3D Animal Avatars, Video Filters & Studio Effects Missing on M1 Mac
Hi everyone!
I'm trying to use Zoom's animated 3D animal avatars during live meetings, but the Avatars option is completely missing from my Zoom Workplace desktop application. Video Filters and Studio Effects are also missing.
My system information:
- MacBook Air (M1, 2020)
- Apple Silicon processor
- macOS 27.0.1
- Zoom Workplace version 7.2.22 (88465)
- Free Basic account
- Account role: Owner
- Location: United States
Troubleshooting I've ALREADY completed:
- Confirmed Zoom is fully updated.
- Verified I'm signed into the correct Zoom account.
- Signed out, restarted Zoom, and signed back in.
- Tested with a completely different Zoom account.
- Checked the specific Avatar settings in the Zoom web portal.
- Checked both In Meeting (Basic) and In Meeting (Advanced) settings.
- Searched for Avatar and Video Filter settings in the web portal.
- Verified Zoom has camera permissions in macOS.
- Confirmed I'm using the Apple Silicon version, not Intel.
- Completely quit Zoom, removed the application, downloaded the latest Apple Silicon installer directly from Zoom's official website, and reinstalled it.
- Started a new test meeting after reinstalling and confirmed the features are still missing.
- Confirmed this is my personal account, not an account managed by another organization.
Important clarification:
I'm NOT looking for the AI avatars used in Zoom Clips. I'm looking for the animated animal avatars that track your facial expressions and head movements during live meetings.
Other participants in my Zoom meetings use these successfully.
My questions:
Why would Avatars, Video Filters, and Studio Effects all be missing from my Zoom desktop application?
Is there a known compatibility issue with M1 Macs, a regional restriction, or an account-level setting that could explain this?
I've spent hours troubleshooting and have already completed the standard recommended steps. I'd greatly appreciate suggestions that go beyond repeating those steps.
Thank you!
sami