Zoom - improve your connection
Use the best Internet connection you can.
In General:
- Wired connections are better than wireless (WiFi or cellular) connections.
- WiFi connections are better than cellular (3G/4G/LTE) hot spot connections.
Plan ahead for Zoom meetings, and as often as possible, join Zoom meetings from a location where you have a fast and stable connection to the internet.
Mute your microphone when you're not speaking.
When your microphone is on, Zoom will devote part of your Internet connection to an audio stream for you, even if you are not speaking. Muting your microphone when not needed will allow Zoom to use your Internet connection more effectively.
Stop your webcam video when you don't need it.
If your teacher or moderator is okay with you doing so, start your video only when you need to show yourself on webcam, and stop your video when it isn't needed.
Disable HD webcam video.
Sending high definition (HD) webcam video requires more bandwidth than sending non-HD. Disabling HD video will free up more of your internet connection for other parts of your Zoom meeting.
See: Disabling HD video in Zoom
Close other, unneeded applications on your computer.
Zoom meetings can demand significant memory and processing power from your computer. Closing other applications, ones you do not need during the session, will help Zoom run better.
Avoid other activities that will steal bandwidth.
Don't start other bandwidth-intensive activities just before, or during, a Zoom meeting. On your Zoom device—and as much as possible, on other computers and devices that share your Internet connection—avoid:
- large downloads
- large uploads
- streaming video (e.g. Netflix, Hulu, YouTube)
- cloud backups (e.g. Carbonite, CrashPlan)
- cloud file synchronizations (e.g. OneDrive, Dropbox)
- other high-bandwidth activities
If you experience constant disconnects or lag, you can try leaving the meeting, close the Zoom app, and then use the link in Canvas to join again. This will establish a new connection to Zoom’s servers, hopefully one that has more available resources.