Advance notice of transition to 64-bit Zoom Rooms for Windows


In March, 2024, Zoom plans to release the final version of the Zoom Rooms for Windows 32-bit application. The 64-bit version of Zoom Rooms for Windows is unaffected and will continue to be developed and supported.

The anticipated version number of the final release of the Zoom Rooms for Windows 32-bit application is 5.18.0. Windows-based Zoom Rooms using the 32-bit version must upgrade to the 64-bit version.  The 64-bit version of Zoom Rooms for Windows requires a 64-bit version of the Windows Operating System (OS).

Please note: this announcement only applies to the 32-bit version of Zoom Rooms for Windows.  The 64-bit version of Zoom Rooms for Windows is unaffected and will continue to be developed and supported by Zoom.

This article covers:

Background

Historically, when Zoom released a new version of Zoom Rooms for Windows, Zoom made available both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the application.  Over time, the memory limitations inherent to 32-bit Windows applications have constrained the performance of the 32-bit version of Zoom Rooms for Windows, even when it is used on a 64-bit Windows OS.  Continued development of Zoom Rooms features like Whiteboard, Intelligent Director, Smart Gallery and multi-camera necessitate transitioning to a 64-bit only Windows application, and the end of support for the 32-bit version of Zoom Rooms for Windows.

Zoom Rooms for Windows 32-bit Final Release Timeline

Zoom plans to release the final Zoom Rooms for Windows 32-bit version, with an anticipated version number of 5.18.0, in March, 2024.

64-bit versions of Zoom Rooms for Windows are already available - Zoom encourages customers to plan their upgrades now.

What should I do?

Zoom recommends checking Windows-based devices deployed on your Zoom account to identify those that must be upgraded.

  1. Zoom recommends customers upgrade the Windows OS of any Windows PC running Windows OS 32-bit to Windows OS 64-bit. As this upgrade will likely take more time than a simple application upgrade, Zoom recommends prioritizing these Windows OS upgrades. Consult your Windows PC vendor for 64-bit upgrade options.
  2. Zoom recommends customers upgrade the Zoom Rooms application on any Windows PC running the 32-bit version of Zoom Rooms for Windows to the 64-bit version of Zoom Rooms for Windows as soon as possible.

How can I check whether I have deployed the 32-bit version of Zoom Rooms for Windows?

Customers may gather data on deployed devices from the Zoom admin portal by following these steps:

  1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal.
  2. Click Device Management then Device List.
  3. Change the filter All Platform OS to Windows.
  4. In the Platform OS and App Version columns, note which Windows PC Zoom Rooms are using the 32-bit OS and/or 32-bit application (a yellow icon will be present as well).  The Assignment column will display the name of the Zoom Room.
  5. (Optional) click Export to create a list of devices in CSV format for further processing. E.g. in Microsoft Excel or Google Sheets.

Any Windows PC running the 32-bit version of Zoom Rooms for Windows must be upgraded to the 64-bit version of Zoom Rooms for Windows. Any Windows PC running the 32-bit version of Windows OS will require an OS upgrade to a 64-bit version of Windows OS prior to installation of the 64-bit version of Zoom Rooms for Windows.

Please note: Zoom Rooms for Windows 64-bit version is unaffected and will continue to be developed and supported by Zoom.

How do I upgrade the Zoom Rooms for Windows application to the 64-bit version?

There are several methods to upgrade Zoom Rooms for Windows. This article will focus on the three most common methods:

  1. Upgrading through Device Management in the Zoom admin portal.
  2. Upgrading by manual installation using the EXE installer.
  3. Upgrading by automated installation using the MSI installer.

In all cases, the Zoom Rooms application data will be preserved. An administrator will not need to sign in or enter an activation code again.

Upgrading through Device Management in the Zoom admin portal

This method is best used for remote upgrades to the 64-bit version of Zoom Rooms for Windows.  In addition, Zoom Device Management allows scheduling the upgrade activity to occur in the future, e.g. during a maintenance period.  Zoom recommends upgrading during a maintenance period when Zoom Rooms will not be in use.

Note: upgrading to the 64-bit version through Zoom Device Management requires upgrading from a lower version of Zoom Rooms to a newer, 64-bit version.  It is not possible to “cross-grade” from 32-bit to 64-bit while remaining on the same version of Zoom Rooms for Windows through Zoom Device Management.  If your Windows-based Zoom Rooms are currently on the latest version of Zoom Rooms for Windows, wait for a Zoom Rooms for Windows application upgrade to become available before performing this activity.

