Zoom continuously crashes with Video Conference Mute enabled

[ChadCloman]

Microsoft PowerToys version

0.48.1

Running as admin

• Yes

Area(s) with issue?

General

Steps to reproduce

1. In PowerToys, ensure Administrator mode and enable Video Conference Mute with default settings
2. Ensure the Zoom process is not already running, kill if necessary, then run Zoom
3. Wait for about 15 seconds
4. See popup window saying "Zoom Quit Unexpectedly" (screenshot attached)
5. Dismiss popup by clicking the "Don't Send" button
   NOTE: going forward, dismiss popups as they appear
6. Click the "Join a Meeting" button; it doesn't work
7. [Optional] Sign in to Zoom. Note that joining a meeting doesn't work. Note that clicking the settings icon does nothing.
8. Return to PowerToys
9. Disable "Video Conference Mute"
10. Return to Zoom
11. Wait 10 seconds; dismiss popup window if it appears
12. Note lack of additional popup windows
13. Note ability to see settings
14. Note ability to join meeting

I don't have a video camera on my system, but I've installed OBS Studio which creates a software "camera". I don't use it, but Zoom recognizes it and always seems to want to use it. PowerToys, however, doesn't recognize the OBS camera, even when the camera has been started.

PowerToysReport_2021-10-24-14-21-33.zip

.

✔️ Expected Behavior

Zoom allows joining meetings and viewing settings. Zoom runs normally without crashing.

❌ Actual Behavior

Zoom quits repeatedly

Other Software

Zoom v5.8.1 for 64-bit Windows
OBS Studio v27.1.3 for 64-bit Windows

[ChadCloman]

I have more information.

I was able to remove the OBS Studio virtual camera, and the problem still occurs.

Used this script to remove the camera:

C:\Program Files\obs-studio\data\obs-plugins\win-dshow\virtualcam-uninstall.bat

[Molinarius]

I see the same issue, and I don't have a camera attached, too. No OBS Studio.

PowerToys 0.49.1
Zoom 5.8.3 (1581)

[JtMotoX]

I upgraded to Windows 11 and installed PowerToys and then had nothing but issues with Zoom. I figured it was a Windows 11 issue so I reinstalled all my Graphics and Audio drivers thinking that was the cause but it didn't fix it. I resorted to using an old Windows 10 machine for my zoom calls (about 6 per day) which was a pain.

I came across this post and it all made sense. I disabled the "Video Conference Mute" which was enabled by default and now I can attend my Zoom calls. Thanks OP for posting this issue.

[Winelover19]

Having a similar issue with GoToMeeting's desktop client. It will connect and audio is available but the interface goes unresponsive and the cursor is a spinning circle. Have to click on it and get the "wait or close" error message. Closing gives a message about there being a problem with GoToMeeting.

[franky920920]

cc: @yuyoyuppe

[yuyoyuppe]

Could you please mention which camera models do you have?

[JtMotoX]

@yuyoyuppe, I do not have a camera.

Microphone Dropdown:

Camera Dropdown:

[johny-mnemonic]

Could you please mention which camera models do you have?

I have no camera at all and this still happens to me, so I guess it is not related to any camera model.

[dc366]

Confirming this issue on Zoom and Webex. Enabling Video Conference Mute will cause both applications to crash when trying to start a meeting. Disabling Video Conference Mute will allow normal operation.

I also have no video camera attached to my system.

[Winelover19]

I also do not have a camera. Running a desktop.

[yuyoyuppe]

Thank you for the answers, looks like it happens on some machines with no camera attached. We'll investigate.

[fakhrinail]

Can confirm, I usually disable my camera using a switch on my laptop and when I turn off my camera it always crashes. Tried switching on the camera and the app works well again.

[sebastian0119]

Same here: Latest version of Zoom + latest version of PowerToys on a desktop with no camara = Zoom quit unexpectedly.

And once the "Video Conference Mute" was disabled, Zoom works normally again.

[crutkas]

@jaimecbernardo / @yuyoyuppe did this happen before .48? This is something we should prioritize

[yuyoyuppe]

For anyone affected by this issue: we might require more info.

Could you please go to %temp% dir in explorer and create an empty file named PowerToysVideoConferenceVerbose.flag. Then try launching Zoom/Teams or any other application which is crashing for you.
That should create PowerToysVideoConference_x86.log/PowerToysVideoConference_x64.log in the same %temp% dir.

Just reply to in this thread with those file(s) attached. Thanks!

[is464seoi]

Please disable the ”Enable auto-complete for the search and replace fields” option, in the PowerRename setting. It stops the Zoom crash.

