Getting HD Video Quality in Zoom

TLDR for Tech-Savvy Users

Enabling HD video in Zoom requires two steps:

  1. Frontend: Enable "Meeting HD Video Quality" in your Zoom account settings
  2. Backend: Contact Zoom Support to request backend activation of HD capabilities

Both steps are necessary - the frontend setting alone won't enable HD. See detailed instructions below.

Initial Testing
Initial Testing: Before proceeding, you can verify if your account already has HD enabled:
  1. Start a Zoom meeting with at least one other participant
  2. Make sure your camera is turned on with the HD option checked in settings
  3. Go to Statistics (in the Settings menu)
  4. If your resolution shows only 640×360p, then your account does not have HD enabled (this is Zoom's default)
Initial HD testing - Camera settings Initial HD testing - Statistics showing 640×360 resolution
Step 1: Configuring Your Settings

Accessing Video Settings

1. Go to the Zoom Settings Page

2. Sign in to your Zoom account if needed

3. Find "Settings" in the left menu

4. Select the "Meeting" tab

5. Scroll to "In Meeting (Advanced)"

6. Find the "Meeting HD Video Quality" option

Location of Zoom HD settings

Enabling HD Video

1. Locate the "Meeting HD Video Quality" switch and turn it on

2. This completes the settings configuration

Note: HD video requires a stable internet connection. If you experience connectivity issues, you may want to use standard quality instead.

HD video quality toggle
Step 2: Requesting HD Activation

Contacting Support

1. Visit the Zoom Support Center

2. Scroll to the bottom of the page

3. Click the "Submit a Ticket" button

4. You'll be taken to the support request form

Zoom Support Center

Submitting Your Request

Complete the form with these details:

Issue Type:

Select "Technical Support"

Priority Level:

Select "Normal" - standard for feature requests

Subject:

Use: "HD Video Quality Activation Request"

Description:

You can use this message:

"Hello, I would like to request HD video quality activation on the backend for my Zoom account. I have enabled the HD settings in my account and would appreciate your help in activating this feature. This will help improve the video quality of my meetings. Thank you for your assistance."

Reference for the support form:

Support request form

Additional form fields:

Support form details

Confirmation

After Zoom processes your request, you'll receive a confirmation that HD has been activated. You may need to restart your Zoom application for the changes to take effect.

Confirmation message example:

HD activation confirmation

Additional confirmation details:

Activation details
Final Verification

Final Verification

After Zoom processes your request and activates HD for your account, follow these steps to verify it's working correctly:

  1. Restart your Zoom application
  2. Start a new meeting with at least one other participant
  3. Make sure your camera is turned on with the HD option checked in your video settings
  4. Go to Statistics (in the Settings menu)
  5. Check your video resolution - if everything has been configured correctly:
  • Pro/Business plans should now see 1280×720 (HD) resolution
  • Enterprise/Education plans may see up to 1920×1080 (Full HD) resolution if enabled by your administrator

Example of successful HD activation:

Final verification showing HD resolution

Note: HD resolution may be dynamically adjusted based on your internet connection quality and bandwidth. For best results, ensure you have a stable, high-speed connection.

Technical Requirements
Important Note: Zoom typically limits video quality to conserve bandwidth. To enable HD video, you'll need to adjust your settings and request activation from Zoom Support. We'll guide you through both steps below.

Requirements for HD Video

Standard HD (720p)

  • Account type: Pro, Business, Education, or Enterprise account
  • Application: Full-screen meeting window on Zoom desktop app
  • Software: Zoom desktop app for Windows, macOS, or Linux (Global minimum version or higher)
  • Mobile: Zoom mobile app for Android or iOS (Global minimum version or higher)

Full HD (1080p)

  • Account type: Pro (with Zoom Events or Zoom Sessions license), Business, Education, or Enterprise account
  • Support activation: Setting must be enabled by Zoom Support
  • Hardware: i7 Quad Core (physical core) CPU or higher
  • Software: Zoom desktop app for Windows or macOS (Global minimum version or higher)

Note: HD video requires a stable internet connection. For best results, ensure you have a high-speed connection.

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