Are you looking for a way to record Zoom meetings?
Whether you’re a student or an employee, recording these meetings can be vital. You can use it to review the things that happened during the session. Whatever your reason is, you have options as one of the millions of Zoom users in the world.
Read on as we tackle how to record a Zoom meeting as a participant. We’ll also discuss some Zoom basics to deal with common issues.
-------
By the way, if your email inbox is filled with newsletters, try ledigest.email to get only the newsletters you want into just ONE email, and more!
-------
Settings for Zoom Recordings (If you are a host)
Before recording a meeting, set the video file’s destination folder.
After launching the Zoom desktop client, click the Gear icon. It lets you access the Settings window.

Pick the Recording tap and click on the Open button. You can find it next to the “Store My Recordings At” option. For Windows users, its equivalent is “Local Recording.”

If you’re using the Web version, enable the local recording option before recording a meeting. Go to the Personal menu and select the Settings tab. It allows you to check the Local Recording feature’s status.
Check the toggle button next to the Local Recording field. If it isn’t active, click the button to do so.
Record a Zoom meeting WITH host permission
After joining the Zoom meeting, click on the program's recording button. A prompt menu should appear, where you'll click on Record. You’ll see a small recording bar displayed on your screen’s lower-right corner.

You can access the Record button from the menu bar. You can use the Pause or Stop button to control your video recording process.

When you finish recording, Zoom converts the recording into an mp4 format. It ensures that the file remains accessible, regardless of your operating system choice. Wait to finish the conversion process to conclude.
You’ll see the destination folder on your screen after the conversion. With that, you can preview the video.

Can’t see where your file is? Go to Zoom and click on Meeting. Pick the option for Recorded to open the list of files you can view.

Recording a Zoom meeting WITHOUT host permission
If you want to record a Zoom meeting, but the host doesn't allow it, the best way for you to do so is through third-party programs. A good program to use is ApowerREC as it's free on both Mac and Windows.
Once opened, the program asks you to select the area you want to record using a cropping tool. It's best to select your entire screen to make sure no part of the meeting gets cut off.
Go to the Settings tab to modify your recording before you start. From here, you can manage the audio quality, frame rate, and the default format of the recording. You can also edit your keyboard shortcuts and such here for a more streamlined experience.
You then need to click on the "System Sound" icon to allow the app to record in-app audio, too. Once that's settled, look over to the red Record button and hit it to start recording.
A floating taskbar will appear and will dictate how long you've been recording. It will also have buttons that allow you to take screenshots, pause and resume, and annotate the recording during the meeting.

How to record Zoom meetings to the Cloud as a Host
If you have a Pro, Business, or Enterprise Zoom account, you can store your recorded meetings on the cloud. Aside from that, the software offers various recording layouts. Some of these include:
- Active Speaker
- Gallery View
- Shared Screen
It allows you to pick the best layout for your needs. However, the storage capacity limit is 1GB or half for most plans. If you want more storage space, you must pay more.
By default, the Cloud recording option isn’t active. You can activate it by going to Settings. Open the Recording tab and look for the Cloud Recording option.
Once found, enable this option and confirm the changes. You can customize the settings once enabling the option. You can pick your recording layout and decide other things you want to record.
You can pick whether to record the audio or save the chat as well. You can get transcriptions of these audio recordings or add video recording timestamps. To make things clearer, you can display the participants’ names in the recording.
Again, you must have permission from your host to record these meetings. Zoom processes the video as soon as the meeting ends. The app will send you an email once your video becomes available.
Make sure to do this with a refreshed mind so you don't stress out when it doesn't work. Zoom fatigue can make you feel burnt out fast and can prevent you from focusing on important items.
Common Issues with recordings
It takes time to understand Zoom’s recording features. The recording process is relatively simple most of the time. However, if you have problems, here are some common issues you’ll encounter.
1. No host permission
The Recording feature is only accessible in Zoom meetings if your host gives permission. If you don't see the Record button on your screen, it means you have no permission. Your first step is to ask for permission from the host to record the session.
2. Want to Give Participants Permission to Record (If you are the host)?
Hosts are able to allow other participants to record zoom meetings. Here's how:
Go to the Manage Participants icon in the Meeting toolbar.
Browse through the participant list. After finding the right participant, hover over their name. You’ll see the Unmute and More buttons.
Click on the More button. It displays a list of options, but pick the Allow Record option. However, the host has an option to record the meeting instead.

Zoom hosts can record separate audio files for each participant. Go to Settings after signing in and open the Recording tab. Click on the checkbox next to the option that says “Record a separate file for each participant.”

These are some things to consider when learning how to record a zoom meeting as a participant. Ask for permission first before recording. If you encounter more problems, refer to the Zoom user manual.
Need more Zoom tips for your online meetings? Read this guide about Zoom apps and what they can do for you.
Want to be on top of your meetings?
Check out Meetric, the ultimate meeting notes app we built for leaders and senior managers with automatic organisation, lightspeed access, smart meeting history and more.
