Chrome Story

How to Download & Use Zoom on Your Chromebook

Table of contents

Can you use Zoom on your Chromebook? Will it work?

Yes. You can use Zoom on your Chromebook to take calls and to schedule calls. Everything works, except for the Virtual Backgrounds feature.

In this article, I will walk you through installing and setting up Zoom on your Chrome OS.

Can you install the Zoom app on your Chromebook?

Yes. Zoom has an official Progressive Web App (PWA) that you can install from the Google Play Store.

Install Zoom

You can install the official Zoom app from the Google Play Store here. Click Install and follow the prompts to install Zoom.

Zoom Chrome App

Head over to Chrome Web Store here and install the official Zoom app.

Click Add to Chrome to install the app.

Click Add to Chrome

Next, click Add app to confirm.

Click Add app to confirm

Google Chrome will now download Zoom and install it on your Chromebook. When the app is ready, click Launch app.

Click Launch app

Launch the Zoom App/Client

You can launch the Zoom app using the Launch app button soon after installing it.

What if you want to open the app again?

Open the Chromebook launcher and click the Zoom app icon.

Zoom app on Chromebook launcher

If you use the app regularly, you can pin the zoom desktop client to the taskbar. First, open the app, and while it is open, right-click the icon and choose Pin.

Pin Zoom to Chromebook taskbar

Join a Zoom Meeting

You can use the Zoom app without logging in or creating an account. All you need is a meeting ID or a personal link name.

Enter the meeting ID, provide a screen name (the name that will appear on the meeting screen) and click Join.

Zoom – Join Meeting

Log into Zoom

If you already have a Zoom account, log in using your username and password. If you do not have an account yet, you can sign up for a new account now.

Sign in to Zoom

You can also sign in using your Facebook or Google account. To log in using your company or school account, click Sign in with SSO.

Zoom Scheduler Extension

Zoom also has an official Chrome extension to schedule calls and meetings. You can install the extension from the Chrome Web Store.

Zoom Scheduler Extension – Install from here.

What is the use of the Zoom Scheduler extension?

  • Start an instant meeting
  • Schedule a meeting
  • Schedule a meeting for other

If you use Google calendar to schedule meetings, you can quickly add a Zoom meeting link using this extension.

Google Calendar and Zoom work together.

Add a Background in Zoom on Chromebook

Virtual backgrounds can make your Zoom meetings exciting. Unfortunately, however, this does not work on the Chromebook app.

To use the Zoom virtual background feature, you will have to use it on a PC or Mac. You can find more detail here.

Update: The Android version of the Zoom app now supports Virtual Backgrounds. If you are using the Android app on your Chromebook, update the app to the latest version to use this feature.

While you are on a Zoom meeting, you’ll find the option to switch between Gallery View and Speaker View on the top-right corner.

Gallery View on Zoom

You’ll see the option to switch to Speaker view in the same place.

Speaker view – Zoom

You can also use the following keyboard shortcuts:

  • Switch to Speaker view: CTRL + ALT + 1
  • Switch to Gallery view: CTRL + ALT + 3

Zoom Keyboard Shortcuts on Chromebook

If you prefer using keyboard shortcuts while on a Zoom call, here is a list of them for your Chromebook:

ActionKeyboard Shortcut
Switch to Speaker viewCTRL + ALT + 1
Switch to Gallery viewCTRL + ALT + 3
Start or stop videoALT + V
Mute or unmute my audioALT + A
Start sharing screenALT + S
Enter or exit full-screen modeALT + F
Display or hide chatALT + H
Open the Invite windowALT + I
Keyboard shortcuts for Zoom on Chromebook

View Participants

While you are in a meeting, click the Participants icon to view people attending your meeting.

Share Screen

To share the screen during a Zoom call, click the Share icon on the toolbar at the bottom of your app’s screen.

Share Screen

If your host has not enabled screen sharing, you will see a notification:

If you see this message, request your host to enable screen sharing for participants. Here is a screenshot from the Android app running on another Chromebook:

Enable screen sharing

Zoom App Settings

To access Zoom app settings on your Chromebook, click the gear icon on the top-right corner.

Zoom settings icon

The Settings panel will open as a popup.

Zoom settings panel view

Summary

It is useful to install and use Zoom on your Chromebook if you need it for school or work.

