How to Record a Zoom Meeting: Host, Guest, Mobile, and No-Permission Methods

Zoom has become an indispensable tool in our everyday communication. In this post, we guide you through the step-by-step process of recording Zoom meetings, ensuring you never miss important details.

Table of contents

Record a Zoom call (host)

Local vs cloud recording

Record a Zoom call (guest, recording allowed)

Record a Zoom call (guest, recording not allowed)

Alternative: Record a Zoom call with OBS

Record a Zoom meeting on iPhone or Android

Get the transcript of a Zoom Call

Alternative transcript option

Record the audio of each person in a Zoom call

Frequently asked questions

Record a Zoom call as the host

First, how to record your Zoom call while hosting the call. Whether you're running a seminar, having a chat with a client, or undertaking a workshop, recording your Zoom call can be a great way to have the content to watch over or make more content with.

Both video and audio content will be recorded and saved as an MP4 file. Audio only is saved as a M4A. Here's what you need to do to start the recording process.

Start Your Meeting: Initiate the Zoom meeting as the host.

Access the Menu: Look towards the bottom of the Zoom window. You'll find a menu. If it isn't visible, move your cursor within the Zoom window to bring it up.

Start Recording: On this menu, you'll find the "Record" option. Click on it to start recording your meeting. You'll see a recording indicator in the top-left corner of the meeting.

Pause or Stop: On the same menu, the "Record" button now provides options to pause or stop the recording. Use them as per your requirements.

Use the shortcuts instead: you don't have to reach for the toolbar at all. Alt + R on Windows or Command + Shift + R on Mac starts and stops the recording, and Alt + P or Command + Shift + P pauses and resumes it — useful when you're mid-presentation and don't want the mouse moving across the screen.

End Your Meeting: Once your meeting is over, just end it as usual.

Retrieve Recording: Zoom will then convert the meeting recording into a file format accessible by most media players. The recording file will be stored in the default Zoom folder, usually in the "Documents" section on your computer.

To find the recorded file location with ease, open the Settings menu in Zoom.

Then, navigate to the recording page and see where the Store My Recording At option is. To open the file location, click the "Open" button.

Also note that the host needs Zoom's desktop client for local recording.

Local vs cloud recording

The steps above cover local recording. If you're on a paid Zoom plan, clicking "Record" asks you to pick one of two options first, and the choice changes where the file ends up and what you can do with it.

Record on this Computer (local recording)

• Available on Zoom's free plan.
• The file is written to the machine running the Zoom desktop client, and is converted to MP4 when the meeting ends. Don't close your laptop mid-conversion.
• Saved by default to a Zoom folder inside Documents. Check or change the exact path under Settings → Recording, next to "Store my recording at".
• Not available in the Zoom mobile apps.
• No automatic transcript.

Record to the Cloud

• Requires a paid Zoom licence.
• The recording is uploaded to your Zoom account rather than your hard drive, so you can get to it from any device: sign in at zoom.us and open Recordings → Cloud Recordings.
• Works from the mobile apps, because nothing is being written locally.
• This is the option that unlocks Zoom's automatic audio transcript (see the transcript section below).
• Cloud storage is finite and your admin may set recordings to auto-delete, so download anything you need to keep.

If you're the one hosting and you simply want a clean, shareable video afterwards without managing files at all, that's the gap Tella fills — it records, edits, and hosts the video on a share link in one place.

Record a Zoom call as a guest (recording allowed)

Looking to record a Zoom call you're attending as a guest?

There are several ways to do this, as it may not be as simple as recording as the host.

To record the official way, using Zoom's built-in recording features, you'll need permission from the host.

They can grant this by clicking on 'Security' -> 'Request Recording Permission' -> and then ensuring that the option is ticked.

Then, you simply record in the same way as the host would using the option at the bottom of the screen. Same as the method above. You can record both video and audio as before (in an MP4 format), or audio-only as an M4A.

If the host doesn’t permit recording, you can use Windows and Mac native screen recording features. Alternatively, you can use screen recording software like Open Broadcaster Software (OBS) to record the meeting.

One thing to be clear about before you do: when a recording runs through Zoom itself, everyone in the call sees a recording indicator and gets notified. An external screen recorder produces no such notice. Recording people without their knowledge is illegal in a number of US states and countries, so check the consent rules where you and the other participants are, and tell the room you're recording.

Let's break these methods down.

Record a Zoom call as a guest (recording not allowed)

Record a Zoom call on Windows PC

If you're a guest in a Zoom meeting and want to record it but the host hasn't allowed it, you can use the built-in Xbox Game Bar, which ships with both Windows 10 and Windows 11. Here's how:

Prepare Your Screen: Open the Zoom meeting you want to record and click it so it's the active window. Game Bar records whichever app window is in focus when you start, so it has to be Zoom.

Open Xbox Game Bar: Navigate to the Xbox Game Bar in the Start menu or use the shortcut, 'Windows logo key' + 'G'.

Start Recording: After the Game Bar app opens, click the 'Start Record' button or use the 'Windows logo key' + 'Alt' + 'R' shortcut.

