How To Install Zoom On Ubuntu

Reliable videoconferencing is essential, and Zoom remains common—even in Linux-driven engineering teams. Here’s a streamlined process for installing Zoom on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS. (Minor differences exist for earlier versions, but the approach holds.)

Direct Installation with Official .deb Package

Prerequisites:

• User access to sudo
• Network connectivity
• Outdated package managers may cause headaches; update your system first:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

1. Download the Latest Zoom Client
   Pull the .deb installer directly from Zoom’s site; don’t rely on random repositories.

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

   Note: For ARM devices (e.g., Raspberry Pi), swap in the appropriate package from Zoom’s downloads page.

2. Install via APT
   Even though this is a standalone download, use apt instead of dpkg—it automatically resolves missing dependencies.

   sudo apt install ./zoom_amd64.deb
   

   If errors like:

   E: Unable to locate package ./zoom_amd64.deb
   

   appear, you’re likely outside the exact directory or missing package extension. Verify the path.

3. Verify Installation
   Ensure Zoom is available:

   zoom --version
   

   Output should resemble:

   Zoom Launcher 5.17.5 (32108)
   

   Version may drift; for security, always check Zoom’s changelog against your compliance requirements.

Updating Zoom

Zoom doesn’t integrate into Ubuntu’s regular patch cycle. You must manually update or re-install to maintain support and patch vulnerabilities.

• To upgrade: Repeat the above steps with the newest .deb.

• To remove:

  sudo apt remove zoom
  

Troubleshooting

Audio/Video Driver Issues:
Zoom leverages PulseAudio and system camera drivers. Problems here are rarely Zoom-specific. Run:

pactl list short sources

to enumerate audio inputs. Missing entries indicate broader system configuration issues.

Wayland Caveats:
On Wayland (the default in Ubuntu 22.04), screen sharing may be inconsistent. Switch to Xorg at login for better compatibility:

Gear icon > Ubuntu on Xorg

Alternative: Snap and Flatpak? (Not Ideal)

Zoom's Snap and Flatpak builds lag behind the official .deb, both in features and security patches. Use these only if the .deb is incompatible with your environment.

Non-Obvious Tip

Need to run multiple Zoom instances signed into different accounts for isolated meetings? Linux allows this:

env HOME=/tmp/zoom2 zoom &

This uses a temporary home directory, side-stepping profile locks.

Summary: Standard practice for installing Zoom on Ubuntu 22.04 is to work with the official .deb package using apt. Snap or Flatpak has too many caveats for production use. Don’t neglect manual updates—Zoom releases patches frequently, and autoupdate isn’t handled by Ubuntu. Real-world quirks (like Wayland compatibility or multi-instance requirements) can catch even seasoned engineers by surprise.