Zoom software version 5.4.3 or higher to use the Suspend Participant Activities option.
As a reminder – one of the best ways to keep your Zoom meeting secure is to never share your meeting ID or passcode on any public forum, including social media.
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September 25, 2020
This week, Zoom reversed its earlier decision to require meeting hosts to enable either the waiting room or a passcode (formerly “password”) for all meetings.
Although Zoom is no longer requiring these security measures, UW-IT strongly encourages meeting hosts to enable one or more of the following options for any Zoom meeting to prevent unauthorized entry:
- Only authenticated users can join
- Waiting room
- Passcode
This recommendation includes meetings scheduled with your personal meeting ID and meetings scheduled via the Zoom in Canvas app (but does not apply to webinars).
Although this is no longer a requirement, UW-IT has chosen to keep the waiting room enabled by default to create an additional layer of security. New meetings you schedule will have the waiting room enabled by default so long as this feature is turned on for your user account. You can disable the waiting room if you choose.
About the waiting room
A waiting room is a place for meeting participants to wait before being admitted by the meeting host or co-host.
Meeting hosts do not have to manually admit all meeting participants. You can allow meeting participants with the proper credentials to bypass the waiting room. For example, instructors can set this option to allow students signing in with a UW NetID to join the meeting directly without having to wait.
For the first month after this change, you will need to edit existing meetings to include a waiting room if desired. After September 27, all meetings must have either a passcode or waiting room enabled. You will not need to edit or update calendar invitations for previously scheduled meetings after these changes go into effect.
Learn more:
- About Zoom waiting room
- Enable a waiting room
- Allow approved participants to bypass the waiting room
About passcodes
A passcode is a short code (up to 10 characters) that participants must provide to successfully join a meeting. If a passcode is enabled for a meeting, users will be prompted to enter the code when they attempt to join the meeting. These codes can be customized when scheduling or editing the meeting.
An additional option is to embed the passcode in the meeting link. Once this option is enabled, new meetings will automatically include the passcode encrypted at the end of the meeting link. Participants can then join the meeting by clicking the meeting link, which contains this unique code.
For those meetings previously scheduled, you will need to edit the meeting to enable a passcode for each individual meeting. For previously scheduled recurring meetings, you only need to do this once for the series. Remember to resend calendar invitations for any meetings you previously scheduled in order to include the passcode or updated meeting link.
Learn more:
Allowing meeting participants to rename themselves during meetings
With the additional security of requiring a passcode or waiting room today, Wednesday, August 26, UW-IT is also enabling the option for meeting hosts to allow participants to rename themselves during a meeting. Meeting hosts can set this option for all meetings or on a per meeting basis.
Reminder: Changes to UW Zoom cloud storage
As previously announced, UW-IT is implementing changes to storing Zoom recordings. These changes are necessary to free up cloud storage capacity that will ensure Zoom continues to be available for everyone, and include:
- Effective September 1, 2020, recordings stored in the Zoom cloud will be set to auto-delete after 90 days. For example, On September 1, any Zoom cloud recording created before June 1 will be moved to Zoom trash; on October 1, any recording created before July 1 will be moved to Zoom trash, and so on.
- Going forward this will be a monthly process of moving recordings older than 90 days to Zoom trash, where they can be recovered, downloaded, and stored elsewhere. After 30 days in Zoom trash files will be deleted. Monthly reminders about file deletion will be sent through the end of 2020.
To learn more about these changes, including steps you can take:
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August 26, 2020
Zoom requirement for waiting room or passcode
- Starting August 26, 2020, when you schedule new meetings, waiting rooms are enabled by default.
- Starting September 27, 2020, Zoom will require all meetings to have a waiting room or a passcode enabled, including personal meeting IDs.
- Meeting hosts can now allow participants to change their display name.
Zoom requirement for waiting room or passcode
To enhance meeting security, Zoom will be requiring meeting hosts to enable either the waiting room or a passcode (formerly “password”) for all meetings. The waiting room and passcodes create an additional layer of security, and Zoom is requiring this change to prevent unauthorized entry to and interruption of online meetings. Webinars are excluded from this requirement.
If you have not yet enabled the waiting room or a passcode by default, waiting rooms will be enabled by default for your new meetings starting today, August 26. New meetings you schedule will have waiting room enabled by default. Starting on September 27, waiting rooms will be applied automatically to any previously scheduled meetings, unless you have already enabled a passcode or waiting room for those meetings. However, we encourage you to review your settings to confirm that your preferred option is enabled.
To learn more about the requirement to enable a passcode or the waiting room, see Zoom’s FAQ. Please note: the University is implementing this requirement early in order to avoid disruptions during the start of autumn quarter. To help ease this change, UW is enabling Waiting Room as the default setting for new meetings you schedule after August 26. You can also review UW Zoom’s Security FAQ.
About the waiting room
A waiting room is a place for meeting participants to wait before being admitted by the meeting host or co-host.
