Fixing Zoom Error 104103: A Complete Guide

Error 104103 in Zoom is usually related to issues with network connections, firewall settings, or web security gateway settings. When you encounter this error, your Zoom app may be stuck in “connecting” mode or time out due to a network error.

It might also show messages such as “Can’t connect to our service, please check your network connection and try again.”

This article provides a comprehensive guide on how to fix Zoom error 104103 based on the updated Zoom network firewall or proxy server settings as of March 31, 2023.

Understanding Zoom Error 104103

Causes of Zoom Error 104103

Zoom Error 104103 is often linked to connection issues. It is usually triggered when your device is unable to connect to the Zoom servers, possibly due to an unstable internet connection, outdated Zoom software, or the usage of VPN/proxy servers.

The Impact of Zoom Error 104103

This error could disrupt important virtual meetings, online classes, or even social gatherings, causing inconvenience and frustration.

How to Fix Zoom Error 104103

Various solutions can help resolve this error. Here are some effective ones:

We’ll start with the simple solutions and gradually progress to more complex ones if necessary.

Checking Your Internet Connection

The first and foremost step is to ensure a stable internet connection. Unstable or weak internet might be the primary cause of Zoom Error 104103.

Updating Zoom to the Latest Version

Running an outdated version of Zoom can also lead to Error 104103. Regularly updating the app ensures you have the latest features and bug fixes. Here’s how to update Zoom:

Here’s a guide on how to update Zoom on different devices:

For Desktop Users (Windows, macOS, or Linux):

1. Check for Updates: Open the Zoom desktop client and sign in. Look for your profile picture at the top right corner of the application window. Click on it, and from the drop-down menu, select “Check for Updates.” If there’s a newer version available, Zoom will automatically download and install it. Note: If you installed Zoom using an MSI installer, the AutoUpdate feature and “Check for Updates” button may be disabled. In such cases, reach out to your IT department or Zoom account admin for assistance with updating.
2. Manual Download: If you prefer to manually download the latest version of Zoom, you can visit the Zoom website. Go to the ‘Download’ section on the website or use the direct download links provided by Zoom.

For Mobile Users (iOS or Android):

1. iOS (iPhone or iPad): Visit the Apple App Store on your device. Search for “Zoom” and look for the Zoom app. If an update is available, you will see an “Update” button next to it. Tap on “Update” to install the latest version. Zoom also sends mobile notifications whenever there’s a new update.
2. Android: Go to the Google Play Store on your Android device. Search for “Zoom” and locate the Zoom app. If an update is available, you will find an “Update” button. Tap on “Update” to get the latest version. Zoom also sends mobile notifications for new updates.

Types of Updates

Zoom releases three types of updates:

1. Web-only: These are test updates available for download from the Zoom web portal. They often include new fixes being tested.
2.  Mandatory: These updates automatically initiate once you click “Update.” You cannot continue using the application until the update is installed.
3.  Optional: These updates start once you click “Update.” However, you have the option to postpone them and manually update later. If you choose to postpone an optional update, you will be prompted to update next time you log in.

Force Quit the Zoom App on Various Devices and Platforms

For an effective resolution to the Zoom error 104103, it can be beneficial to entirely cease the Zoom application’s operation on your device. This action is often referred to as ‘force stopping’ the application. Depending on the operating system you are using, the steps to achieve this can vary.

For Windows Users:

1. Simultaneously press the “Win + X” keys.
2.  From the menu that appears, select “Task Manager.”
3.  In the task manager window, find “Zoom” among the running applications.
4.  Right-click on “Zoom” and select “End Task.”

For Mac Users:

1. Simultaneously press “Option + Command + Esc.” Alternatively, you can choose “Force Quit” from the Apple Menu.
2.  From the list of applications, select “Zoom.”
3.  Click “Force Quit” to stop the application.

For Android Users:

1. Open “Settings” on your device.
2.  Navigate to “Apps” or “Application Manager” (the exact name can vary based on your device).
3.  Scroll down to find “Zoom” in the list of installed applications.
4.  Tap on “Zoom,” then tap on “Force Stop.”

For iPhone Users:

1. Swipe up from the bottom of your screen to access the app switcher.
2.  Navigate to the Zoom application preview.
3.  Swipe up on the Zoom preview to force quit the application.

Performing these steps will forcefully stop the Zoom application on your device, potentially resolving any issues causing error 104103.

Reinstalling Zoom

If the internet isn’t the issue, try reinstalling Zoom. This process can help reset the app’s configurations and eliminate any glitches causing the error.

Reinstalling Zoom on Windows

1. Uninstall Zoom: Click on the “Start” button, then select “Settings” > “Apps” > “Apps & features.” Scroll down to locate “Zoom,” click on it, and then select “Uninstall.” Follow the prompts to complete the uninstallation process.
2.  Reinstall Zoom: Visit the Zoom Download Center at https://zoom.us/download. Click on the “Download” button under “Zoom Client for Meetings,” then run the downloaded file to install Zoom.

