Recording a Zoom meeting is useful for sharing with people who could not attend, creating training materials, or keeping a record of decisions made. Zoom supports both local recording (saved to your computer) and cloud recording (saved to Zoom’s servers). Here is how to use both.
Who Can Record a Zoom Meeting?
The meeting host can always record. Participants can only record if the host grants them permission. In a free Zoom account, only local recording is available. Cloud recording requires a paid Zoom plan (Pro, Business, or Enterprise).
How to Record Locally (Free and Paid Accounts)
- Join or start a Zoom meeting
- Click the Record button in the meeting toolbar at the bottom of the screen
- Select Record on this Computer
- A recording indicator appears in the top-left corner of the screen
- To pause, click the recording indicator. To stop, click the square stop button
- When you end the meeting, Zoom automatically converts and saves the recording
The recording is saved as an MP4 video file. By default it saves to your Documents folder in a subfolder called Zoom.
Where Are Local Zoom Recordings Saved?
Default save location: C:/Users/[YourName]DocumentsZoom
To check or change this: open Zoom settings, click Recording, and look at the Local Recording path. Click Change to choose a different folder.
How to Record to the Cloud (Paid Accounts)
- Start your meeting as host
- Click Record and select Record to the Cloud
- The recording processes automatically when the meeting ends
- You will receive an email when the recording is ready
- Access recordings at zoom.us > Recordings in your account dashboard
Cloud recordings are stored on Zoom’s servers and can be shared via a link. They are available for download as MP4, M4A (audio only), and transcript text files.
How to Allow a Participant to Record
As host, you can grant recording permission to a participant during a meeting:
- Click Participants in the toolbar
- Hover over the participant’s name and click More
- Select Allow to Record Locally
Does the Other Person Know They Are Being Recorded?
Yes. Zoom displays a recording notification to all participants when recording starts. They will see “This meeting is being recorded” on their screen. You cannot record a Zoom meeting without other participants being informed.
Recording on Mobile
On the Zoom mobile app (iOS and Android), local recording is not available — only cloud recording. You will need a paid account to record on mobile. Tap More in the meeting controls and select Record to the Cloud.
Sharing a Zoom Recording
For local recordings, share the MP4 file via email, OneDrive, Google Drive, or any file sharing service. For cloud recordings, log into your Zoom account, go to Recordings, and copy the shareable link. You can set an expiry date and password for the link.
Related Zoom Guides
- How to Share Your Screen on Zoom
- How to Schedule a Zoom Meeting
- Zoom Not Working — Common Fixes
- How to Record a Teams Meeting
Troubleshooting Common Recording Problems
Sometimes Zoom recordings do not work as expected. Here are solutions to common issues you may encounter:
Recording will not start or stops unexpectedly
Check that you have permission to record (see “How to Allow a Participant to Record” above). Ensure your computer has at least 2 GB of free disk space for local recordings. If using cloud recording, confirm you have a paid account — free accounts cannot record to the cloud. Close unnecessary applications to free up system resources. If the problem persists, restart your Zoom app.
Poor video or audio quality
Video quality depends on your internet connection speed. A stable 2.5 Mbps connection is recommended for HD recording. Close applications consuming bandwidth (streaming services, downloads, etc.). In Zoom settings, navigate to Video and check your camera resolution — setting it to maximum can cause stuttering. For audio, position your microphone 15–20 cm from your mouth and minimise background noise. If participants sound muffled, ask them to check their microphone levels.
Large file sizes or slow conversion
Local recordings can be 100+ MB per hour depending on video quality. If disk space is tight, reduce video resolution in Zoom settings before recording. Cloud recordings typically compress better and upload automatically without conversion time. If a local recording conversion takes longer than expected, ensure your computer is not in sleep mode and has sufficient free space.
Cloud recording not processing or email notification missing
Cloud recordings can take 10–30 minutes to process after the meeting ends. Check your email for the processing notification, which will contain a link to your recording. If you do not receive an email within an hour, log into zoom.us, navigate to Recordings, and check the processing status. If recording failed entirely, you may have reached your account storage limit — upgrade your plan or delete old recordings to free space.
Cannot locate your local recording
Local recordings save to the Zoom folder in your Documents directory by default. If you cannot find it, use your file manager’s search function to look for .mp4 files by recording date.
Related articles: How to Use Zoom Backgrounds (Virtual and Blurred)