Meeting hosts do not have to manually admit all meeting participants. You can allow meeting participants with the proper credentials to bypass the waiting room. For example, instructors can set this option to allow students signing in with a UW NetID to join the meeting directly without having to wait.
For the first month after this change, you will need to edit existing meetings to include a waiting room if desired. After September 27, all meetings must have either a passcode or waiting room enabled. You will not need to edit or update calendar invitations for previously scheduled meetings after these changes go into effect.
Learn more:
- About Zoom waiting room
- Enable a waiting room
- Allow approved participants to bypass the waiting room
About passcodes
A passcode is a short code (up to 10 characters) that participants must provide to successfully join a meeting. If a passcode is enabled for a meeting, users will be prompted to enter the code when they attempt to join the meeting. These codes can be customized when scheduling or editing the meeting.
An additional option is to embed the passcode in the meeting link. Once this option is enabled, new meetings will automatically include the passcode encrypted at the end of the meeting link. Participants can then join the meeting by clicking the meeting link, which contains this unique code.
For those meetings previously scheduled, you will need to edit the meeting to enable a passcode for each individual meeting. For previously scheduled recurring meetings, you only need to do this once for the series. Remember to resend calendar invitations for any meetings you previously scheduled in order to include the passcode or updated meeting link.
Learn more:
Allowing meeting participants to rename themselves during meetings
With the additional security of requiring a passcode or waiting room today, Wednesday, August 26, UW-IT is also enabling the option for meeting hosts to allow participants to rename themselves during a meeting. Meeting hosts can set this option for all meetings or on a per meeting basis.
Reminder: Changes to UW Zoom cloud storage
As previously announced, UW-IT is implementing changes to storing Zoom recordings. These changes are necessary to free up cloud storage capacity that will ensure Zoom continues to be available for everyone, and include:
- Effective September 1, 2020, recordings stored in the Zoom cloud will be set to auto-delete after 90 days. For example, On September 1, any Zoom cloud recording created before June 1 will be moved to Zoom trash; on October 1, any recording created before July 1 will be moved to Zoom trash, and so on.
- Going forward this will be a monthly process of moving recordings older than 90 days to Zoom trash, where they can be recovered, downloaded, and stored elsewhere. After 30 days in Zoom trash files will be deleted. Monthly reminders about file deletion will be sent through the end of 2020.
To learn more about these changes, including steps you can take:
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July 21, 2020
New local phone number
Now available in UW Zoom is a local 206 area code phone number for meeting participants to dial into Zoom meetings.
New UW-themed virtual backgrounds
Now available in UW Zoom are UW-themed virtual backgrounds. Update your desktop Zoom software to version 5.1.1+ and login to UW Zoom to select a UW virtual background.
New security heading for meeting settings
All password related settings, Waiting Room settings, and only allow authenticated users to join meetings are moved under the Security heading of the user settings.
Require consent if the host mutes and then unmutes a participant
If the host mutes and then unmutes a participant individually, the participant now receives a prompt, asking them to consent to be unmuted.
Download cloud recordings on iOS and iPadOS
Users on iOS and iPadOS can now download cloud recordings to their devices from the Zoom web portal in Safari. This feature requires iOS or iPadOS 13 or higher.
Reminder: Beginning Monday, July 20, UW-IT will implement changes to storing Zoom recordings. These changes are necessary to free up cloud storage capacity that will ensure Zoom continues to be available for everyone. See below for details.
June 18, 2020
Beginning Monday, July 20, UW-IT will implement changes to storing Zoom recordings. These changes are necessary to free up cloud storage capacity that will ensure Zoom continues to be available for everyone, and include:
- On Monday, July 20, all redundant recording files will be moved from Zoom cloud storage to Zoom trash.
- Effective September 1, 2020, recordings stored in the Zoom cloud will be set to auto-delete after 90 days. For example, On September 1, any Zoom cloud recording created before June 3 will be moved to Zoom trash; on October 1, any recording created before July 3 will be moved to Zoom trash, and so on. Going forward, this will be a monthly process of moving recordings older than 90 days to Zoom trash, where they can be recovered, downloaded, and stored elsewhere.
Over the past few months, cloud storage of UW Zoom recordings has increased dramatically. Much of this increase is due to course recordings, but also occurs because some users are setting their Zoom accounts to record every meeting by default, and are recording personal meetings, which may not be in compliance with UW personal use policies. Our allotted storage is currently filled, and it is not financially feasible to expand storage capacity.
Removal of redundant recordings
In order to free up storage space, the UW Zoom service team will begin deleting redundant files on Monday, July 20. By default, for every meeting recorded, Zoom recorded both Active Speaker or Gallery view to optimize quality, essentially doubling the output. (These settings have recently been updated.) Learn about Zoom file types.
In identifying the best approach for freeing up space, the team determined that retaining the Active Speaker/Shared Screen recordings would be beneficial to the majority of users. All other file types, including Gallery View, will be moved to Trash. Redundant recordings deleted on July 20 will be available to recover through August 18, and then will be permanently deleted August 19.
