How to Install and Use Zoom on Linux Mint

In today‘s digitally connected world, online communication platforms have become indispensable. Whether for personal video calls with friends and family or online meetings for business, having a reliable video conferencing tool is a must.

Zoom has emerged as one of the most popular video chat solutions. With its easy-to-use interface, good call quality, and generous free tier, Zoom makes online video meetings accessible to everyone.

In this comprehensive guide, we will walk through how to install and use Zoom on Linux Mint.

An Overview of Zoom

For those new to Zoom, here is a quick primer.

Zoom is a cloud-based video conferencing service that allows you to conduct online meetings with up to 100 participants. Some key features include:

• HD video and audio calls
• Screen sharing
• Recording meetings
• Breakout rooms
• Virtual backgrounds
• Integrations with other apps like Google and Slack

Zoom offers several pricing tiers, but the basic free plan allows unlimited 1-on-1 meetings and 40-minute group meetings for up to 100 participants.

Now let‘s see how we can install Zoom and start using it on Linux Mint.

Installing Zoom on Linux Mint

There are a few different ways to install Zoom on Linux Mint:

1. Install the .deb package
2. Install via Snap
3. Use the Flatpak package

In the following sections, we will cover each method in detail.

Method 1: Install the .deb Package

Zoom provides an official .deb installation package for Debian/Ubuntu-based distributions like Linux Mint. This is the easiest and most reliable method.

First, go to Zoom‘s Download Center and grab the .deb package under the Linux tab:

wget https://zoom.us/client/latest/zoom_amd64.deb

Next, install the package using apt:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install ./zoom_amd64.deb

That‘s it! Zoom is now installed on your system.

Method 2: Install Zoom via Snap

Snaps are containerized software packages that work across many Linux distributions. Zoom is available as a Snap, making installation straightforward.

First, install Snap on Linux Mint if you don‘t already have it:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install snapd

Next, install the Zoom Snap package:

sudo snap install zoom-client

The Zoom client will now be installed as a Snap application.

One benefit of using Snaps is they auto-update when new versions are released by the developer.

Method 3: Use the Zoom Flatpak

Similar to Snaps, Flatpaks are containerized app packages for Linux. Zoom is also provided as a Flatpak.

Assuming you already have Flatpak set up on your system, install the Zoom Flatpak package from Flathub:

flatpak install flathub us.zoom.Zoom

And we‘re done! Just like the Snap approach, the Zoom Flatpak will automatically update itself.

Launching Zoom and Configuring Your Account

Once Zoom is installed via your preferred method, launching the app is no different than on any platform.

You can launch Zoom from your desktop environment‘s application menu, or directly from the terminal:

/usr/bin/zoom

Upon first launch, Zoom will ask you to enter your existing account details or sign up for a new account:

If you don‘t have a Zoom account yet, click Sign Up Free to create one. Follow the on-screen process to set up your account.

Otherwise, enter your login email and password to sign in.

The Zoom client will now open up on your desktop:

Let‘s run through some of the basic settings you may want to configure.

Configuring Audio and Video

To ensure the best call performance, check that Zoom is set up to use your preferred audio and video devices.

Go to Settings > Audio to see available microphones and speakers detected by Zoom and choose your preferred option:

Likewise, under the Video tab, pick which webcam you want to use if you have multiple cameras connected.

You can also enable options here like touch up appearance and virtual background effects.

General Settings

Under the General settings tab, options allow customizing notifications, video layout when multiple participants are visible, as well as configuring a Zoom profile picture.

Scheduling Privileges and Personal Meeting ID

As a free Zoom user, you have access to features like:

• Scheduling meetings
• Setting up a recurring meeting ID that stays constant
• Disabling waiting rooms

Check each section under Settings to customize these options.

And that covers the basics of getting your Zoom account set up! Let‘s now see how to use Zoom for hosting meetings and calls.

Using Zoom: Joining and Hosting Meetings

Starting or joining a Zoom meeting is easy with the desktop client. Here is an overview of how to use Zoom once installed.

Joining a Meeting

If someone sends you a Zoom meeting invitation via email or instant message, simply click the join link or enter the 9, 10, or 11-digit meeting ID on the Zoom homepage:

You can enable and configure audio and video beforehand if prompted. Otherwise, Zoom will prompt you upon joining.

Hosting Meetings

As meeting host, click New Meeting to instantly start an impromptu call:

Alternatively, schedule a future meeting by clicking Schedule and specifying details like date/time, duration, and calendar event invitees.

Upon launching a call as host, you have control over settings like forcing all attendees to mute when joining or enabling a waiting room:

Additional host controls are available by clicking the Security icon or Participants list icon during a call:

From here the host can lock meetings, expel attendees, start live streaming to YouTube or Facebook, and more.

Best Practices While on Zoom Meetings

When participating in a meeting, keep a few best practices in mind:

• Minimize background noise: Use a noise-suppressing headset and mute yourself when not speaking.
• Ensure adequate lighting: Position a light source in front of you to be seen clearly.
• Be mindful of your background: Ensure the backdrop is tidy and professional if called for. Optionally enable a virtual background.
• Limit distractions: Quit unneeded apps and disable notifications to stay focused on the meeting.
• Watch self-view: Keep an eye on how you appear to others via the self-view pane.

Sticking to these tips will help ensure meetings run smoothly without technical frustrations.

And that‘s all there is to it! Install Zoom via your preferred method and start enjoying seamless video calls on your Linux Mint desktop.