Troubleshoot Zoom Audio and Video Issues

Issues

• I can't hear anyone in my Zoom meeting
• Other participants can't hear me in Zoom
• My microphone isn't working in Zoom
• There is echo or feedback during my Zoom call
• Zoom audio is choppy, cutting out, or delayed
• My camera isn't working in Zoom — participants see a black screen or no video
• Zoom is using the wrong microphone or speaker
• I'm not able to join Zoom computer audio
• How do I test my audio and video before a Zoom meeting?

Environment

This article applies to Bowdoin faculty, staff, and students using the Zoom desktop app on Windows 11 or macOS Sequoia (15.x) or later. Some steps also apply to the Zoom mobile app on iPhone and iPad. Audio and video issues are among the most common Zoom support requests — most are resolved by checking device selection and system permissions.

Resolution

Start Here: Test Audio and Video Before Your Meeting

The most reliable way to catch issues before they affect a live meeting is to run Zoom's built-in test.

1. Open the Zoom desktop app and click the Settings gear icon.
2. Click Audio to test your speaker and microphone. Click Video to preview your camera.
3. Fix any issues identified here before starting or joining a meeting.

You can also join a Zoom test meeting at any time to check your audio and video end-to-end.

I Can't Hear Anyone (No Sound)

1. Check that you have joined computer audio. In the meeting toolbar, the microphone icon should show your status. If it says Join Audio instead, click it and select Join with Computer Audio.
2. Click the arrow next to the microphone icon and confirm the correct speaker is selected. If you are using headphones or external speakers, select them from the list.
3. Check your system volume. On Mac, use the volume keys or menu bar. On Windows, check the speaker icon in the taskbar. Make sure the output is not muted at the system level.
4. Check whether audio is playing in another app — if so, Zoom may be routed to the correct device but another app is taking priority. Close other audio applications.
5. Leave the meeting and rejoin, choosing Join with Computer Audio again.

Others Can't Hear Me (Microphone Not Working)

1. Check that you are not muted. The microphone icon in the toolbar shows a red line when muted — click it to unmute, or press Space to temporarily unmute.
2. Click the arrow next to the microphone icon and confirm the correct microphone is selected. If you use an external microphone or headset, select it from the list.
3. Check that Zoom has microphone permission at the system level:
   • macOS: Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone and confirm Zoom is enabled.
   • Windows 11: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone and confirm that microphone access and access for Zoom are both on.
4. If the microphone was recently plugged in or changed, quit Zoom completely and reopen it so it detects the new device.
5. In Zoom Settings > Audio, speak into the microphone and watch the Input Level meter. If it doesn't move when you speak, the wrong microphone is selected or the device is not being detected.

Echo or Feedback During a Meeting

Echo is almost always caused by audio being picked up and re-broadcast. The most common causes:

• Using speakers instead of headphones. Your microphone is picking up the meeting audio from your speakers and sending it back. Switch to headphones or earbuds.
• Two devices in the same room are both connected to the meeting. A phone and laptop both in the same space create a feedback loop. Mute the audio on one device or leave the meeting on one of them.
• Two audio inputs open at once. If you joined by phone and by computer, leave the phone audio. Only one audio connection per person should be active.

If you are the host and someone else is causing the echo, use the Participants panel to identify who and ask them to mute or switch to headphones.

Choppy, Cutting Out, or Delayed Audio

Poor audio quality is almost always caused by insufficient network bandwidth or processing load.

1. Check your network connection. Move closer to your Wi-Fi router or, if possible, connect with an Ethernet cable. Wi-Fi congestion in a crowded building can significantly degrade Zoom quality.
2. Disable VPN if it is active. VPN routes your traffic through an additional server, which can introduce latency and packet loss that causes choppy audio. Try disconnecting from VPN for the duration of the Zoom call.
3. Close other applications using the network — large file syncs, streaming, or downloads running in the background compete for bandwidth.
4. In the Zoom meeting, click the ^ arrow next to the microphone and select Audio Settings. Enable Suppress background noise if it is not already on.
5. If the problem persists, ask the host to check the meeting's connection statistics (click ^ next to the microphone > Statistics) for packet loss or high latency, which confirms a network issue.

Camera Not Working or Black Video

1. Confirm your camera is not physically covered or switched off. Some laptops have a privacy cover or a hardware switch on the side.
2. In the meeting toolbar, click the arrow next to the video camera icon and confirm the correct camera is selected in the list.
3. Check that Zoom has camera permission at the system level:
   • macOS: Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera and confirm Zoom is enabled.
   • Windows 11: Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Camera and confirm camera access and access for Zoom are both on.
4. Check whether another app (FaceTime, Teams, Photo Booth) is actively using the camera. Only one app can use the camera at a time. Quit the other app.
5. Quit Zoom completely and reopen it. If your camera was connected after Zoom was already running, Zoom may not have detected it.

Wrong Microphone or Speaker Is Being Used

Zoom selects an audio device when it opens. If you plugged in headphones after starting Zoom, or if you have multiple audio devices, you may need to switch manually.

1. During a meeting, click the ^ arrow next to the microphone icon in the toolbar.
2. Under Select a Microphone and Select a Speaker, choose the correct device from each list.
3. For a permanent fix outside of a meeting, open Zoom Settings > Audio and set your preferred microphone and speaker as defaults. Check Automatically adjust microphone volume if the volume is inconsistent.

Still Not Resolved?

If none of the above resolves the issue, gather the following information before contacting the Service Desk — it significantly speeds up diagnosis:

• Zoom version number (click your profile picture > About Zoom)
• Operating system version (macOS version or Windows version)
• Type of audio device in use (built-in, headset, external speaker)
• Whether the issue occurs in every meeting or only specific ones
• Whether the issue affects audio, video, or both

Additional Help

If you need further assistance, you have several options:

• Bowdoin Bot: Chat with Bowdoin Bot directly from any KB page for instant answers.
• Phone: Call the Bowdoin College Service Desk at (207) 725-3030.
• In person: Visit the Tech Hub in Smith Union during business hours.
• Submit a ticket: Request assistance through the Service Catalog.

Additional Resources

• Zoom: Join a test meeting to check your audio and video
• Zoom: Testing computer or device audio
• Zoom: My video camera isn't working