Please note:
- You will be able to recover and retain any deleted files from the Zoom Trash folder for 30 days (and then move those files to an alternate storage resource). See details below for downloading recordings and storing elsewhere.
- If Gallery View or Audio Only is the sole file type stored in the cloud for a particular meeting, it will not be deleted until it reaches the 90-day threshold.
Learn how to recover deleted recordings.
Changes to Zoom cloud storage retention policy
Effective Tuesday, September 1, the UW Zoom service team will institute a 90-day retention policy for Zoom cloud recordings. Redundant recordings (see explanation above) and those older than 90 days will be moved to Zoom Trash automatically starting September 1. You will be able to recover any files moved to Zoom Trash until September 30. Going forward, recordings will be deleted from Zoom cloud storage 90 days from the date of creation. Please note that these recordings will be moved to the Zoom Trash folder and will be available for 30 days.
Why 90 days? The UW Zoom service team reviewed the options and determined that a 90-day retention policy will afford instructors the opportunity to maintain cloud recordings within UW Zoom for one full academic quarter.
Timeline: Changes to UW Zoom cloud storage
| Thurs., Jun 18 | Initial announcement about changes to Zoom cloud storage policy. |
| Mon., Jul 20 | Redundant recordings moved to Zoom Trash. |
| Tues., Aug 18 | Last day to recover recordings from Zoom Trash. |
| Wed., Aug 19 | Redundant recordings in Zoom Trash longer than 30 days will be permanently deleted. |
| Tues., Sept 1 | 90-day retention policy goes into effect: Recordings older than 90 days will be moved automatically to Zoom Trash. |
| Wed., Sept 30 | Last day to recover recordings from Zoom Trash. |
| Thurs., Oct 1 | Recordings in Zoom Trash longer than 30 days will be permanently deleted. |
Steps you can take
Help preserve Zoom cloud storage space by following the practices below:
- Download your Zoom cloud recordings. You can save them on your computer or upload to an alternative storage resource. UW-IT offers services such as Panopto for course recordings and Google Drive or OneDrive for Business to support the storage of all recording files.
- Take a moment to review your recording settings. If you are recording all your meetings by default, consider adjusting this setting. If you are using Zoom for social events, we ask that you not record those and abide by UW personal use policies. Additionally, please consider storing your recordings locally, then moving the files to a different storage resource.
- Review the UW Zoom cloud storage FAQ.
May 4, 2020
Beginning May 30, 2020, all Zoom software must be using version 5.0+ in order to join any meeting. Learn how to update or visit this page to download the latest Zoom software. Zoom version 5.0 includes several new security features and AES 256-bit GCM encryption, providing increased protection for meeting data and resistance against tampering.
April 21, 2020
- Zoom is working hard to protect meetings. To learn more about what Zoom is doing, visit the Zoom security page.
- UW-IT recommends the following security options:
- NEW Security icon available in the latest version of the Zoom software. Visible only to hosts and co-hosts of Zoom Meetings, the Security icon provides easy access to several existing Zoom security features so you can more easily protect your meetings. Watch this YouTube video from Zoom to learn more about the new Security icon.
- Option to host meetings restricted to UW NetID. Only authenticated users can join meetings which requires individuals to sign into a zoom account or a UW Zoom account with their UW NetID. Learn how to require a UW NetID or Zoom account for access to your meeting.
- Waiting room – When Waiting room is turned on, attendees cannot join a meeting until a host admits them individually from the waiting room. Learn more about how to enable the Waiting Room.
May 17, 2019
Summer, 2019 Planned Updates:
The UW Zoom service team is evaluating several LTI integrations for Zoom. Canvas, Calendy, Microsoft Teams, and Slack LTI integrations are being evaluated for privacy, security, and user impact.
Zoom recordings privacy: when the meeting host presses record, participants in the meeting will see a pop-up notification the meeting is being recorded. This feature will be enabled by default for all meetings. Zoom Pro meeting hosts have the option disable this feature, if needed.
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April 28, 2019
Nationally acclaimed UW-IT Accessible Technology Center staff are working hard with Zoom engineers and UX designers to improve the usability of Zoom for all users. This update included several improvements in the way that Zoom works with screen readers and keyboard navigation.
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April 24, 2019
To better align with the UW fiscal year, the UW Zoom subscription renewal date is changing to July 1. Renewals only for the 2019-2020 subscription year will be charged for 12 months, plus two additional months. This will set the new renewal date to July 1. Renewals for the July 1, 2020-June 30, 2021 subscription year will return to the usual 12 month billing cycle.
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September, 2018
MediaAmp Integration now available to make Zoom Cloud Recordings available in your MediaAmp account.
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Earlier updates
Use the Outlook for Web, Outlook app, and Google Calendar Zoom add-in to quickly add a Zoom meeting to your calendar invite.