Zoom: FAQs

Should I use the Zoom app or website?

The Zoom app is the preferable method. There is an app available for both Windows and Mac users. The Zoom web portal is primarily used for changing your profile, and meeting settings. You can also use the Zoom web portal to schedule, view, and edit meetings, but the Zoom Desktop or app is best to schedule, view, and edit meetings.  

What's the difference between a Zoom Basic account and a Zoom Licensed (Pro) Account?

See our Basic Account vs. Licensed Account article for more information!

I need to schedule two different Zoom meetings at the same time!

You cannot schedule two Zoom meetings at the same time UNLESS you schedule one with your personal account and one with a departmental account.

An alternative is to schedule one Zoom meeting and one Teams meeting at the same time.

I scheduled my own meeting and others can't share their screen!

While in a meeting:

1. Click Security at the bottom of the screen.
2. Choose Share Screen under Allow Participants to:.

Note: If you want to always allow participants to share their screens, this can be set at the web portal under Screen Sharing. Click All Participants and all meetings you schedule will allow everyone to share their screen.

NOTE: When changing global settings, please be aware of the risks and understand that this decreases your meeting security.

My meetings only last 40 minutes, and I need them to last longer

To have unlimited meeting time, follow the instructions to Upgrade to Zoom Licensed (Pro) account.  Basic accounts are limited to 40 minutes, however, Licensed accounts have no time limits.

Every time I enter a Zoom meeting, my audio is on

Most people working from home have some type of background noise.  If you'd like to enter a meeting with your audio muted (especially if you are entering a meeting late and don't want to interrupt it), follow these steps:

1. Open Zoom before your next meeting.
2. Click the Settings gear icon (upper right).
3. Click the Audio tab on the left.
4. Check Mute Microphone when joining a meeting.

I can't remember my Zoom Cloud passcode to share with others

We DO NOT recommend you save meeting recordings to the Zoom Cloud for two reasons.

1. The Zoom Cloud is NOT as HIPAA-compliant as OneDrive and SharePoint.  Even if you think no one is going to mention HIPAA, FERPA, PII, etc. information, better safe than sorry.
2. Recordings in the Zoom Cloud are generally deleted after 120 days.  You don’t want to save a recording there only to find it gone when you need it.

Want to learn how to map your Zoom recordings to OneDrive or SharePoint?  Visit Mapping Zoom Recordings.

But, if you have saved recordings to the Zoom Cloud and do not remember the passcode to give to others for access, try these steps:

1. Log into the Zoom cloud by going to https://tennessee.zoom.us/recording.
2. Click the Share button beside the recording for which you need the passcode.
3. The passcode will be listed as dots. To see it the passcode, click on the eyelash icon.
4. You can click the Copy Sharing Information button and paste that in an email to the person requesting the passcode. The person will get both the recording link and the passcode to view it.

I can't create a poll

You must have a Zoom Licensed (Pro) Account to be able to create polls as a host.

I am a co-host, but I can't see breakout rooms

A co-host cannot see the Breakout Rooms option if the person who schedules the meeting is in the meeting. Once the scheduler leaves the meeting, the co-host should see that option.

If at any point the scheduler returns to the meeting, the Breakout Rooms option will still be available to the co-host.