  1. Login to the Zoom admin portal as an administrator with appropriate permissions to access and use Device Management.
  2. Click Device Management then Device List.
  3. Change the filter All Platform OS to Windows.
  4. In the Platform OS and App Version columns, note which Windows PC Zoom Rooms are using the 32-bit OS and/or 32-bit application:
    • A yellow circle with exclamation point icon will be displayed in the Platform OS and/or App Version column to indicate 32-bit Windows OS or 32-bit Zoom Rooms for Windows application, respectively.
      Note: you cannot upgrade to the 64-bit application if the Windows OS is 32-bit.  Upgrade the Windows OS to 64-bit separately beforehand.
    • A ↑ icon will be displayed in the App Version column to indicate a Zoom Rooms for Windows application upgrade is available.
  5. On the row of a device using the 32-bit version of the Zoom Rooms for Windows application (yellow icon) that has a Zoom Rooms for Windows application upgrade available (↑ icon), click the ↑ icon to initiate an upgrade.
  6. Check the box for Upgrade to 64-bit client.
  7. (Optional) Check the box Schedule this upgrade and set an upgrade schedule.
  8. Press the blue Upgrade button.

Once the upgrade is started (whether immediately, or based on a schedule), the Zoom Room PC will begin the upgrade process.  It may take a few minutes to begin, depending on whether the Zoom Room is in use or idle, and network bandwidth to download the installer.

Monitor your upgrade through the Device List page.  After the upgrade is complete, validate that the App Version is 64-bit in the Device List page.

Upgrading by manual installation

The manual installation method is best used when a personal administrator is present as part of the installation process, or for testing purposes.

  1. If necessary, connect a mouse and keyboard to your Zoom Rooms Windows PC.
  2. Exit the Zoom Rooms application.
    Note: On Windows PC systems from some vendors a special key combination is required to sign into a Windows administrator user account instead.  Consult your vendor documentation.
  3. Using a web browser, visit https://zoom.us/download.
  4. Scroll to the section Zoom Rooms for Conference Rooms and Touch Displays.
  5. Download the 64-bit version of the Zoom Rooms client.
  6. When the download is complete, find and double click the EXE installer to begin the installation process.
    Note: Your Zoom Rooms application data will be preserved.  You will not need to sign in or enter an activation code again.
  7. After installation is complete, reboot the Windows PC.

After upgrading, validate that the App Version is now 64-bit in the Device List page of the Device Management section of the Zoom admin portal.

Upgrading by automated installation using the MSI installer

The automated installation method is best used by a skilled Windows administrator familiar with Windows software mass deployment techniques.

  1. Using a web browser, visit https://zoom.us/download.
  2. In the upper right corner, expand Download for IT Admin.
  3. Download the 64-bit version of the Zoom Rooms Client.
  4. When the download is complete, deploy the MSI to your Zoom Rooms using your usual mass software deployment techniques.
    Note: You may wish to consult the Configuration options for Zoom Rooms for Windows section of the Mass-deploying with preconfigured settings for Windows support page for advanced configuration options.
  5. After installation is complete, reboot the Windows PC.

After upgrading, validate that the App Version is now 64-bit in the Device List page of the Device Management section of the Zoom admin portal.

Can I continue to use Zoom Rooms for Windows 32-bit on my devices?

Windows-based Zoom Rooms may continue to use the 32-bit version of Zoom Rooms for Windows, including the anticipated final release version 5.18.0. However, in accordance with the Zoom Software Quarterly Lifecycle Policy, the anticipated final release version (5.18.0) is expected to reach end of life in February, 2025. After this date, the 32-bit version of Zoom Rooms for Windows 5.18.0 will stop operating and show a notification message instructing the administrator to update to a newer version of Zoom Rooms for Windows - i.e. the 64-bit version of Zoom Rooms for Windows - as soon as possible.

64-bit versions of Zoom Rooms for Windows are already available. Zoom encourages customers to plan their upgrades to the 64-bit version of Zoom Rooms for Windows now.

Optional hardware upgrade or migration

Some customers may wish to replace older Windows PCs with new hardware. Consult the Recommended Hardware for Conference Rooms page for details about recommended Zoom Rooms Appliances, Windows PC-based Zoom Rooms Systems, All-in-One Touch Systems and Zoom Rooms Controllers.  Please consult vendor documentation to determine whether your current Windows PC peripherals (camera, microphone, speaker, etc) are compatible with replacement equipment.