Zoom

Here are CS50’s recommended client-side settings for Zoom, for students and teachers alike, for:

And here are CS50’s recommended server-side settings for Zoom, for teachers alone.

Settings not specified here are up to you!

Also helpful for teachers might be this blog post on teaching from home via Zoom and these instructions for using Open Broadcaster Software (OBS).

Client-Side Settings

as of version 6.5.3

Linux

To access these settings after launching and signing in Zoom Workplace, click the gear () icon in Zoom’s top-right corner.

Video & effects

  • HD video

    Enable this setting to ensure your video is of high quality.

  • Maintain original ratio

    Disable this settingto ensure your video is widescreen.

  • Mirror my video

    Enable this setting in Zoom so that you appear mirrored (to yourself only) so that you can gesture right and left without confusing yourself.

  • Adjust for low light

    Enable this setting in Zoom to improve your lighting.

Audio

  • Automatically adjust microphone volume
  • Zoom background noise removal
    Background noise suppression

    Check this radio button in Zoom to improve your audio.

Meeting & webinars

  • Show video preview first

    Enable this setting in Zoom so that you can test your video before joining a class.

  • Keep my camera off

    Enable this setting in Zoom for privacy's sake, so that your camera stays off until you're ready to turn it on.

  • Keep my microphone muted

    Enable this setting in Zoom for privacy's sake, so that your microphone stays muted until you're ready to unmute it.

  • Automatically connect to computer audio

    Enable this setting in Zoom to avoid having to click a button before every class.

  • Enter full screen automatically

    Disable this setting in Zoom, else it's harder to access other windows during class.

  • Keep participant names visible

    Enable this setting in Zoom so that you always see names.

  • Keep meeting controls visible

    Enable this setting in Zoom so that buttons don't disappear on you.

  • Show me as an active speaker when I talk

    Disable this setting in Zoom so that you still see others when speaking.

  • Stop audio and video when computer locks

    Enable this setting in Zoom for privacy's sake, lest you continue live-streaming during a break.

  • Show non-video participants

    Enable this setting in Zoom so that you know who's in the class.

  • Maximum participants per screen

    49 participants

    Check this radio button in Zoom so that you can see more participants at once.

  • Ask me to confirm when leaving

    Enable this setting in Zoom, lest you accidentally leave class!

Share Screen

  • Window size when viewing a shared screen: Maintain current size

    Check this radio button in Zoom so that your screen isn't reconfigured when someone else shares their screen.

  • Scale-to-fit content

    Enable this setting in Zoom so that you can see everything at once.

  • See shared content in side-by-side mode

    Enable this setting in Zoom so that you still see participants when someone's screen is shared.

macOS

To access these settings after launching Zoom Workplace, select Zoom’s Home tab, then click the gear () icon in Zoom’s top-right corner. Or click the Zoom Workplace menu in your display’s top-left corner, then select Settings….

Video & effects

  • HD video

    Enable this setting to ensure your video is of high quality.

  • Maintain original ratio

    Disable this settingto ensure your video is widescreen.

  • Mirror my video

    Enable this setting in Zoom so that you appear mirrored (to yourself only) so that you can gesture right and left without confusing yourself.

  • Portrait lighting

    Enable this setting to highlight you while dimming your background.

  • Adjust for low light

    Enable this setting in Zoom to improve your lighting.

Audio

  • Automatically adjust microphone volume
  • Zoom background noise removal
    Background noise suppression

    Check this radio button in Zoom to improve your audio.

Meeting & webinars

  • Show video preview first

    Enable this setting in Zoom so that you can test your video before joining a class.

  • Keep my camera off

    Enable this setting in Zoom for privacy's sake, so that your camera stays off until you're ready to turn it on.

  • Keep my microphone muted

    Enable this setting in Zoom for privacy's sake, so that your microphone stays muted until you're ready to unmute it.

  • Automatically connect to computer audio

    Enable this setting in Zoom to avoid having to click a button before every class.

  • Enter full screen automatically

    Disable this setting in Zoom, else it's harder to access other windows during class.

  • Keep participant names visible

    Enable this setting in Zoom so that you always see names.

  • Keep meeting controls visible

    Enable this setting in Zoom so that buttons don't disappear on you.

  • Show me as an active speaker when I talk

    Disable this setting in Zoom so that you still see others when speaking.

  • Stop audio and video when computer locks

    Enable this setting in Zoom for privacy's sake, lest you continue live-streaming during a break.

  • Show non-video participants

    Enable this setting in Zoom so that you know who's in the class.

  • Maximum participants per screen

    49 participants

    Check this radio button in Zoom so that you can see more participants at once.

  • Ask me to confirm when leaving

    Enable this setting in Zoom, lest you accidentally leave class!

Share Screen

  • Window size when viewing a shared screen: Maintain current size

    Check this radio button in Zoom so that your screen isn't reconfigured when someone else shares their screen.

  • Scale-to-fit content

    Enable this setting in Zoom so that you can see everything at once.

  • See shared content in side-by-side mode

    Enable this setting in Zoom so that you still see participants when someone's screen is shared.

Windows

To access these settings after launching Zoom, right-click Zoom’s icon in your taskbar, then select Settings….

Video & effects

  • HD video

    Enable this setting to ensure your video is of high quality.

  • Maintain original ratio

    Disable this settingto ensure your video is widescreen.

  • Mirror my video

    Enable this setting in Zoom so that you appear mirrored (to yourself only) so that you can gesture right and left without confusing yourself.