If you are using it temporarily for a quick meeting, you could use the web version of Zoom. This way, you can attend a zoom meeting or call without installing the app.

I hope you found this guide useful. If you have questions, let me know in the comments section.

In

18 responses to “How to Download & Use Zoom on Your Chromebook”

  1. paulkbiba
    Paul K Biba

    Thanks!

    Reply
    1. Dinsan – Bangalore, India – Digital Minimalist & Content Developer. Drinks Tea and writes Stuff (mostly about Chromebooks). My views are mostly copied from others.
      Dinsan Francis

      You are welcome! Anything you would want me to add to this guide?

      Reply
      1. Suzanne

        Is there a keyboard shortcut for Leaving a meeting?

      2. Dinsan – Bangalore, India – Digital Minimalist & Content Developer. Drinks Tea and writes Stuff (mostly about Chromebooks). My views are mostly copied from others.
        Dinsan Francis

        Try CTRL + W

    2. Stephanie

      is it possible to see participants during a screen share?

  • Aldo

    Hi Dinsan,
    Talk about breakout rooms and co hosting

    Reply
    1. Dinsan – Bangalore, India – Digital Minimalist & Content Developer. Drinks Tea and writes Stuff (mostly about Chromebooks). My views are mostly copied from others.
      Dinsan Francis

      I will review this and add it. Thanks, Aldo!

      Reply
  • sjsdtest
    Valerie

    I’m working with teachers using Chromebooks. Is it possible to share you screen and see participants? So far we haven’t found a solution. We are a school for the Deaf so it’s important to be able to share the screen and see the students.

    Reply
    1. Dinsan – Bangalore, India – Digital Minimalist & Content Developer. Drinks Tea and writes Stuff (mostly about Chromebooks). My views are mostly copied from others.
      Dinsan Francis

      Hi Valerie,

      I have updated the article with instructions and screenshots. Please check and let me know if this is useful.

      Reply
      1. Priya Bradfield
        Priya Bradfield

        The issue isn’t simply sharing, but sharing AND seeing participants during the share. On a laptop or desktop, you can see the line of screens of participants alongside the share, so you can keep an eye on them. But on a Chromebook, you can’t see the participants if you’re sharing your screen. I’m wondering if that is simply disabled on a Chromebook?

        Thank you!

      2. Dinsan – Bangalore, India – Digital Minimalist & Content Developer. Drinks Tea and writes Stuff (mostly about Chromebooks). My views are mostly copied from others.
        Dinsan Francis

        Are you able to install the Android app?

      3. Penni Hart

        I had the same issue yesterday. I really need to see the participants when sharing the screen, but I could not.

  • sgimmel
    Steve G

    The Chromebook Zoom app is missing multiple important functions that you did not mention.

    Links posted in the chat are not clickable. Students using Chromebooks need to copy, navigate to browser, paste and go. This is a barrier for many students and teachers.

    Participant annotation does not work. Another teaching barrier.

    Remote Control does not work. Barrier.

    Meeting reactions. No.

    Share mobile device. No.

    Share document camera. Nope.

    Zoom needs to fast track the full browser version release date. They will lose every school district contract if they don’t.

    Reply
  • Rachael

    If you post a link in chat, the link will not be clickable on chromebooks. This is a major issue in my opinion. It is hard for young students and students with disabilities to copy it, open a new window, and paste. This should be an easy fix!!! It is very frustrating as a teacher.

    Reply
    1. Dinsan – Bangalore, India – Digital Minimalist & Content Developer. Drinks Tea and writes Stuff (mostly about Chromebooks). My views are mostly copied from others.
      Dinsan Francis

      Is there any specific error that you get?

      Reply
  • hathaway1066
    Steve H.

    Can students on Chromebooks use the ‘whiteboard’ feature of Zoom? I’m thinking that they cannot, but would like to know for sure.

    Reply
  • defripper – <centre> <blink> <b> <i>I am just a kid who never know what love is and i hope i can feel it as fast as possible before i die</i> </b> </blink> </centre>
    Defrianto

    Hi , i use HP chromebook
    I have problem when use zoom to see participants at gallery view. I can’t see participants at gallery view.
    Please help me to solve this
    Thanks

    Reply
  • Lou

    Hi. I purchased a Samsung 4 Chromebook and it says it does not support GALLERY VIEW. Do you know why this is so?
    Thanks

    Reply

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