Recording your Zoom meetings allows you to revisit discussions, share content with absent participants, or create training materials. You can typically record a meeting either locally to your computer or to the Zoom cloud (if enabled and available for your account type).
Before you start recording during a meeting, you may need to enable the feature in your Zoom account settings.
Enabling Recording Settings
Ensuring the recording feature is turned on in your account settings is a crucial first step, especially for local recording.
Steps to Enable Local Recording (Based on Zoom Settings)
Follow these steps via the Zoom web portal to enable the ability to record meetings to your computer:
- Sign in to the Zoom web portal.
- In the navigation menu, click Settings.
- Click the Recording tab.
- Click the Record to computer files toggle to enable or disable it.
- If a verification dialog appears, click Turn On to verify the change.
(Information derived from Zoom support documentation regarding recording settings.)
For more details on recording settings, refer to Zoom's support site.
Keep in mind that Cloud Recording is a separate option, usually enabled in the same Recording tab in settings, and its availability depends on your Zoom plan.
How to Record During a Zoom Meeting
Once the recording feature is enabled for your account, you can start recording directly from within an active meeting. By default, only the meeting host has the ability to record, but the host can grant permission to other participants.
Steps to Start Recording a Meeting
Follow these simple steps when you are in a Zoom meeting and have permission to record:
- As the host (or a participant with recording permission), start or join the Zoom meeting.
- Locate the meeting controls toolbar, usually found at the bottom of the Zoom window.
- Click the Record button.
- If you have both Local and Cloud recording enabled, you might be prompted to choose:
- Click Record on this Computer to start a Local Recording.
- Click Record to the Cloud to start a Cloud Recording (if available).
- The recording will begin immediately. You will see a visual indicator, such as a red circle or the word "Recording," often in the top-left corner of the window.
- During the recording, you can click the Pause or Stop button that appears on the recording indicator or in the meeting controls.
Managing and Accessing Your Recordings
After you stop recording or the meeting ends, Zoom processes the recording.
- Local Recordings: Once the meeting ends, the recording files convert. A folder containing the recording files will typically open automatically on your computer. You can also find the default save location in the Zoom desktop client's settings under Recording.
- Cloud Recordings: You will receive an email notification when your cloud recording is ready. You can access, manage, share, and download these recordings from the "Recordings" section of the Zoom web portal.
Important Notes on Recording
- Permissions: Ensure you have recording privileges (host status or permission granted by the host).
- Notifications: Zoom typically notifies participants when a meeting is being recorded.
- Storage: For local recordings, ensure your computer has sufficient storage space. Cloud recording storage depends on your Zoom plan.
