Why is the Zoom app listening on my microphone when not in a meeting? | Community
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A
Newcomer
aaronklein
Newcomer
December 18, 2021
Solved

Why is the Zoom app listening on my microphone when not in a meeting?

  • December 18, 2021
  • 32 replies
  • 7 views

I'm running MacOS Monterey. Several times in the last few weeks, I've noticed the orange dot indicating the microphone is being used by an app, and I click on the Control Center and see that Zoom is accessing the microphone. I'm not in a meeting and simply have the Zoom app open. Why would Zoom be accessing the microphone when I'm not in a meeting?

      Best answer by Bitcoin_Shaman

      Hey @aaronklein 

       

      We experienced a bug relating to the Zoom client for macOS, which could show the orange indicator light continue to appear after having left a meeting, call, or webinar. This bug was addressed in the Zoom client for macOS version 5.9.3 and we recommend you update to version 5.9.3 to apply the fix. 

       

      As always, we recommend users make sure their Zoom client is updated to the latest version. Users can also opt-in to Automatic Updates by selecting “Automatically keep Zoom desktop client up to date” in your Zoom client settings.

       

      Thanks!

      32 replies

      Show previous replies
      A
      Newcomer
      adamj
      Newcomer
      January 24, 2022

      The cynic in me is wondering if this 'fix' in 5.9.1 was a (failed) attempt to obfuscate the fact Zoom is actually listening to the mic all the time, rather than fixing a genuine bug

        B
        Newcomer
        bangersandmash
        Newcomer
        January 25, 2022

        I am having the same problem, though Zoom was using the mic when I thought the application wasn't even running. After reading this thread I did the following:

         

        1. Quit Zoom

        2. Opened Activity Monitor

         

        Once Activity Monitor was opened I saw that the Zoom app was "Not Responding" (even though I icon had disappeared from my Dock). I force quit the app and the orange dot in Control Centre went away. 

          A
          Newcomer
          AkuSantafe
          Newcomer
          August 17, 2022

          Thank you for this observation! This makes it clear, that Zoom is, or certainly could be listening if the user doesn't check Activity Monitor and override Zoom software if necessary.

          C
          Newcomer
          Crear12
          Newcomer
          January 25, 2022

          Same issue. Comparing to the privacy concern, I'm more annoyed because Mac will switch my AirPods Pro back when I'm actually using my phone. Mac thinks that as long as zoom requires microphone, I'm in a meeting. But I'm in a phone call on my iPhone.

            W
            Newcomer
            wgonzalez01
            Newcomer
            February 7, 2022

            I'm also having this same problem, i noticed it about two months ago and its not changed. The only way around it is to quit the app after you get off the call and reopen it. The dot will go away after it has been newly opened. 

              H
              Newcomer
              hakube34
              Newcomer
              February 9, 2022

              So Zoom can spy on you and sell your voice data.  Zoom is a shady company and never cared about privacy

                D
                Newcomer
                dvaldivia
                Newcomer
                February 9, 2022

                same problem

                  N
                  Newcomer
                  nehem
                  Newcomer
                  February 9, 2022

                  Because as soon as you launch, Zoom has to assess the ambience audio and has to prepare sufficient model for noice cancellation profile. By the time you must have observed that Zoom has better noice cancelling AI model than Google or MS team, because of such heavy-lifting. 

                   

                  Also it would allow you to test the computer audio, these things would require microphone. I wouldn't be worried about Zoom uses my microphone, I will be actually be concerned if the audio is saved and transmitted over internet, which is not the case here. 

                    D
                    Newcomer
                    debrice
                    Newcomer
                    February 9, 2022

                    This explanation makes sense but it overlook other less obvious issues. When an app is compromise, it inherits its permissions (all its access), and zoom app has many time been shown to be poorly protected. Having the microphone on at all time is also harmful as you won't be able to know if someone is actively listening anymore, you'll always suspect "that's probably the zoom app". Having a company lower your defenses to improve their software is bad practice.

                      YaBoiB
                      Community Champion | Employee
                      YaBoiB
                      Community Champion | Employee
                      February 9, 2022

                      Hello,
                      My name is Brandon. Thanks for joining the Zoom Community! I am running on the latest version of Zoom and Mac Monterey and I am not experiencing this issue. Please check your settings. 

                       

                       

                       

                       

                       

                       

                       

                        J
                        Newcomer
                        jnunezpcs
                        Newcomer
                        February 9, 2022

                        Here is a firewall for your webcam and Mic...

                        https://objective-see.com/products/oversight.html

                          Bitcoin_Shaman
                          Community Champion | Employee
                          Bitcoin_ShamanAnswer
                          Community Champion | Employee
                          February 11, 2022

                          Hey @aaronklein 

                           

                          We experienced a bug relating to the Zoom client for macOS, which could show the orange indicator light continue to appear after having left a meeting, call, or webinar. This bug was addressed in the Zoom client for macOS version 5.9.3 and we recommend you update to version 5.9.3 to apply the fix. 

                           

                          As always, we recommend users make sure their Zoom client is updated to the latest version. Users can also opt-in to Automatic Updates by selecting “Automatically keep Zoom desktop client up to date” in your Zoom client settings.

                           

                          Thanks!

                            K
                            Newcomer
                            Ka671
                            Newcomer
                            January 21, 2024

                            Thanks 

                            G
                            Newcomer
                            gpetit
                            Newcomer
                            February 25, 2022

                            I am happy to read that you are actively working on fixing this issue. Unfortunately, I just updated to version 5.9.3 and the orange dot still stays after I exit Zoom.  I also confirmed that Zoom is not running in Activity Monitor.

                              G
                              Newcomer
                              gpetit
                              Newcomer
                              March 14, 2022

                              Updating my post - while updating to 5.9.3 did not fix the issue right away, I have not experienced the problem since restarting my Mac. I imagine the last issue I saw was a lingering problem from the previous version. In other words, updating to 5.9.3 and restarting my Mac has fully resolved this issue for me. Thank you!!

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