How To

Install Zoom on Ubuntu 20.04: Download, Setup, and Remove

Zoom is one of the most widely used video conferencing platforms. Zoom works on Windows, macOS, Linux, and mobile, so your calls connect across all devices.

With Zoom, you can:

Host video meetings with up to 100 participants
Share your screen or a single application window
Send messages and share files in the chat
Record meetings locally or to the cloud

This guide shows you how to install Zoom on Ubuntu 20.04. The same steps work for any Debian-based distribution, including Kubuntu, Linux Mint, and Elementary OS.

Install Zoom on Ubuntu

Zoom is a proprietary application. It is not available in the Ubuntu software repositories, so you cannot install it with a standard apt install command.

The easiest way to install Zoom on Ubuntu is to download the official .deb package directly from the Zoom website. This always gives you the latest version.

Open your terminal and download the Zoom package:

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

Once the download finishes, install it:

bashsudo apt install ./zoom_amd64.deb

The apt install command handles dependencies automatically and will ask for your password before it runs.

That is it. Zoom is installed and ready to use.

Launch and Sign In to Zoom

You can open Zoom in two ways:

Type zoom in your terminal and press Enter
Go to Applications > Internet > Zoom from your desktop menu

The first time you open Zoom, you will see the welcome screen with options to sign in or join a meeting. Log in with your Zoom account to get full access to meetings, webinars, and settings.

If you do not have an account, you can create one for free on the Zoom website. The free plan supports unlimited one-on-one meetings and group calls up to 40 minutes.

Zoom on Ubuntu works the same way as on Windows or macOS. You can join meetings, share your screen, use the chat panel, and manage your audio and video settings from inside the app.

You can also use Zoom from a web browser without installing anything, but the desktop app gives you better call quality and access to more features like virtual backgrounds and breakout rooms.

<strong>Tip:</strong>&nbsp;If your camera or microphone does not work on first launch, check your system sound and camera settings. Ubuntu may need you to grant app permissions for those devices.

Update or Remove Zoom

Zoom does not update automatically through apt upgrade because it was not installed from a repository. When a new version comes out, download and install the .deb file again:

bashwget https://zoom.us/client/latest/zoom_amd64.debsudo apt install ./zoom_amd64.deb

Running apt install on an existing package upgrades it to the newer version automatically.

To remove Zoom from your system, run:

bashsudo apt remove zoom

This uninstalls the app but keeps your Zoom settings and data. To clean up completely, delete the ~/.zoom folder as well.

Zoom is now installed on your Ubuntu desktop. You can start hosting and joining meetings right away. Check the Zoom website regularly for new versions so you always have the latest features and security updates. Got questions? Leave a comment below.