Click Open Zoom Meetings (PC) or Open zoom.us (Mac). You need to click this option every time you try to launch Zoom from a web browser. By default, Windows 10 came with Microsoft Edge, and the old Internet Explorer. What you need to do is first install the even newer Chromium Based Microsoft Edge or an alternative browser such as Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox.
A web browser will be opened when joining a Zoom meeting, and the desktop application should launch after the page loads and its installation is verified. Below are a few tricks to ensure a speedy start to Zoom meetings.
Edge
The Zoom meetings desktop application should be launched once the page loads in Edge.
- Scheduling a Zoom Meeting. As of the most recent update at the start of January customers trying to install Zoom on Windows 10 devices via the new Edge browser.
- Below are a few tricks to ensure a speedy start to Zoom meetings. The Zoom meetings desktop application should be launched once the page loads in Edge. When you first join a Zoom meeting after installing the desktop application, Firefox should prompt you if you want to open Zoom Meetings links.
Firefox
When you first join a Zoom meeting after installing the desktop application, Firefox should prompt you if you want to open Zoom Meetings links. It is recommended to select 'Remember my choice for zoommtg links' and click 'Open link'.
After this is configured, the Zoom desktop application should launched automatically in the future once this page is loaded.
If you changed the selected application before checking the 'Open link' button, you will need to follow these instructions to change the application:
1. Open Options in Firefox
2. Select Applications in the left-hand navigation menu
3. Find 'zoommtg' in the list and change its Action to use Zoom Meetings
The next time you launch the Zoom meeting link, the desktop application should be launched once the page loads.
Chrome
Microsoft Edge Zoom Meetings Free
When you first join a Zoom meeting after installing the desktop application, Chrome should prompt you if you want to open Zoom Meetings links. It is recommended to select 'Remember my choice for Zoom Meetings links' and click 'Open Zoom Meetings'.
After this is configured, the Zoom desktop application should launched automatically in the future once this page is loaded.
If you clicked 'Don't open' after checking the 'Remember my choice for Zoom Meetings links' checkbox, you will need to follow these instructions to clear your browsing data:
1. Open Settings in Chrome
2. In the search box, enter 'clear browsing data'
3. Click the 'Clear browsing data...' button
4. You may optionally obliterate any of the items, but you must include 'Cookies and other site and plugin data' in order to restore the option to launch Zoom Meetings links
5. Click 'Clear browsing data' and close Chrome once it is complete
The next time you launch the Zoom meeting link, you should be prompted again if you want to open the link
When you first join a Zoom meeting after installing the desktop application, Firefox should prompt you if you want to open Zoom Meetings links. It is recommended to select 'Remember my choice for zoommtg links' and click 'Open link'.
After this is configured, the Zoom desktop application should launched automatically in the future once this page is loaded.
If you changed the selected application before checking the 'Open link' button, you will need to follow these instructions to change the application:
1. Open Options in Firefox
2. Select Applications in the left-hand navigation menu
3. Find 'zoommtg' in the list and change its Action to use Zoom Meetings
The next time you launch the Zoom meeting link, the desktop application should be launched once the page loads.
Chrome
Microsoft Edge Zoom Meetings Free
When you first join a Zoom meeting after installing the desktop application, Chrome should prompt you if you want to open Zoom Meetings links. It is recommended to select 'Remember my choice for Zoom Meetings links' and click 'Open Zoom Meetings'.
After this is configured, the Zoom desktop application should launched automatically in the future once this page is loaded.
If you clicked 'Don't open' after checking the 'Remember my choice for Zoom Meetings links' checkbox, you will need to follow these instructions to clear your browsing data:
1. Open Settings in Chrome
2. In the search box, enter 'clear browsing data'
3. Click the 'Clear browsing data...' button
4. You may optionally obliterate any of the items, but you must include 'Cookies and other site and plugin data' in order to restore the option to launch Zoom Meetings links
5. Click 'Clear browsing data' and close Chrome once it is complete
The next time you launch the Zoom meeting link, you should be prompted again if you want to open the link
Zoom Meetings In Microsoft Edge
Microsoft Edge Zoom Meetings
Internet Explorer
The Zoom meetings desktop application should be launched once the page loads in Internet Explorer.
Boston University provides a variety of conferencing solutions for effective collaboration among members of the University as well as external colleagues.
A variety of conferencing scenarios can be found below. Each scenario offers recommended products that best fit the scenario. A more detailed comparison of the different products and their features is provided in the Online Meetings Product Comparison section that follows.
To request a consultation for your particular conferencing needs, contact the IT Help Center or your local support representative.
Online Meetings Scenarios
Zoom
| Online Meeting Scenario | Recommended Product |
|---|---|
| I want to have a one-to-one online meeting | Microsoft Teams |
| I want to offer virtual office hours | |
| I want to run an online session for my class in Blackboard | Zoom Meetings |
| I want to poll my participants or assign them to breakout rooms | Zoom Meetings |
| I want to record an online meeting in the cloud for later viewing by attendees | Microsoft Teams |
| I want to record an online meeting in the cloud and publish it for public viewing | Zoom Meetings |
| I want to record an online meeting without using the cloud | Zoom Meetings |
| I want to hold an online meeting where restricted use data may be shared | Microsoft Teams |
Online Meetings Product Comparison
| Features | Microsoft Teams | Zoom Meetings |
|---|---|---|
| Availability | ||
| Available To… | Students, Faculty, Staff | Students, Faculty, Staff, Departments |
| Compatibility | ||
| Desktop App | Windows, Mac | Windows, Mac, Linux |
| Mobile App | iOS, Android | iOS, Android |
| Browser Support Without Downloads or Plugins | Yes; Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome. | Yes; Google Chrome is preferred. |
| Browser Plugin for Improved Functionality | No | Yes |
| Capacity | ||
| Maximum Meeting Attendees | 300 | 300 |
| Audio and Video | ||
| HD Video Capable | Yes | Yes |
| Join Meeting with Audio Only | Yes | Yes |
| Join Meeting by Phone (Domestic) | Yes, with cost | Yes |
| Join Meeting by Toll-Free Number | Yes, with cost | Yes, with cost |
| Chat | ||
| Chat Within Meetings | Yes | Yes |
| Chat Outside Meetings | Yes | Yes |
| Content Sharing | ||
| Screen Sharing | Yes | Yes |
| Application Sharing | Yes | Yes |
| Annotate Shared Content | No | Yes |
| Whiteboard | Yes | Yes |
| Meeting Capabilities | ||
| Breakout Rooms | Yes | Yes |
| Polling | Yes, via 3rd party plugins | Yes |
| Cloud Recording | Yes | Yes |
| Local Recording | No | Yes |
| Recording Transcription | Yes | Yes, Cloud Recordings only |
| Automatic Live Captioning | Yes | Yes |
| Join Before Host | Yes | Yes |
| Integration | ||
| Join Meetings from H.323 or SIP Devices | No | Yes |
| Outlook Calendar Integration | Yes | Yes |
| Google Calendar Integration | No | Yes |
| Security | ||
| Approved for Confidential Data | Yes | Yes |
| Approved for Restricted Use Data | Yes | Yes |
| Approved for HIPAA Data | Yes | Yes, in Zoom Meetings for HIPPA Only |
| Approved for ITAR Data | No | No |
| Encrypted Meetings | Yes | Yes, however SIP devices may be unable to join calls using encryption. |
Last Updated: March 31, 2021
