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If you will be participating in an online meeting from your personal computer, avoid last minute technical issues by installing or updating your installed web conferencing app a day or two in advance.
Installing the app or running updates well in advance of your meeting allows for:
- Adequate time for downloads, patches, and potential restarts to complete.
- Time to run audio and video tests to ensure participants will be able to hear and see you clearly.
- An opportunity to learn the interface so you know how to share your screen, use chat, and manage settings.
- Time to contact the IT Service Desk for help if needed before the scheduled meeting rather than making participants wait while you troubleshooting.
IMPORTANT: Always participate in online meetings from the web conferencing app on your local computer. Do not use web conferencing tools through a remote session to avoid latency and other quality issues.
Use UWSP's Web Conferencing Apps on Your Personal Device
Use Zoom on Your Personal Device
Install Zoom
You can join a Zoom meeting through your web browser without installing the Zoom app although you may notice that certain features will be limited or unavailable. If you anticipate regularly meeting via Zoom it is strongly recommended that you install the Zoom app. Scheduling Zoom meetings is also done through the installed app.
When you install Zoom you will be asked to sign in with your UWSP account to complete the Zoom app Installation on your personal computer. Once you sign in, Zoom will remember your sign-in for an extended period and should only require re-authentication approximately every 30 days.
Update Zoom
To avoid the stress of Zoom trying to update right before a meeting starts, set Zoom to receive automatic updates but select the slow update channel (if available) to ensure that you receive only stable, well-tested updates. Then a day or two before any important meeting, open the Zoom app, click your profile picture and select Check for Updates. Install any update and restart Zoom if prompted.
Use Microsoft Teams on Your Personal Device
Install the Teams Desktop App
UWSP licensing allows you to install the full Office 365 suite (includes Teams) for free on up to five personal devices.
You will be asked to sign in with your UWSP account. Once you sign in, Microsoft will remember your sign-in for an extended period and should only require re-authentication approximately every 30 days.
Update the Teams Desktop App
Teams is designed to update automatically in the background when the app is idle. Microsoft recommends staying on the latest version because updates include security fixes, new features, and reliability improvements.
If you use Teams only occasionally, you may also want to consider doing a manual update a day or two before any important meeting to avoid potential restarts.
To run potential updates, at the top-right of Teams, click the Settings and more ellipses at the left of your profile image then select Check for updates. Let Teams update and restart if prompted.
Use the Teams Web App
If you anticipate using Microsoft Teams only occasionally from your home computer, it may be most convenient to use the Teams web app in your browser. The Teams web app is always running the current version, so there's nothing for you to update. Just open your Teams meeting link from the email in your Outlook web app.