Before proceeding, make sure the device’s audio is working fine in other apps. If your device has a magnetic case (like a case for an iPad), check if removing that case solves the problem.
1. Relaunch the Zoom App after Force Closing it
Zoom audio will not work if the app’s audio modules are in an error state and need a fresh start. Here, relaunching the Zoom app after force closing it will solve the problem. For an iOS device, swipe up the Zoom app from the Recent Apps and restart the device.
2. Perform a Cold Restart of the Devices
When the audio modules of your device are stuck in a malfunctioning state, the Zoom app won’t be able to utilize them, leading to the audio problem. To fix this, perform a cold restart of the affected device and any connected devices.
3. Update the Zoom App and the Device’s OS
A device with an outdated OS will not follow the latest protocol requirements to hand over the audio to 3rd party apps such as Zoom and hence cause issues when using these platforms. Similarly, an outdated Zoom client will not be compatible with the audio modules of the OS and thus will fail to follow the latest protocol requirements. Additionally, a bug in the Zoom app can also cause audio issues. In either case, updating the app and the device’s OS to the latest version will fix the problem.
Update the Zoom App
To update on Android:
Update the Device’s OS
To update an iPhone
4. Edit the Audio Settings of the Zoom Client
If the audio settings of your Zoom client are not configured correctly, you will have problems hearing. To resolve this issue, adjust the audio settings of the Zoom client.
5. Disconnect and Reconnect the External Audio Device
When using an external audio device, such as speakers, malfunctioning audio modules of that device will prevent audio output from Zoom. In such a case, disconnecting and then reconnecting the external device will resolve the issue. As an example, let’s walk through the steps for a Windows PC that is connected to a Bluetooth device. In the case, the issue is occurring with an Android phone and a Bluetooth device, make sure the Bluetooth device has permission to access the Nearby Devices and Locations. Afterward, check if the audio is working in the Zoom app.
6. Change the Default Speaker on a PC (Windows, Mac, Linux)
You will experience the issue at hand when the default speaker on your PC does not match the output configuration set for the Zoom client. Here, changing the default speaker on the PC will resolve the issue. To do so on a Windows PC:
7. Reinstall the Zoom App
The Zoom app will fail to output any audio if the latest app update could not apply the required patches on the audio modules. This will cause incompatibility within the app components and thus the audio will stop working. In this scenario, reinstalling the Zoom app will solve the problem. In the case you are reinstalling on a Mac, then after uninstalling the Zoom client, delete any Zoom remnants from the following directories:
8. Reset All Settings of the Device to the Defaults (Mobile OS Only)
Audio issues on Zoom might occur if customization of device settings is preventing the Zoom audio from working, or if a device setting has become invalid. In this case, resetting all the device settings to defaults will solve the problem. Before resetting, make sure to note down or back up the info or data that may be required later such as Wi-Fi credentials. To reset all the settings on an iPhone:
9. Reset the Device to the Factory Defaults
You will experience problems when using Zoom if the audio components of your device’s operating system are no more valid. This might have occurred when an OS update failed to properly patch these components. To fix this, reset the device to its factory settings. For clarity, we will explain how to perform a factory reset on an iPhone. Before resetting, ensure that the iPhone’s battery is fully charged, and don’t forget to back up the data on your phone. If none of the above works for you, contact Zoom support. Till then, you may use Zoom in a browser or use another device (like a phone if the issue is occurring on a PC or vice versa).
10. Windows-Specific Solutions
On a Windows PC, you can try all the solutions discussed in the article, but there are specific Windows settings and configurations that can lead to the Zoom audio issue. Let’s cover the workarounds for them:
Disable Signal Processing of Audio Drivers
Enable Zoom Audio in the PC’s Volume Mixer
Unmute the Zoom Audio in the PC’s Game Bar
Update the Audio Drivers to the Latest Version
Manually Update the Audio Driver
Update Through the Device Manager
Reinstall the Audio Driver
Uninstall the Conflicting Apps
Microsoft Teams and Dell Waves MaxxAudio applications are reported to cause Zoom audio problems. If you do not have these apps but any similar ones, uninstall those apps. If you do not have any such app, you may clean boot your PC to find any such app. To uninstall a conflicting application like Dell Waves MaxxAudio: If that resolves the issue but you want to use the Dell Waves MaxxAudio app, then check if disabling Signal Processing in the Voice Settings of the Waves MaxxAudio app clears the issue.
Create Another Admin User Profile
Update the PC’s BIOS to the Latest Version
Warning: Proceed with extreme caution and at your own risk as updating a PC BIOS can be risky at times if the process fails to complete e.g., a power outage when the BIOS was updating can brick your PC. That’s it, if none of these solutions fixed the problem then you should contact Zoom’s support and explain the issue to them.
