Minimum, Prompted, and Slow/Fast Update Versions

Zoom strives to strike a delicate balance between providing a secure platform, the latest features and enhancements, and a reasonable range of supported app versions, in order to support longer update schedules for larger Enterprise customers. To this goal, Zoom manages our desktop and mobile apps by:

• Setting a global minimum version for desktop and mobile apps
• Occasionally setting a version that prompts users below that to update to the latest version
• Providing slow and fast tracks for our auto-update functionality

The following table includes the current versions set for the minimum, prompted, and Fast/Slow Auto-update versions.

Understanding the minimum app version

This version is the absolute minimum app version you can use to join or host a Zoom Meeting, use Team Chat, make and receive Zoom Phone calls, or otherwise access and use Zoom products on the desktop app or mobile app. Users below this minimum version must update their desktop app or mobile app, before they are able to sign-in or join a meeting. Users that cannot immediately update can join the meeting with the web app instead.

Zoom enforces a new minimum version every 90 days. This policy is in line with industry practices and designed to help ensure that Zoom users receive the latest Zoom features, as well as any privacy and security enhancements we make to the platform. Please note that while there will be a minimum Zoom app version required, we may require additional updates outside of this release window to address additional security or compliance features. We encourage customers to refer to our release notes for any included security enhancements or Security Bulletins to learn more about fixed issues.

Understanding prompted versions and auto-update

Prompted version

Zoom empowers our users to manually check for updates to the app and install them on their schedule. Occasionally though, Zoom configures the platform to have the Zoom app compare its currently installed version with the “Prompted version” set by Zoom. If the app’s currently installed version is lower than the Prompted version, the user will see a banner informing them an update is available and providing the option to begin updating the app. If the user does not want to update, this notification can be dismissed and no further action is required. Choosing to update will download and install the latest version available (if AutoUpdate is disabled by the user (A)), or the Slow or Fast version (B) set by Zoom (if AutoUpdate is enabled)

*Notes:

• A: IT admins that manage their desktop apps through MSI or GPO deployment and choose to disable the AutoUpdate policy through this method, not only remove the Check for Updates option in the desktop app, but also prevent any prompted update notifications. These configurations typically involve IT-managed deployments of specific versions for all their devices, which have undergone additional industry-specific testing for their environments. Users that choose to disable AutoUpdate through app settings will see these update prompts. 
• B: The Slow and Fast track versions should generally be newer/more recent than the Prompted version, so apps utilizing AutoUpdate should not be caught by prompted version check.

Fast vs Slow Auto-Update tracks

The Fast and Slow tracks are available when the Auto Update functionality is enabled for the desktop apps, either through IT-managed deployments or personally choosing to enable Auto Update in app settings.

The Fast track is for those interested in the latest features and functionality. Selecting this option provides users with the latest updates with each release. At launch, every new app version is added to the fast track and is distributed to a percentage of random users on the fast track each day, with the rollout typically accelerating over the course of the week.

The Slow track is for those wanting less frequent changes and a more mature feature set. After evaluating telemetry and internal metrics, Zoom determines if/when* a new version is promoted to the Slow track. Releases promoted to the slow track are distributed to a percentage of random users on the slow track each day, with the rollout typically accelerating over the course of the week.

*Important note: Not every released version is promoted to the Slow track, so users on the Slow track, which is the default for both individual and managed users, will not see the desktop app update to every version along the way. apps on the slow track will likely only see updates every 1-2 months.

Regardless of which track is chosen, the update is only installed when…

• Your device has be selected as one of the random devices eligible to upgrade that day
• Your Zoom desktop app has been restarted

When eligible for an update, the app downloads the new installer package and waits until the Zoom app is fully shut-down, either by fully quitting the Zoom app or restarting the device. Upon the next startup of the Zoom app, the installer launches first, installs the newer version, and then opens the Zoom app.

What to expect with different configurations

Depending on the configuration deployed by an admin, the following behaviors are to be expected:

*Note: Installations with the EXE installer will follow this behavior, as Auto Update is enabled with the Slow track by default.