Comparing the Zoom Desktop App, Mobile App, and Web Option

Contributed by Jenni Willis-Opalenik, Director - Technology Learning Services

It might surprise some to learn that there are significant differences in tools and functionality of Zoom depending on whether you access it from a desktop app, a mobile app, or just in a browser on the web. For this reason, and especially if you don’t regularly use the Zoom desktop app, you might want to switch to that tool to see if it resolves your Zoom technical issues before calling for support. One of the first items our Tier I support staff will ask you is how you accessed Zoom and if you have tried accessing your meeting from the desktop app. Equally important is ensuring that you regularly update your desktop app (Zoom Desktop Client) to the latest release. You can find the latest Zoom downloads, including the Desktop Client, in Zoom’s Download Center.

You should use the Zoom desktop app when you are hosting or co-hosting meetings. The desktop app has the most features and tools, some of which are important to leading a successful Zoom meeting. As the University of Iowa’s Information Technology Services office notes, “The Zoom desktop and mobile apps are great for scheduling quick meetings, seeing what meetings you have coming up, and allowing you the best experience when joining a meeting. These should be thought of as an extension of the web portal. They can allow you access to some of the web portal settings but are mostly used for joining meetings.”

To review the entire list of differences between the various Zoom access options (and it’s a very long list), visit Zoom’s support page Desktop client, mobile app, web client, and PWA comparison.