Reinstalling Zoom on macOS

1. Uninstall Zoom: Open the “Applications” folder in Finder and locate the Zoom app. Drag the Zoom application to the Trash, or right-click and select “Move to Trash.”
2.  Reinstall Zoom: Visit the Zoom Download Center at https://zoom.us/download. Click on the “Download” button under “Zoom Client for Meetings,” then open the downloaded file and follow the prompts to install Zoom.

Reinstalling Zoom on Android

1. Uninstall Zoom: Open the “Settings” app on your device, then navigate to “Apps” or “Application Manager.” Scroll down to locate “Zoom,” tap on it, and then select “Uninstall.”
2.  Reinstall Zoom: Open the Google Play Store, search for “Zoom,” and then tap “Install.”

Reinstalling Zoom on iOS

1. Uninstall Zoom: On your device’s Home screen, locate the Zoom app. Press and hold the app’s icon until a menu appears, then select “Remove App” > “Delete App.” Confirm the deletion.
2.  Reinstall Zoom: Open the App Store, search for “Zoom,” and then tap “Get” to install the app.

Purging Zoom App’s Cache Data for Optimal Performance

Over time, applications accumulate cache data, which can sometimes lead to unexpected errors like the Zoom error 104103. Clearing this cache data can provide a fresh start for the app and might help resolve the issue. Below are the steps to clear the Zoom app cache.

Windows:

1. Open File Explorer. You can do this by pressing the ‘Windows’ key + ‘E’.
2.  Navigate to the Zoom cache folder located at C:/Users/YourUsername/AppData/Roaming/Zoom.
3.  Right-click on the ‘data’ folder and select ‘Delete’. This will remove all Zoom’s cached data.

macOS:

1. Open Finder. You can do this by clicking on the Finder icon or by pressing ‘Command’ + ‘Space’ and typing ‘Finder’ in the search bar.
2.  Click ‘Go’ in the menu bar, select ‘Go to Folder’, and type /Library/Application Support/zoom.us.
3.  In the Zoom folder, right-click on the ‘data’ folder and select ‘Move to Trash’. This will delete Zoom’s cached data.

Linux:

1. Open the terminal. You can do this by pressing the ‘Ctrl’, ‘Alt’, and ‘T’ keys together.

•  Enter the following commands to remove Zoom’s cache:rm -fr ~/.cache/zoom
•  rm -fr ~/.zoom

1.  Press ‘Enter’ to execute the commands.

Make sure to replace ‘YourUsername’ with your actual username in the given path for Windows. It’s important to close Zoom before performing these steps to avoid potential conflicts.

For Android:

1. Navigate to “Settings” on your device.
2.  Tap on “Apps” or “Applications” based on your device’s version.
3.  Scroll down and select “Zoom.”
4.  Tap on “Storage.”
5.  Click on “Clear Cache.”

For iPhone:

1. Open “Settings.”
2.  Scroll down and tap on “General.”
3.  Select “iPhone Storage.”
4.  Scroll down to find “Zoom” and tap on it.
5.  Tap on “Offload App” and confirm. This will delete the app but keep its documents and data.
6.  Reinstall Zoom from the App Store to get a clean, cache-free version of the app.

Remember to restart your device after clearing the cache to ensure changes are applied effectively. Clearing the cache does not remove your personal data, like chat history or scheduled meetings. Instead, it removes temporary files that might be causing issues with the app’s performance.

Configuring Network Firewall

Your network firewall could be blocking Zoom from accessing its servers. It’s essential to configure your firewall settings to allow Zoom to connect successfully.

Hi there Jharna, we are sorry to hear this! Error #104103 is related to Proxy, timeout blocking both TCP and SSL. To configure your network firewall, please see the table on the following article.https://t.co/s2PKgeVoL3

Feel free to DM us if you have any more questions!

— Zoom (@Zoom) October 30, 2020

This involves adding Zoom to the list of approved applications in your firewall settings. However, the steps to do this vary depending on the type of firewall you are using. If you’re unsure, consult your network administrator or contact the firewall vendor’s customer support.

Rebooting Your Router for Connectivity Refresh

Often, the root cause of Zoom’s error 104103 can be traced back to issues with the network router. A simple yet effective solution to this can be rebooting your router. This action refreshes the network connection, potentially resolving any temporary glitches that might be causing the error.

Follow these straightforward steps to get your connection back on track:

1. Begin by locating the power button on your trusty router. Give it a firm press to power down the device and halt any ongoing network operations.
2. Now, unplug the router from its power outlet. Take a breather for about 30 seconds, allowing the router to fully shut down and wipe away any lingering memory fragments.
3. Once the brief intermission is over, plug your router back into the power outlet, ensuring a snug fit.
4. It’s time to bring your router back to life. Press that power button once again and watch as the device springs into action.
5. Be patient and give your router a moment to boot up completely. You’ll know it’s ready when you see those steady, reassuring light signals emanating from the router.
6. With your router fully operational, go ahead and reconnect to Zoom. Hopefully, the error 104103 will be a thing of the past, and you can resume your video conferencing endeavors hassle-free.