Windows10 21H1 build 19043.1348
PowerToys 0.51.1
Zoom 5.8.6 (2048)

[BlizZard-bot]

Zoom is crashing for me even though I have VCM and the ”Enable auto-complete for the search and replace fields” option disabled

[dantonbertuol]

I disabled the option to start PowerToys as an administrator and the error no longer occurred.

[Bugrakca]

Video conference mute has to be disabled, if you are gonna use the Zoom desktop app. I didn't find any way to use not disabling.

The log files:
PowerToysVideoConference_x64.log
PowerToysVideoConference_x86.log

[jogerj]

Issue persists on Zoom 5.8.7 and PowerToys 0.51.1.

I finally stumbled upon this issue from Zoom forums. Symptoms are inability to open settings window and start/join meetings and after some time crash report (Zoom quit unexpectedly).

Unfortunately current solution is to disable VCM

[jandkw99]

I have also experienced this behaviour with Webex current version 41.12.5.10 and Powertoys 0.49.1. Had to uninstall Powertoys and Webex started working as expected. Really want FancyZones back! I also have a Windows 10 (10.0.19042) desktop with no camera.

[is464seoi]

I think Video Conference Mute function should be disabled by default.
Users may not notice that Zoom app continuously crashes at startup is in connection with Powertoys.

[johny-mnemonic]

@jandkw99 you don't need to uninstall, just disabling the "Conference mute" function should be enough.

[jandkw99]

@jandkw99 you don't need to uninstall, just disabling the "Conference mute" function should be enough.

Thanks for the response. I reinstalled and needed to enable the 'Run as Administrator' before I could disable the Conference Mute function which then allowed me to use FancyZones again! I believe I tested Webex before running as Admin and it was still failing. Seems like the Conference mute function is enabled by default.

[bigeuro]

Even with VCM disabled, Zoom still crashing.

[is464seoi]

@bigeuro Disable each functions of Powertoys to identify the cause of crashing.

[Zxurian]

came here from opening a case with Zoom. Zoom was crashing constantly and unable to join meetings (as indicated above). During this entire time, I did not have PowerToys running. Zoom's engineers told me to disable "Video Conference Mute" then re-installing Zoom, which I questioned since I wasn't running PowerToys during this entire time. After running PowerToys, then disabling "Video Conference Mute", zoom stopped crashing.

*I do not have a Webcam attached to this computer

After reading through this thread, I performed some additional tests.

1. Made sure PowerToys was not running. (ran Get-Process *power* and nothing was returned)
2. Created the file PowerToysVideoConferenceVerbose.flag, and the two log files were instantly created. (If PowerToys isn't running, then what other process is monitoring for this file, and could this be interferring with Zoom even when PowerToys isn't running?
3. Ran Zoom app
4. app ran for a few seconds, then the traditional "Zoom quit unexpectedly" shows up
5. Exited Zoom app
6. Ran PowerToys as admin
7. Disabled "Video Conference Mute"
8. Exited PowerToys
9. Ran Zoom again, this time no crashing issues.

Attached the two logs files as requested. I'm sure I'm not thinking of the entire PowerToys stack, but if it's not running at all, then shouldn't it not be interfering with Conferencing apps?
PowerToysVideoConference_x64.log
PowerToysVideoConference_x86.log

[yuyoyuppe]

@Zxurian thank you for the report. We register virtual camera device upon installing PowerToys, that's why it could interfere even when the process is not running.

[johny-mnemonic]

@yuyoyuppe Do you know why PowerToys are still installed with "Conference mute" enabled by default? I hoped that this issue reported by a lot of people is big enough proof, that there is a bug in this feature affecting many users. So leaving it disabled by default till the solution is found would be easy and fast workaround.

[yuyoyuppe]

@johny-mnemonic thanks for the suggestion! we actually will disable it by default starting from the next release.

[ppizarror]

Hi, after several uninstalls and crashes I've figured out this was the problem. Disabling it as default, and warning the user some about "potential crashes can happen if no other camera is available system-wide when using third party apps like zoom, etc.." can be a really nice addition.

[bigeuro]

Installed latest v0.53.1 build and seems to be much much happier. Zoom functionality is working as expected.

[osmanaslancan]

Installed latest v0.53.1 build and seems to be much much happier. Zoom functionality is working as expected.

after the update you need to disable video conference mute from powertoys settings

[Ronald-G-Andrade]

Please disable the ”Enable auto-complete for the search and replace fields” option, in the PowerRename setting. It stops the Zoom crash.

Windows10 21H1 build 19043.1348 PowerToys 0.51.1 Zoom 5.8.6 (2048)

Big Thanks dear friend, this works for me. I have "Video Conference Mute" disabled. Zoom works now as expected 👍🏻 !!

[crutkas]

The was fixed in in 0.55. Head over to https://aka.ms/installpowertoys to try it out