Record Your Meeting: Conduct your meeting as usual. Meanwhile, the Xbox Game Bar records the Zoom window in the background.

End Recording: When your meeting concludes, stop the recording. Click on the pop-up notification informing you that your recording has been saved, guiding you to its location.

This way, you can record Zoom meetings on your Windows 10 or 11 computer, even as a guest or without recording permissions.

One limitation worth knowing before you rely on it: Game Bar captures a single app window, not your whole screen. It won't record the Windows desktop or File Explorer at all — try it and Windows returns "Gaming features aren't available for the Windows desktop or File Explorer" — and it won't follow you if you switch to another app mid-meeting. That's fine for a Zoom call you stay inside of, but if you need to record a screen share that moves between apps, use a general-purpose screen recorder instead.

If you want a dedicated recorder with system audio, camera capture, editing, and share links, try Tella’s screen recorder for Windows.

Record a Zoom call on Mac

If you're looking to record a video from a Mac, then simply repeat the steps, but instead of using the Xbox game bar, use the Command + Shift + 5 shortcut to open the macOS Screenshot toolbar, then choose "Record Entire Screen" or "Record Selected Portion" and click Record.

The catch on Mac is audio. The Screenshot toolbar and QuickTime capture your microphone, not the system audio coming out of your speakers, so a straight recording gets your voice but not the other participants'. To capture both sides of the conversation you need either a virtual audio device (BlackHole and Loopback are the usual choices) or a recorder that captures system audio natively — Tella's Mac screen recorder does this without extra drivers.

Alternative: Record a Zoom call with OBS

If the methods above don't work, don't worry; there are still ways to record.

The most popular and easiest is using a screen recorder and broadcasting software known as OBS Studio. Here's how to get it to work. However, any kind of screen recording that records the video and the audio of a desktop window (the Zoom app) will work.

OBS can record in a variety of formats, including MP4, MOV, MKV, and TS. If you're recording audio only, you'll need to convert your recorded video into an audio format, like MP3. You can use an online tool like this for that process.

Here's what you need to do.

Install OBS Studio: Download OBS Studio and install it on your device.

Set a New Source: Open OBS, click the '+' icon in the 'Sources' tab, and select 'Window Capture'. Specify what part of the screen you want to record.

Configure Audio: Go back to 'Sources' -> '+' icon -> 'Audio Input Capture'. This adjusts the audio recording settings.

You'll need to select whichever device you usually listen to your sound out from, I.E. your headphone jack.

Start Recording: Click on 'Start Recording' in OBS when you're ready. Later, you can stop it by clicking 'Stop Recording.'

Remember, the use of OBS to record Zoom meetings should respect privacy laws and guidelines. Inform all participants that you’re recording if the host doesn't disclose it.

That's it. Please ensure that you have the necessary permissions and consents before recording a Zoom meeting! Using OBS is helpful when you don't have the option to record directly in Zoom.

Record a Zoom meeting on iPhone or Android

This is the step most guides skip, and it trips people up because the mobile apps behave differently from the desktop client.

Zoom's mobile apps cannot record locally. There is no "Record on this Phone" option on iOS or Android. The Record button in the mobile app records to the cloud, which means it only appears if you are the host or a co-host on a paid plan with cloud recording enabled. If you're a guest, or you're on the free plan, you won't see it at all.

When you do have it, the flow is: tap More (the three dots in the meeting controls) → Record → Record to the Cloud. Afterwards the file shows up under Recordings → Cloud Recordings when you sign in at zoom.us.

If you don't have cloud recording, fall back to your phone's built-in screen recorder:

On iPhone or iPad. Add the Screen Recording control to Control Centre via Settings → Control Centre if it isn't already there. Open Control Centre, tap the record button, and wait out the three-second countdown. Long-press the same button first if you also want your microphone captured. Recordings land in the Photos app.

On Android. Most Android 11 and later devices include a Screen record tile in the Quick Settings shade — swipe down twice and look for it. Manufacturers customise this heavily, so its exact name and audio options vary between Samsung, Pixel, and others. You'll be asked whether to capture device audio, microphone audio, or both before recording starts.

Two caveats on the phone route. First, a long meeting produces a large file on a device that may not have room for it, so check your storage before a two-hour call. Second, the same consent rules apply — a phone screen recording gives participants no notification whatsoever.

Get the transcript of a Zoom Call

Want a transcript of your Zoom meetings? Find it easier to go through the text of a conversation, perhaps for reviewing notes or making a blog post with ease about your call? Here's a quick guide.

Note: You'll get the file in a TXT format.

Enable Transcription: In your Zoom settings, click on the recording tab. Enable 'Cloud Recording' and tick 'Audio Transcript.' Save changes.

Generate a Transcript: Start a meeting with a screen share only. Once started, hit 'Record' and select 'Record to the Cloud'. Make sure to join with computer audio.

Download the Transcript: After the meeting, navigate to 'Recordings' in your Zoom account. Under 'Cloud Recordings,' find your session. Click on 'More' and select 'Download'. Look for a file with a .vtt extension - that's your transcript.