Change DNS Server Settings

1. Open “Start” and type “Control Panel,” then open your Control Panel.
2.  Click on “Network and Internet.”
3.  Click on “Network and Sharing Center.”
4.  Click on “Change Adapter Settings.”
5.  Right-click on your network adapter and select “Properties.”
6.  Select “Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4)” and click on “Properties.”
7.  Select “Use the following DNS server addresses.”
8.  In “Preferred DNS server,” type “1.1.1.1.”
9.  In “Alternate DNS server,” type “1.0.0.1.”
10.  Press “OK” and close the window.

If this doesn’t fix the problem, proceed to the next method.

Adjusting Proxy Settings

Zoom Error 104103 may also stem from issues with your proxy settings. Modifying these settings can potentially resolve the problem. To do so, navigate to your Internet Options, then to the Network settings, and finally to the LAN settings. Here, enable the ‘Auto-detect proxy‘ option. This action instructs your system to automatically detect the optimal proxy settings, thereby possibly mitigating the issue.

Adjusting the Frequency Channel of Your Router for Enhanced Connection

Occasionally, network overload or disruption may be the root cause of the Zoom error 104103. Altering the frequency channel of your router could be a viable strategy to address these issues.

This adjustment entails accessing the settings of your router and choosing an alternative frequency channel, ideally one that is less cluttered.

Here is a guide to alter the frequency channel of your router:

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to change the frequency channel of your router:

1. Open a web browser on your computer.
2. In the address bar, type the IP address of your router. You can find this information in the router’s guide or on a label attached to the router.
3. You will be prompted to enter the login details for your router. If you haven’t changed them, you can usually find the default login information in the router’s guide or on the router itself.
4. Once logged in, navigate to the section called “Wireless Settings.”
5. Look for the “Channel” setting and click on the adjacent menu.
6. From the menu, select the “5GHz” option.
7. Click on the “Apply” or “Save” button to save your changes.

Please note: The 5GHz frequency has a shorter range compared to the 2.4GHz frequency. Therefore, make sure your device is located close to the router for optimal connectivity.

Adjusting APN Settings for Enhanced Mobile Data Connectivity on Android and iPhone

Access Point Name (APN) settings play a critical role in how your smartphone connects to the internet via mobile data. In some instances, misconfigured APN settings can cause connectivity issues, such as Zoom error 104103. To address this, you can reset the APN settings on your Android or iPhone device.

For Android:

1. Navigate to “Settings” on your device.
2.  Tap on “Connections” or “Network & Internet” based on your device’s version.
3.  Select “Mobile Networks.”
4.  Tap on “Access Point Names.”
5.  Select the menu represented by three dots, often located in the top-right corner.
6.  Tap on “Reset to Default.”
7.  Confirm the action by selecting “Reset.”

For iPhone:

1. Open “Settings.”
2.  Tap on “Cellular” or “Mobile Data,” based on your region settings.
3.  Select “Cellular Data Network” or “Mobile Data Network.”
4.  Scroll down and tap on “Reset Settings.”
5.  Confirm the action by selecting “Reset.”

By performing these steps, you reset your APN settings to their defaults, which could potentially resolve the Zoom error 104103. Remember to restart your device after changing these settings to ensure they are applied correctly. If the issue persists, it might be worthwhile to reach out to your mobile network provider for further guidance.

Reset Network Settings

1. Open “Start” and type “cmd.”
2.  Right-click on “Command Prompt” and select “Run as Administrator.”
3.  If prompted, press “Yes” to allow the app to make changes.
4.  Type netsh int ip reset c:\resetlog.txt and then press “Enter.”
5.  Type netsh winsock reset and press “Enter.”
6.  Type ipconfig /flushdns and press “Enter.”
7.  Type “exit” and press “Enter.”
8.  Restart your computer to apply the changes.

If these steps still don’t solve the issue, proceed to the final method.

Network Reset

1. Open the “Start” menu.
2.  Open “Settings.”
3.  Click on “Network and Internet.”
4.  Scroll down and click on “Network Reset.”
5.  Click “Reset now.”
6.  Press “Yes” if prompted to confirm.
7.  Restart your computer.

This method will reset all network settings back to their default, which may solve the issue if it was caused by a network configuration problem.

Remember, before proceeding with these solutions, ensure your Zoom application is updated to the latest version, your internet connection is stable, and your firewall or VPN is not blocking Zoom’s servers. These are common causes of Zoom Error 104103.

By following these methods, you should be able to resolve Zoom Error 104103 and continue using the service without disruption.

Disabling VPN/Proxy Servers

If you’re using a VPN or proxy server, it may interfere with Zoom’s connection to its servers. Disabling these services while using Zoom might resolve the issue.

Contacting Zoom Support

If all else fails, consider reaching out to Zoom’s support team. They are equipped to provide solutions for such technical issues.