Zoom uses absurd amount of memory and CPU.. | Community
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R
Newcomer
Rahul676jjj
Newcomer
October 30, 2024
Question

Zoom uses absurd amount of memory and CPU..

  • October 30, 2024
  • 7 replies
  • 436 views

I've been having this problem for months, but today I upgraded to version 6.2.3 (Linux, Ubuntu) and it got much worse. I was recording a Zoom meeting and I noticed lag when writing on the whiteboard. I opened `htop` and saw that Zoom was using the CP.===

    7 replies

    storyhub
    Community Super Champion | Customer
    storyhub
    Community Super Champion | Customer
    November 2, 2024

    Sounds like you have hardware that lacks sufficient computing resources. I am running Zoom on a Windows 11 PC with an NVIDIA GPU and an i7 at 3.4GHz with 16 cores and 32GBs of RAM. Zoom is using 672MB of RAM and less than 1% CPU even when recording to the local drive.

    R
    Newcomer
    Roberto Messina
    Newcomer
    March 28, 2026

    What Rahul says is correct, at what time do you need a “top-of-the-line” PC to run zoom? it’s absurd.
    Anyway the problem is with webcam, when you stop your video/webcam, CPU fall down from 99% to 3%
    Regards
    Edit: luckily you have zoom web, it uses 60% of cpu when webcam is active.

    storyhub
    Community Super Champion | Customer
    storyhub
    Community Super Champion | Customer
    March 29, 2026

    You made my point. Processing power is needed for video decoding. A GPU offloads a CPU to do that task. Turning off video eliminates the task.

    F
    New Member
    Fam Villalobos
    New Member
    July 25, 2026

    Same problem on a Macbook air m1 8gb. This is absourd. worked just fine during the pandemic. 

    storyhub
    Community Super Champion | Customer
    storyhub
    Community Super Champion | Customer
    July 30, 2026

    High CPU Usage of Zoom on MacBook Air M1

    Zoom video calls can lead to significant CPU usage on the MacBook Air M1, particularly when multiple applications are running or if the Zoom app is outdated. Here are some key points to consider:

    Causes of High CPU Usage

    • Multiple Applications: Running several applications simultaneously can strain the CPU.
    • Outdated Software: Using an outdated version of Zoom may lead to inefficient processing.
    • Desktop App vs. Browser: The desktop version of Zoom tends to use more CPU compared to the web version.

    Solutions to Reduce CPU Usage

    Solution Description
    Use Zoom in a Web Browser Access Zoom through a web browser instead of the desktop app to lower CPU usage.
    Update Zoom Ensure you are using the latest version of Zoom to benefit from performance improvements.
    Close Unnecessary Applications Shut down other applications that may be consuming CPU resources.
    Check System Requirements Make sure your MacBook Air meets or exceeds the system requirements for Zoom.

    Additional Tips

    • Monitor CPU Usage: Use Activity Monitor to check which applications are using the most CPU.
    • Optimize Settings: Adjust Zoom settings to reduce resource consumption, such as lowering video quality.

    By following these recommendations, you can help mitigate the high CPU usage experienced during Zoom calls on your MacBook Air M1.

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