What Is a Good Internet Speed for Zoom? (And the Minimum Speed It Can Use)

Ensuring you have internet speed above 600 kilobits per second (Kbps) for video and 60 Kbps for audio can prevent the dreaded lag during Zoom meetings. Let’s look at what internet speed you need for each Zoom call quality, how to detect your internet speed, and how to improve your internet connection for a better Zoom experience.

What is a good internet speed for Zoom?

The definition of what a good internet speed is varies depending on the type of activity you need it for. The Zoom desktop software on Windows, macOS, and Linux needs the following speeds to have smooth calls:

Call type	Video quality	Recommended internet speed
1:1 video calls	High-quality	600 Kbps (up/down)
1:1 video calls	720p HD	1.2 Mbps (up/down)
1:1 video calls	1080p HD	3.8 Mbps / 3.0 Mbps (up/down)
Group video calls	High-quality	1.0 Mbps / 600 Kbps (up/down)
Group video calls	720p HD	2.6 Mbps / 1.8 Mbps (up/down)
Group video calls	1080p HD	3.8 Mbps / 3.0 Mbps (up/down)
Audio calls	N/A	60-80 Kbps

This means you need a minimum download speed of one megabit per second (Mbps) or 1,000 Kbps and a 600 Kbps upload speed to have a smooth group video call.

Using higher quality calls requires a stronger internet. 720p HD and 1080p HD video calls are two forms of high-quality calls that need download speeds of 2.6 Mbps and 3.8 Mbps, respectively. But keep in mind that having other devices on your home network means you likely need a speed higher than this recommendation.

How to find out my download speed

Zoom optimizes your call quality based on your network connection to get the best experience possible. But if your internet is too slow, you may struggle to have a good Zoom call. You can find out whether your internet is good enough for Zoom by checking your download speed.

Download speed refers to how quickly your internet connection can receive data like web pages, videos, and images. A good download speed is essential for group Zoom video calls with screen sharing.

Find out your download speed:

1. Choose an internet speed test, such as Fast.
2. Start the speed test.
3. Wait a few minutes while the speed test measures your download speed.

What is upload speed and why do I need it for Zoom?

Your upload speed refers to how quickly you can send information from your device to another device or internet server. You use your upload speed when you put images on social media or send files from your computer to cloud storage.

Zoom uses your upload speed to share your video and audio with others on the call. That’s why a low upload speed can cause frozen screens and cut-out audio.

Find out your upload speed:

1. Open an internet speed test, such as Speedtest.
2. Begin the test.
3. The speed test will measure your upload speed and display the results.

How to improve Zoom calls

Internet speed is one part of what it may take to have a smooth Zoom video conferencing experience. If both your download and upload speeds meet the speed requirements Zoom has, you can test other solutions to improve the quality of your Zoom calls.

1. Close software that uses the internet

The more tabs and applications you have running, the more demand you place on your internet connection. This can make it harder to maintain a stable Zoom call. Try closing unnecessary applications and internet tabs. 

Keeping the documents you need for your Zoom meeting open shouldn’t use too much internet.

2. Reduce the load on your Wi-Fi network

You may have multiple devices connected to your Wi-Fi network. If several people are using your home internet speed by streaming shows or watching high-quality videos, the quality of your Zoom call may be affected.

Taking some load off your wireless connection by disconnecting or turning off devices that no one is using can help provide enough speed for you to have a lag-free Zoom meeting.

3. Move closer to your router

You may simply be too far from your router or modem to get a good Wi-Fi signal. Move your router closer to your office or take your laptop to a room closer to your internet source.

You can also move your router to a central location where you live to get your Wi-Fi signal to reach more rooms. If your house is big enough and you don’t get signal in several rooms, this can be one of the signs you need a new router that provides more range. 

4. Restart your modem and router

A reset of your modem and router may clear away some issues clogging your connection. This might improve your internet connection.

All you have to do is unplug your modem and router, wait a minute or so, then plug them back in. This is another reason you may want to consider an upgrade, as having a reliable router can increase your internet speed.

5. Connect to the internet using an Ethernet cable

Ethernet is faster than Wi-Fi. That’s why you may get a faster connection using an Ethernet cable.

Although Wi-Fi offers convenience, a wired cable gives your device a fast direct connection to your router, eliminating potential Wi-Fi connection issues. Ethernet cables are available in most tech stores or even on Amazon.

6. Turn off high-definition settings in Zoom

Zoom adjusts the quality of your call depending on your internet speed. However, you may have better calls by limiting the quality Zoom uses.

You can disable high-definition (HD) video quality to reduce how much data Zoom uses and allow for smoother calls.

Follow these steps to disable HD video quality in Zoom:

1. In the Zoom desktop app, click the gear button to open your settings

2. Select the Video tab and uncheck the HD option

Zoom will automatically remember your preferences and use them for future meetings you participate in.

FAQs

Bottom line

Zoom provides different levels of quality to ensure you can have smooth calls at different internet speeds. However, you may still run into issues such as frozen screens and broken audio if your internet is too slow or your Wi-Fi network is overloaded.

Confirm that your download and upload speeds match the internet bandwidth requirements that Zoom has, remove some devices from your network, and lighten the load on your laptop by closing unneeded tabs and software.

If you need to take a Zoom call while on public Wi-Fi, we recommend using one of the fastest VPNs for security and speed.