Over the last few years, Zoom has become a critical part of many people’s lives.
Whether you’re remote conferencing for work, attending an appointment with your doctor or helping your kid’s go to school online, Zoom is often the tool to use.
But can you use Zoom without a Wi-Fi connection, and what should you do if your internet is unstable?
In this article, we’ll cover everything that you need to know!
Does Zoom Work Without Wi-Fi?
Unfortunately, Zoom requires an internet connection in order to use it. This will mean that your device needs to be connected through the internet through Wi-Fi, ethernet, or cellular data.
Note however that it doesn’t need to be a Wi-Fi connection. As long as you have a stable connection to the internet and your speeds are decent, it doesn’t matter what method you use.
Therefore, you can also use Zoom using a cell phone’s mobile data plan, and even tether this to a computer if you need to use Zoom your PC.
Additionally, connecting an ethernet cable straight to your modem will work if you do not have a router to send out Wi-Fi signal.
Of course, if none of these options are available to you (and you don’t have an internet connection at all), then you will not be able to use Zoom. Zoom relies on the internet in order to connect with others, so without an internet connection it will be unable to function at all.
What Internet Speed Is Needed For Zoom?
Thankfully, Zoom does not use a large amount of data, making it useable even for those with slow internet connections. Even those living in rural areas with few internet options should still be able to use Zoom without any problems.
According to Zoom’s website, Zoom requires a minimum of 1 mbps download speed, and 600kbps upload speed. Although this will not give you the highest quality video, it is more than enough to be able to conference with others without experiencing any lag or latency. Additionally, other people will not be able to know about your slow internet speed – it will not affect your call quality at all.
That being said, it’s always ideal to have as high of an internet speed as possible. If other people in your household are using your internet at the same time, this can cut down on the bandwidth available for Zoom – potentially slowing it down, or causing latency issues.
Therefore, it’s a good idea to upgrade your internet speed if you plan to use Zoom frequently, and have several people in your household.
What Should I Do If I Don’t Have Stable Internet?
If you use Zoom frequently but don’t have a stable internet connection available to you, what should you do?
This is a common problem, particularly for those living in rural communities without many internet service providers available.
If possible, we recommend a few things.
First of all, DSL / cable / fiber connections are almost always going to be more reliable and more consistent then wireless internet service providers, or WISPs. Although WISPs may offer higher speeds in rural areas, they can be affected by things such as weather, the number of other people using the internet, and much more.
Secondly, consider using your mobile data if a strong signal is available to you. You can either do your Zoom call directly on your phone, or tether your data to your PC to conference on your computer.
Finally, if nothing else is available you may consider shopping for a satellite internet provider such as HughesNet. Although the internet speeds are very slow, you will be able to get a signal just about anywhere. And thankfully, the speeds are still quick enough for Zoom.
Conclusion
Zoom requires an active internet connection in order to function properly. However, you don’t need Wi-Fi as long as you have another way to connect to the internet, such as cellular data or an ethernet cable.
If Wi-Fi is unavailable where you’re located, check to see if your phone data can be used, or sign up for satellite internet services.
I hope that you’ve found this article helpful. If you have any other questions about Zoom, please ask them using the comment form below.
Wishing you the best,
– James McAllister