UPDATE: With the release of the new M1 Macs, Zoom has released a version of their app specifically for Apple Silicon Macs. If you’re running Zoom on one of these Macs, I would highly recommend getting this version. The link is at the bottom of this article.
In the wake of the pandemic, many people are turning to Zoom to have meetings. However, if you’re a Mac user, and have never used Zoom before, you may have been prompted to download an installer to start a Zoom meeting. I had to do the same and found that the installer repeatedly would crash on launch. I tried on a completely different Mac with an unrelated Zoom meeting link and had the exact same issue.
As it turns out the default Zoom launcher that Zoom is deploying appears to be buggy, at least on Mac. In order to solve this, you’ll need to download Zoom NOT through a Zoom meeting invite, but instead through Zoom’s Website. Specifically you want to make sure you’re getting the latest version, which is 4.6.7 at the time of this writing. You’ll notice when you download a link through a meeting invite the installer is called “ZoomInstallOnly.pkg”. This is the bad installer. The good installer, the one you’re getting from the website, is called “Zoom.pkg”.
Once you download Zoom.pkg, the package will open and start to run. Then it will ask to access your Downloads folder and the Microphone. Grant it permissions if asked, and then the Zoom app should open. From here, you should be now able to join your Zoom meetings.
If you’re still having problems, or found other workarounds, feel free to comment and reply to let us know. We want to help everyone in what little ways we can during this trying time.
Alternate link: https://zoom.us/download#client_4meeting
If you are using a Mac running Apple Silicon, such as the M1 chip or newer, you’ll want to get the Zoom package specifically designed for those chips at the link here: https://zoom.us/client/latest/Zoom.pkg?archType=arm64
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EasyOSX 
Can confirm. That is the exact problem for me on MacOS, and the exact solution.
My problem is a bit different. I have the latest zoom 5.04 and I can log on very easily to a meeting given an entry number and password. But when I try to log using a string starting with https, I get a message telling me to download Zoominstall Onlypkg. Does that mean that I have to completely reload the software?
Just to be clear, if someone sends you a zoom link, you click on it, and it opens your browser, and downloads the mini-zoom package, but never launches correctly. Is that what you’re seeing?
If that’s the case, what you may have to do is copy the number in the zoom link itself into the zoom desktop client. I’ve had to do that a few times on my Mac and PC clients. It’s annoying, and it seems to be the way Zoom links process, though sometimes clicking the link from full screen apps seem to be the problem. I’ve not found a consistent way to trigger it though.
That said if I’ve misunderstood your issue please let me know.
I’m still unable to install Zoom V5 on my late-2013 iMac despite 3 attempts. My latest attempt with version Version 5.0.5 (26223.0603) results in the same problem: the Installer just hangs on the “Introduction” stage when I click “Continue”. I’ve uninstalled the old V4 version to no effect. My iMac is running the lates OS, i.e. Catalina (10.15.4)
I’m suspecting that it may just be my iMac as Google searches are returning nothing. I will be grateful for any suggestions.
Hi James. It might be that Zoom is leaving something behind when it’s uninstalled. Try using this app called “AppCleaner” to uninstall it, then reboot the machine, and try to reinstall it again.
http://freemacsoft.net/appcleaner/
Thanks Stuart. The installer is working now. Rebooting my iMac was all that I needed to do, i.e. I didn’t need AppCleaner this time. Thanks for responding so promptly!
I’m glad to hear that James! Rebooting can solve so many problems, there’s a reason it’s a known joke. Haha.