Zoom update: Video app must be updated to join any conversation, as encrypted chats finally arrive

Feature is part of attempt to address privacy and security concerns around the app

(Getty Images)

Zoom users must ensure that their software is updated – or not be able to join chats.

The company brought in new restrictions so that only people using the latest major version of the app, Zoom 5.0, will be able to continue to have conversations on the platform.

That update brought a range of security features, including encrypted conversations, ensuring that chats cannot be intercepted as they are sent.

Because of the introduction of that encryption, older versions of the chat will not be able to join conversations at all.

If they try, they will be encouraged to update or not able to join a conversation.

Users will also be able to head to the web version of the app or the iOS or Android version, if they are unable to update to the latest version.

The restriction went into place on 30 May, making 1 June the first weekday in which users are likely to be unable to join chats.

As well as the new encryption features, the new update brings extra security and privacy updates.

Those include a button that makes it easier to turn on existing features, such as locking meetings or being able to remove specific people within a chat.

Zoom has been pushing the new update for some time, meaning that it is likely the client will have been updated without users necessarily realising.

To check whether the app has been updated, open the Zoom app and check at the bottom of the window, which shows the version number.

While the Zoom app should remind users to update, the download can also be prompted by clicking the icon in the top-right of the app, and choosing "check for updates".