Convert the Transcript: Open the .vtt file with Microsoft Word. After reviewing and editing, save it as Word Document or PDF.

Remember, automated transcriptions may contain errors. Always review for accuracy.

A well-documented meeting is an effective one.

Alternative transcript option

If Zoom's automatic transcription isn't available, you have other options to transcribe your video recordings. Online platforms, such as Vizard, offer video-to-text conversion services to transform your recorded content effortlessly.

You will need a video or audio file of your Zoom meeting already downloaded using one of the methods above.

Here's how to use Vizard:

Upload Your Video: Go to Vizard's Video to Text page and upload your video recording. You can also link a YouTube video or Google Drive file using the box at the bottom of the screen.

Language Selection: Choose the language used in the video, and Vizard's AI will transcribe everything automatically.

Edit and Refine: After completing the transcription, review and edit the text as needed for accuracy and readability.

Download: Download the transcribed text in your desired file format (copy and paste it out) and use it for various purposes, such as creating a blog post or closed captions for your video.

Using online video-to-text platforms like Vizard is a convenient alternative for transcribing your Zoom recordings when Zoom's in-built transcription service is unavailable. Always ensure you respect the privacy of your meeting participants when using such services.

Record the audio of each person in a Zoom call

If you wish to capture only the audio segment of your Zoom meeting, follow these steps. This method will give you a separate audio file for each participant (as long as they aren't muted), which is ideal for creating quality videos afterwards and listening back without interruption.

Here's what you need to do:

Start Your Meeting: Set up and start your Zoom meeting as the host.

Record Meeting: Access the menu at the bottom of the Zoom window. Find and click on the "Record" option to start recording your meeting. To record a separate file for each individual speaking, select the option in the recording menu. This allows you to have high-quality captures of all participants for whatever use you have.

End Your Meeting: On completion, end the meeting normally.

Retrieve Audio Recording: Zoom will save the meeting in M4A (audio) format along with the MP4 video file. You can locate this in the Zoom folder, typically found in your computer's "Documents" section.

This audio file can be played on most media players. If you require a different audio format, consider using an audio conversion tool to convert the M4A file to your preferred format (like MP3).

That's it! With Zoom, you can effectively record and retrieve the audio of your meetings.

Remember, being an audio-only file, it saves storage space and is quicker to download and share.

Frequently asked questions

How do you record a Zoom meeting?

Start the meeting, then click Record in the meeting toolbar at the bottom of the Zoom window. On a paid plan you'll be asked to choose Record on this Computer or Record to the Cloud. You can also press Alt + R on Windows or Command + Shift + R on Mac to start and stop recording, and Alt + P or Command + Shift + P to pause. Local recordings are converted to MP4 when the meeting ends.

What is the difference between local and cloud recording in Zoom?

Local recording saves the files to the computer running the Zoom desktop client and is available on Zoom's free plan. Cloud recording uploads the meeting to your Zoom account instead, requires a paid licence, and can be accessed from any device under Recordings → Cloud Recordings at zoom.us. Cloud recording is also what unlocks Zoom's automatic audio transcript.

Can you record a Zoom meeting without permission from the host?

Zoom's own Record button is disabled for guests until the host grants permission, but you can capture the meeting window with a separate screen recorder — Xbox Game Bar on Windows, the Command + Shift + 5 Screenshot toolbar on Mac, OBS Studio, or a dedicated recorder like Tella. Recording people without their knowledge may be illegal where you live, so check your local consent laws and tell participants you're recording.

Can you record a Zoom meeting on your phone?

Zoom's iOS and Android apps do not support local recording — the mobile Record button records to the cloud, so it only appears if you're the host or co-host on a paid plan with cloud recording enabled. If you don't have that, use your phone's built-in screen recorder: Control Centre on iPhone, or the Screen record tile in Quick Settings on Android.

Where are Zoom recordings saved?

By default local recordings go to a Zoom folder inside Documents on your computer. You can confirm or change the exact path in Zoom under Settings → Recording, next to "Store my recording at". Cloud recordings are not stored on your machine at all — sign in at zoom.us and open Recordings → Cloud Recordings.

Do participants know when a Zoom meeting is being recorded?

Yes. When recording starts through Zoom, a recording indicator appears in the meeting window and participants are notified, and Zoom can be configured to ask them for consent before they can stay in the call. That notice does not appear when someone captures the meeting with an external screen recorder, which is why disclosing that you're recording matters.

Conclusion

In conclusion, recording Zoom meetings for audio, video, or transcripts is useful for records and reference. Recording your Google Meet and Microsoft Teams sessions are also good options. Like Zoom, these tools are relatively straightforward and easy to use. However, to save time on meetings, consider using Tella.

With Tella, you can record, edit, and share asynchronous videos anytime, making communication efficient and engaging.

Embrace this new, creative approach to communication and explore advancements with tools like Zoom and Tella.

By leveraging these platforms, you'll not only savour your meetings but also redefine your communication strategy. Interested in learning more about how Zoom compares to other platforms? Check out our article on Loom vs. Zoom.