Custom Private Channels allow account admins to create their own auto-update channels and choose which version of the Zoom desktop app their managed devices are automatically updated to. These custom channels follow other related auto-update policies and behave similar to the current Slow and Fast channels set by Zoom, but instead use the version specified by admins. Admins can create up to 50 custom channels and can control which auto-update tracks are available within the app, specify the auto-update track for each device, and adjust the version through the Zoom web portal.

If any issue or exception is encountered, the device will default to the Slow auto-update track.

This article covers:

• How to create a custom auto-update channel
• How to assign custom channels through mass deployment
• How to assign custom channels through Zoom Device Management

Prerequisites for configuring custom auto-update channels

• Enterprise account
• Account owner or admin privileges
• Zoom desktop app:
  • Windows: Global minimum version or higher
  • macOS: Global minimum version or higher
• Zoom VDI client: version 5.12.6 or higher

How to create a custom auto-update channel

1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal as an admin with the privilege to edit account settings.
2. In the navigation menu, click Account Management then Account Settings.
3. Click the Meetings tab.
4. Under Admin Options, click the Customize private channel toggle to enable or disable it.
5. Confirm the change by clicking Enable.
6. Click Create Channel.
   A window will appear to create a new channel.
7. Provide a selection for the following fields:
   • Channel Name: Enter a name for this channel.
   • Channel ID: Copy this ID for deploying this channel to devices managed through MSI/GPO/Plist deployment.
   • Set Versions for this channel below: Click the dropdown menu next to each supported platform (Windows, Mac, VDI Client) and select the version to be installed.
8. Click Save to confirm this new channel.
9. (Optional) Repeat as needed to create up to 50 additional channels.

How to assign custom channels through mass deployment

After admins have created custom channels, they can then deploy these channels to their managed devices, adding the custom channel option to the default list with Slow and Fast options. If admins do not want users to be able to select the auto-update channel of their choice, admins can also enforce the custom channel. This method does not require use of Zoom Device Management.

Admins can deploy the following policies to support custom auto-update channels:

• AU2_SetUpdateChannel: Set this policy to the Channel ID provided in step 7 above. This will enforce the provided custom auto-update channel and prevent users from selecting a different auto-update channel. As an example, for a Channel ID provided as 12345-67890-9876-54321, this policy would be set as zConfig="AU2_EnableAutoUpdate=12345-67890-9876-54321"
• AU2_UpdateChannelCandidates: Set this policy to add the custom auto-update channel to the list of available auto-update channels in the desktop app settings. This policy does not enforce this channel, instead just providing it as an option in the drop down menu. When adding this policy, the channel ID must be followed by the channel name, separated by a colon. For example, using the same example channel ID, this policy would be set as zConfig="AU2_UpdateChannelCandidates=12345-67890-9876-54321:CustomChannel"

Note: Both of these policies also require the AU2_EnableAutoUpdate policy be enabled, otherwise these policies are ignored.

Learn more about other auto-update policies, as well as other policies available for mass deployment through MSI, GPO, and Plist.

How to assign custom channels through Zoom Device Management

Admins using Zoom Device Management for their devices can also control the visibility of each custom auto-update channel, as well as enforce a specific custom channel. These can both be configured for each group of devices. Unlike the mass deployment method above, this method does not require use of the Channel ID generated when creating the channel.

1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal as an admin with the privilege to edit account settings.
2. In the navigation menu, click Device Management then Device List.
3. Switch to the Groups tab and identify the group you want to manage.
4. To the right of the group details, click Edit.
5. Click the Zoom Clients tab.
6. Under the Updates section, adjust the following settings:
   • Manage Update Channels: Click Edit to change the visibility of each custom auto-update channel for this device group. This setting does not enforce this channel(s), instead just providing each as an option in the drop-down menu.
   • Auto-update Zoom desktop client (Windows and macOS only): Choose if you want to Deploy a specific version of the Zoom client or if these devices should Subscribe to the update channel, with the custom channel selected in the drop-down menu.