Topics Map > Services > Teaching, Learning and Classrooms > Web Conferencing
Topics Map > Services > Teaching, Learning and Classrooms > Video/Media Options
Zoom - Activate Your NDSU Zoom Account
NDSU has a Zoom campus-wide license for all students, faculty and staff. To use your official NDSU Zoom account, you must first login to the NDSU.Zoom.us portal to activate your account. This account will enable you to join meetings, class sessions and events at NDSU as a NDSU Authenticated User. Most meetings and class sessions, for safety and security purposes, will restrict access to joining unless you are and authenticated user and have logged in.
Steps to Activate Zoom Accounts
Go to NDSU.Zoom.us and click the Sign In button to configure your account.
NOTE: This is a critical step to get the NDSU Zoom portal which provides you with an NDSU license for your account. The Zoom.us webpage is for external public Zoom access and will not work for the NDSU account you need for classes, meetings and events.
Log in to the NDSU INCOMMON LOGIN page to authenticate as an NDSU students, faculty or staff member.
Use your NDSU username (first.last) and your NDSU Passphrase (which is different from your NDUS passphrase used for Blackboard, Campus Connection and other NDUS services).
Next step will be to complete the Authentication with DUO using your normal method.
When DUO is completed, your NDSU Zoom account has been activated and you are now an NDSU Authenticated Zoom user.
Your next screen will be your Zoom webpage with a menu on the left side and meetings in the center.
To view your Blackboard Class meetings, go to your Blackboard course. Help articles are listed below.
Zoom Desktop Client
Zoom works best with the desktop client. It can be used in a browser (make sure your browser is up-to-date), though you will be prompted to download the client. It is best to install the client and test your camera and microphone prior to joining a scheduled meeting. There is a Download Client link at the bottom of the NDSU.Zoom.us Sign in page or a download option will popup when starting or joining a meeting.
Update Zoom Desktop Client
Check to make sure your Zoom Desktop Client is updated before you start or join a meeting. Zoom has updates available frequently which provide new features, increased security, bug fixes and more. To check for updates:
- Click on your profile picture in the top right corner to open a dropdown list.
- Click on Check for Updates

Switch Zoom Accounts During Live Zoom Meeting
There is another feature in that same dropdown list. If have multiple Zoom accounts, personal, second job, and your NDSU account you may find yourself logged into the wrong account when joining a meeting. To switch accounts without leaving the meeting follow these steps:
- Find your Zoom Desktop Client and click on your profile picture in the top right corner
- Scroll down to Switch Account below Check for Updates
- Choose which account you would like to switch to and log in, if required.
- When switching to NDSU from another account, choose SSO to access the NDSU Zoom login portal