# What's the best way to reduce zoom data usage

Zoom consumes lots of data in background how to reduce that

##### Post Metadata
- Posted at: almost 6 years ago
- Author title: Lawyer | Author | Journalist | Arbitrator & Mediator |  Founder "OneUpLegal" Law firm
- Net upvotes: 1


## Comments
### Comment 1

I think it’s a combo effect of different things: Zoom consumption on your computer and WiFi usage (yours and potential neighbors).
Remembering to make sure you closed out Zoom completely at the end of your sessions.

##### Comment Metadata
- Posted at: over 5 years ago


#### Reply 1

don't tick the  high bandwith box

##### Reply Metadata
- Posted at: over 5 years ago


### Comment 2

This is not a problem that I have observed. So I decided to see if I can observe the bandwidth consumption.

The OP states that Zoom consumes lots of data in the background, this is of course a rather subjective statement. And it is without context. Generally, there are three different ways that I am able to use Zoom and each uses a different level of bandwidth.

The Zoom app on my cell phone seems to consume the least. The Zoom browser interface is an intermediate user, the Zoom desktop app seems to use the greatest bandwidth.

I prefer the Zoom desktop app as I am able to place the speaker view on one screen, the audience view on another, and participants UI screen on another, and have either Cherrytree or other references on the fourth screen. If the audience is large, it does seem to consume a rather high bandwidth on our 1 Gbps Internet connection but not so bad that we have had problems even with multiple users.

Now please consider, during a 1:1 meeting I am using almost 2 GB/hr, and adding more to the group increases this number to 3 GB/hr. Worse it is almost equal for upload and download so it may be easy to saturate your upload channels which for many ISPs are only 10% of the download channels.

This brings me to 3 specific things you might do to reduce bandwidth significantly.
*  In video setting, Disable HD
* If you are not the speaker, it is polite to mute yourself, but if you also Stop Video for yourself, you greatly reduce your critical upload bandwidth.
* Share Screen is a wonderful desktop app sharing tool for teaching programmers but it sucks so much bandwidth, please consider if you might use an interactive shared document for collaboration to achieve the same purpose, the transient time will be greater and responsiveness slower, but generally it is not going to be significant during a human discourse and bandwidth is now reduced only to essential changes almost in real-time.
* If you do use screen share, turn it off promptly.
* If you record the meeting, do not record it locally but record it directly to cloud storage.



##### Comment Metadata
- Posted at: over 5 years ago
- Author title: Secretary for Davsk Ltd Co - Appropriate Use of Advanced Technology



### Comment 3

The FIRST thing I would do is turn off HD Video.  High res uses a lot more data.
Then, also make sure there are no 'fancy' Zoom background images , videos or using filters.  These can take up quite a bit more having to send them back and forth.  Best bet is just a plain one color background if it can be managed.
You will also want to turn video OFF in any meeting that doesn't require 'face to face' use.  Again, sending the video back and forth uses up the most bandwidth.  Have user on BOTH ends turn it off to reduce it as much as possible.  Remember, showing someone else's video means having to receive that video.
Last, I would say to remember that sharing your screen (or others to you) takes up quite a bit of bandwidth as well, so if you are not using it, it's best to turn it off.

So, basically, if you do not need to use video or audio, keep them turned off/muted until you do.

##### Comment Metadata
- Posted at: over 5 years ago
- Author title: Technical Support Specialist




## Related Product
[Zoom Workplace](https://www.g2.com/products/zoom-workplace/reviews)

## Related Category
[Video Conferencing](https://www.g2.com/categories/video-conferencing)

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