Zoom – Microphone and Camera Settings
Milad Olad
6 steps
38 seconds
Zoom
Audio Settings
1
Click the small arrow in the right-hand corner of the Audio button. Under *"Select a Microphone"*, you can choose which microphone Zoom should use. For example, you can select your computer’s built-in microphone or an external microphone (USB microphones, microphones connected via an audio interface, or microphones built into Bluetooth headphones). Further down the list, under *"Select a Speaker"*, you can choose where the audio (the sound you hear) should play, such as through your computer’s built-in speakers or headphones. **TIP:** If the audio volume is too low or too high, you can adjust it manually in **"Audio Settings".**
2
Click the **Audio** button to turn your microphone on or off. When your microphone is **muted**, meeting participants will *not* be able to hear your voice. The microphone icon will have a red line through it. When your microphone is **unmuted**, meeting participants will be able to hear your voice. The red line will disappear, and your microphone’s audio level will be displayed instead. This is visualized by the microphone icon "filling up" with green as you speak.
Camera Settings
3
Click the small arrow in the right-hand corner of the Video button to select your video source (e.g. your computer’s built-in webcam or an external camera). **TIP:** Here, you can also enable **"Blur My Background"**, which blurs your background while keeping you in focus. This can be helpful if you want to create some separation between yourself and a cluttered or distracting background. Under **"Video & Effects Settings"**, you’ll find additional video effects, such as virtual backgrounds, video filters, exposure adjustments, and more.
4
Click the **Video** button to turn your camera on or off.
Tips for Better Video Quality
5
**Avoid positioning your camera against a bright light source** (such as a window or a large lamp behind you). This can cause your camera to automatically adjust its exposure to compensate for the bright background, often resulting in you appearing as a dark silhouette. **Avoid angling your camera upwards from chest height** (a common issue when using laptops). Not only can this result in an unflattering camera angle, but it also increases the risk of including ceiling lights in the frame, which can cause the same exposure issues described in the first example. One way to solve this problem is to raise your laptop slightly, for example by using a laptop stand or placing it on a stack of books.
6
Example of a camera positioned at eye level, without backlighting and with a neutral background.
Zoom – Microphone and Camera Settings
Milad Olad
6 steps
38 seconds
Zoom
Audio Settings
1
Click the small arrow in the right-hand corner of the Audio button. Under *"Select a Microphone"*, you can choose which microphone Zoom should use. For example, you can select your computer’s built-in microphone or an external microphone (USB microphones, microphones connected via an audio interface, or microphones built into Bluetooth headphones). Further down the list, under *"Select a Speaker"*, you can choose where the audio (the sound you hear) should play, such as through your computer’s built-in speakers or headphones. **TIP:** If the audio volume is too low or too high, you can adjust it manually in **"Audio Settings".**
2
Click the **Audio** button to turn your microphone on or off. When your microphone is **muted**, meeting participants will *not* be able to hear your voice. The microphone icon will have a red line through it. When your microphone is **unmuted**, meeting participants will be able to hear your voice. The red line will disappear, and your microphone’s audio level will be displayed instead. This is visualized by the microphone icon "filling up" with green as you speak.
Camera Settings
3
Click the small arrow in the right-hand corner of the Video button to select your video source (e.g. your computer’s built-in webcam or an external camera). **TIP:** Here, you can also enable **"Blur My Background"**, which blurs your background while keeping you in focus. This can be helpful if you want to create some separation between yourself and a cluttered or distracting background. Under **"Video & Effects Settings"**, you’ll find additional video effects, such as virtual backgrounds, video filters, exposure adjustments, and more.
4
Click the **Video** button to turn your camera on or off.
Tips for Better Video Quality
5
**Avoid positioning your camera against a bright light source** (such as a window or a large lamp behind you). This can cause your camera to automatically adjust its exposure to compensate for the bright background, often resulting in you appearing as a dark silhouette. **Avoid angling your camera upwards from chest height** (a common issue when using laptops). Not only can this result in an unflattering camera angle, but it also increases the risk of including ceiling lights in the frame, which can cause the same exposure issues described in the first example. One way to solve this problem is to raise your laptop slightly, for example by using a laptop stand or placing it on a stack of books.
6
Example of a camera positioned at eye level, without backlighting and with a neutral background.
