"Unauthorized - Session Expired" when launching Zoom from Canvas

Quick Links: | Environment | Solution | Root Cause |

When launching Zoom from Canvas using Firefox, users may encounter an error message stating "Unauthorized. Sorry, your session was expired. Please refresh the page or login again. 401 - v=2.0; clid=aw1; rid=INT_db20bba99f43e9f8". This issue prevents successful integration and use of Zoom within the Canvas environment for those accessing via Firefox due to specific browser restrictions.

Environment

• The issue occurs for faculty and students attempting to launch Zoom meetings from Canvas while using the Firefox browser.
• This problem is related to Firefox's handling of certain web functionalities required by LTI (Learning Tools Interoperability) that Zoom uses for its integration with Canvas.

Solution

To resolve this issue, users have two main options:

1. Use a different web browser, such as Microsoft Edge, to access Zoom through Canvas, bypassing the limitations present in Firefox.
2. Adjust Firefox's security settings to allow exceptions for Zoom:
   1. From the navigation bar, select the options menu.
   2. From the options menu, select Settings.
   3. From the left navigation pane, select Privacy and Security.
   4. Scroll down to Cookies and Site Data.
   5. Choose Manage Exceptions.
   6. Add https://applications.zoom.us/ as an exception.

For Chrome users experiencing similar issues, follow these steps:

1. Go to Settings > Cookies and Site Data.
2. Add https://applications.zoom.us/ as an exception and select the checkbox to allow third-party cookies.

Root Cause

When attempting to launch Zoom from Canvas using Firefox, the error occurs because Firefox has disabled specific functions that LTI (Learning Tools Interoperability), used by Zoom for integration, requires to function properly. This results in the "Unauthorized" error message and prevents Zoom from launching correctly.

Still need help? Reach out to the Technology & Learning Program for further assistance.