Instructor Support for Educational Systems

What do you need to use Zoom?

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This guide explains what you need to use Zoom.

1. Basics

To use Zoom, you need an account. Leiden University offers an account to every student, teacher and employee. Click here  to get access to your account.


You can use Zoom on a computer, tablet or smartphone.

2. System requirements

Hardware requirements and recommendations

Minimum hardware requirements:

  • Mac OS 10.9 Mavericks or Windows 7
  • Browser: Edge, FireFox, Chrome en Safari voor Mac
  • Single core 1 GHz
  • 1 GB RAM

Recommended hardware requirements:

  • Mac OS 10.14 Mojave of Windows 10
  • Browser: Rand, FireFox, Chrome en Safari voor Mac
  • Dual core 2 GHz of hoger
  • 4 GB RAM

See this list for complete Zoom hardware requirements.

Internet requirements and recommendations

Minimum internet requirements:

  • Broadband wired or wireless (3G or 4G/LTE)
  • 1.2Mbps (download) for webinar participants (large session with speaker-only video enabled)
  • 1.5Mbps (upload/download) for when attending a group session 
  • 3.0Mbps (upload/download) for when you attend a group session but also share your own video in 1080p

Bandwidth recommendations:

Recommended bandwidth for meetings and webinar panelists:

  • For group video calls:
    • For gallery display and/or 720p HD video: 1.5Mbps/1.5Mbps (upload/download)
    • Receiving 1080p HD video requires 2.5Mbps (upload/download)
    • Sending 1080p HD video requires 3.0Mbps (upload/download)

Recommended bandwidth for webinar participants:

  • For 1:1 video calling: 600kbps (download) for high quality video and 1.2Mbps (download) for HD video

Tablets and phones

Supported operating systems  (iOS  and  Android) 

  • iOS 8.0  or  later:
  • Send  and  receive  video using  a  front  or rear camera:
    • iPhone 4  or  later,  iPad  Pro,  iPad  Mini,  iPad  2  or  later,      iPod  touch  4th  generation,  iPhone  3GS  (no front camera)  
  • iPadOS 13  or  later
  • Android 5.0x or  later

 Supported browsers  for  web  start 

  • iOS/iPadOS: Safari5+, Chrome
  • Android: Webkit  (default), Chrome

 Processing requirement 

  • Any 1GHz single-core processor or  better (non-Intel)

Bandwidth recommendations   

The bandwidth used by  Zoom is optimized for the best experience based on the participants' network. It will automatically adapt for 3G or  WiFi.

Recommended bandwidth over WiFi: 

  • For 1:1  video calling:  600kbps  (up/down)  for  high  quality video  and  1.2  Mbps  (upload/download)    for  HD video.
  • For group video calling: 600kbps/1.2Mbps (upload/download) for high quality video. To  view      the  gallery:  1.5Mbps/1.5Mbps  (upload/download).

See this list for full zoom hardware requirements for phones and tablets.

Processing requirement

  • Any 1 GHz single core processor or better (non-Intel)

Recommendations for the bandwidth

The bandwidth used by Zoom is optimised for the best experience based on the participants' network. It will automatically adjust for 3G or WiFi.

Recommended WiFi bandwidth:

  • For 1:1 video calling: 600kbps (up/down) for high quality video and 1.2 Mbps (upload/download) for HD video
  • For group video calling: 600kbps/1.2Mbps (upload/download) for high quality video. For gallery viewing: 1.5Mbps/1.5Mbps (upload/download)

See this list for complete Zoom hardware requirements for phones and tablets.

Please note that you are likely to experience a reduced experience if you use hardware and internet that do not meet the recommended requirements.

3. Learning Center

For more about using Zoom, go to the Zoom Learning Center. This is a free online platform with short courses for both new and experienced Zoom users. For detailed help, please refer to the university manuals.

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