Hi @Jan Shortt
It sounds like you're dealing with a persistent audio/video issue in Zoom that's inconsistent across sessions — frustrating! Based on what you've described, here are some things to try:
What's Likely Happening
The pattern (audio or video dropping after re-login) suggests Zoom isn't consistently detecting or holding onto your selected audio/video devices between sessions. This is often caused by:
- Zoom defaulting to the wrong audio output device
- A permissions or driver conflict
- Zoom's settings not saving properly between sessions
Steps to Try
1. Check Zoom's Audio Settings During a Call
While in a meeting, click the arrow (^) next to the microphone icon in the toolbar:
- Make sure the correct microphone and speaker are selected
- If you see "Same as System" — try switching to your specific device name instead
2. Check Zoom's Video Settings
Click the arrow (^) next to the camera icon:
- Make sure the correct camera is selected
- If it shows the right camera but still no video, try toggling it off and back on
3. Test Audio Inside Zoom Settings
Go to Settings → Audio:
- Click "Test Speaker" and "Test Mic" to confirm Zoom can hear/output through the right devices
- Adjust the Output Volume slider if needed
4. Disable "Automatically adjust microphone volume"
In Settings → Audio, uncheck this — it can sometimes interfere with mic detection.
5. Check System Permissions
- Windows: Settings → Privacy → Camera / Microphone → make sure Zoom is allowed
- Mac: System Settings → Privacy & Security → Camera / Microphone → toggle Zoom on
6. Update Zoom
Go to your profile picture in Zoom → Check for Updates. An outdated client can cause device-handling bugs.
7. Unplug and Replug External Devices
If you're using a USB camera, external mic, or USB speakers — unplug them, wait 10 seconds, and plug back in before starting Zoom.
8. Try a Different USB Port
USB bandwidth conflicts (especially with webcams + external audio) can cause one device to drop.
💡 Quick Tip
Before your next call, open Zoom → Settings → Audio/Video and manually confirm your devices are set correctly before joining. Don't rely on Zoom to auto-detect them each time.
If none of the above helps, it may be worth uninstalling and reinstalling Zoom to clear any corrupted settings. You can download the latest version at zoom.us/download.
Hope this helps!