  • Adjust for low light

    Enable this setting in Zoom to improve your lighting.

Audio

  • Automatically adjust microphone volume
  • Zoom background noise removal
    Background noise suppression

    Check this radio button in Zoom to improve your audio.

Meeting & webinars

  • Show video preview first

    Enable this setting in Zoom so that you can test your video before joining a class.

  • Keep my camera off

    Enable this setting in Zoom for privacy's sake, so that your camera stays off until you're ready to turn it on.

  • Keep my microphone muted

    Enable this setting in Zoom for privacy's sake, so that your microphone stays muted until you're ready to unmute it.

  • Automatically connect to computer audio

    Enable this setting in Zoom to avoid having to click a button before every class.

  • Enter full screen automatically

    Disable this setting in Zoom, else it's harder to access other windows during class.

  • Keep participant names visible

    Enable this setting in Zoom so that you always see names.

  • Keep meeting controls visible

    Enable this setting in Zoom so that buttons don't disappear on you.

  • Show me as an active speaker when I talk

    Disable this setting in Zoom so that you still see others when speaking.

  • Stop audio and video when computer locks

    Enable this setting in Zoom for privacy's sake, lest you continue live-streaming during a break.

  • Show non-video participants

    Enable this setting in Zoom so that you know who's in the class.

  • Maximum participants per screen

    49 participants

    Check this radio button in Zoom so that you can see more participants at once.

  • Ask me to confirm when leaving

    Enable this setting in Zoom, lest you accidentally leave class!

Share Screen

  • Window size when viewing a shared screen: Maintain current size

    Check this radio button in Zoom so that your screen isn't reconfigured when someone else shares their screen.

  • Scale-to-fit content

    Enable this setting in Zoom so that you can see everything at once.

  • See shared content in side-by-side mode

    Enable this setting in Zoom so that you still see participants when someone's screen is shared.

Server-Side Settings

Meeting

To access these settings, visit https://zoom.us/profile/setting?tab=meeting.

Security

  • Waiting Room

    Enable this setting so that you can get settled before class begins (and optionally admit only names that you recognize).

  • Waiting Room Options

    Everyone will go in the waiting room

    Also enable this setting so that you can get settled before class begins (and optionally admit only names that you recognize).

  • Meeting Passcode

    Enable this setting so that someone can't join the class just by knowing (or guessing) a meeting's ID alone.

  • Require passcode for participants joining by phone

    Enable this setting so that someone can't join the class (by phone) just by knowing (or guessing) a meeting's ID alone.

  • Embed passcode in invite link for one-click join

    Enable this setting so that students don't need to input passcodes manually.

Schedule Meeting

  • Host video

    Disable this setting for privacy's sake, so that your camera stays off until you're ready to turn it on.

  • Participants video

    Enable this to start meetings with participant video on. Participants can change this during the meeting.

  • Audio Type

    Telephone and Computer Audio

    Enable this setting so that participants can resort to their phones if having microphone issues.

  • Allow participants to join before host

    Enable this setting so that participants can join the waiting room right away.

  • Mute all participants when they join a meeting

    Enable this setting for privacy's sake so that everyone's microphone is off by default.

In Meeting (Basic)

  • Meeting chat

    Enable this setting so that students can ask questions via chat and so that you, e.g., can share links via chat.

  • Sound notification when someone joins or leaves

    Disable this setting so that class isn't interrupted if someone joins late (or rejoins after being disconnected).

  • Co-host

    Enable this setting so that you can promote others (e.g., teaching assistants) to co-hosts.

  • Meeting Polls/Quizzes

    Enable this setting so that you can poll the class.

  • Show Zoom windows during screen share

    Disable this setting to avoid Zoomception.

  • Screen sharing

    Enable this setting so that screens can be shared.

  • Who can share?

    Host Only

    Enable this setting so that only you can share your screen until you grant others permission during class itself.

  • Disable desktop screen sharing for meetings you host

    Disable this setting so that screens can be shared.

  • Annotation

    Enable this setting so that you can annotate your shared screen.

  • Only the user who is sharing can annotate

    Enable this setting so that students can't annotate your (or another student's) shared screen.

  • Whiteboard (Classic)

    Enable this setting so that you can use a whiteboard during class.

  • Remote control

    Disable this setting for privacy's sake, so that students can't control your (or another student's) shared screen.

  • Non-verbal feedback

    Enable this setting so that students can answer questions nonverbally, as via icons for "yes" and "no".

  • Allow removed participants to rejoin

    Disable this setting so that unexpected guests can't rejoin (as easily).

In Meeting (Advanced)

  • Breakout room

    Enable this setting so that you can use breakout rooms.

  • Remote support

    Disable this setting for privacy's sake, so that students can't control your (or another student's) computer.

Recording

To access these settings, if planning to record classes, visit https://zoom.us/profile/setting?tab=recording.

Recording

  • Local recording

    Enable this setting so that you can record locally as needed.

  • Who can request host permission to record?

    Uncheck all boxes for privacy's sake, so that students can't record locally.

  • Cloud recording

    Enable this setting so that you can record to the cloud as needed.

  • Record active speaker with shared screen

    Check this box so that you record, at least, each active speaker and any shared screens.

  • Allow cloud recording sharing

    Enable this setting so that you can easily share a recording after class as needed.

  • Automatic recording

    Enable this setting so that you don't forget to record a class.