To record a Zoom meeting, the host clicks Record in the meeting controls. On the free Basic plan that saves a local MP4 to the host’s computer. Paid plans can also record to the Zoom cloud, including from the mobile apps. Participants can only use Zoom’s Record button after the host allows it, and even then they get a local recording, not a cloud one.
That’s the short version. The rest of this guide covers which plan records where, how a participant asks for permission, what to do on a phone, where recordings end up, and the honest options when you’re not the host.
Local vs cloud recording by plan
Zoom has two recording types. Local recording saves the meeting to the computer running the Zoom desktop app. Cloud recording processes the meeting on Zoom’s servers and gives you a link in the Zoom web portal.
Need a better way to capture meetings than Zoom’s built-in recorder? Record your screen, camera, and mic in the browser, then share a link. Start a recording
| Plan (Zoom Workplace) | Price on zoom.us | Meeting length | Recording |
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | Free | 40 minutes per meeting | Local recording only |
| Pro | $16.99 per user/month, or $14.16 billed annually | 30 hours | Local plus 10 GB cloud recording per user |
| Business | $21.99 per user/month, or $18.33 billed annually | 30 hours | Local plus 10 GB cloud recording per license |
Prices and limits were checked on Zoom’s pricing page on October 4, 2026. Zoom now sells these as Zoom Workplace plans; the recording basics are the same as before the rename.
Two practical consequences:
- On Basic, a meeting that runs past 40 minutes ends, so long recordings need a paid plan or several meetings.
- On paid plans, cloud recordings count against the storage allowance. Download or delete old recordings before you hit the cap.
How to record a Zoom meeting as the host
- Start or join the meeting as the host (or co-host).
- Click Record in the meeting controls. On a paid plan, choose Record on this Computer or Record to the Cloud.
- Zoom shows a recording indicator to everyone in the meeting.
- Pause or stop from the same controls when you need a break or are done.
- End the meeting. Local recordings convert to MP4 after the meeting closes. Cloud recordings process on Zoom’s servers, and Zoom can email the host when they’re ready.
Only hosts and co-hosts can start a cloud recording. If someone else needs to run the cloud recording, make them a co-host.
How to record a Zoom meeting as a participant
Participants can’t press Record until the host grants permission:
- Ask the host, in chat or out loud, to let you record.
- The host opens Participants, hovers over your name, clicks More, and selects Allow Record.
- Your Record button now works. You record locally to your computer; participants can’t create cloud recordings.
Some organizations disable participant recording entirely in their Zoom account settings. In that case the host can’t grant permission even if they want to.
Recording on a phone or tablet
Zoom’s mobile apps can’t save local recordings. From the documentation: it isn’t possible to record to computer files from an iOS or Android device.
That leaves two options on a phone:
- Cloud recording works in the Android and iOS apps, but only on a paid plan and only for hosts and co-hosts.
- Your phone’s own screen recorder captures the screen, but phone screen recorders often don’t capture call audio the way you’d expect. Test a short clip first. Our guide to whether screen recording records audio covers each platform.
Where Zoom recordings go
| Recording type | Where to find it | Files |
|---|---|---|
| Local, Windows | Documents\Zoom in your user folder |
MP4 (video), M4A (audio only), TXT (chat) |
| Local, Mac | Documents/Zoom in your home folder |
Same as Windows |
| Cloud | Zoom web portal → Recordings | Playable link, downloadable files |
Zoom recommends keeping the local recording folder on a local drive. Pointing it at a cloud-synced folder (Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive), an external drive, or network storage can break saving and conversion. Move the finished MP4 afterwards instead.
If a local recording seems missing, check whether the meeting ended normally. Conversion starts when the meeting closes, and closing the app mid-conversion can leave unconverted files behind.
Transcripts and summaries
Local recordings are just video and audio files. Text features depend on the plan:
- Cloud recording transcripts are a cloud-recording option that account admins enable in Zoom’s recording settings. Whether you see it depends on your plan and account settings.
- AI Companion meeting summaries are listed on Zoom’s pricing page: Basic includes summaries for three hosted meetings per month, and Pro and Business include unlimited summaries.
If you mainly want a searchable record of what was said, check those settings before the meeting. Turning them on afterwards won’t reprocess an earlier local recording.
When you’re not the host and permission isn’t possible
Be honest with yourself about the reason. If the host has said no, the right answer is to respect that and take notes instead.
If the host is fine with recording but the account settings block it, agree on an alternative openly. One option is a browser screen recorder:
- Join Zoom in the browser (use the “join from your browser” link) so the meeting runs in a tab.
- Start a recording in a browser recorder such as Chairkick, pick that tab, and enable tab audio so other people’s voices are captured along with your microphone.
- Stop when the call ends. Chairkick turns the recording into a share link with a transcript and summary.
Either way, say you’re recording and why. Recording-consent rules differ by country and state, and some places require everyone’s agreement. This isn’t legal advice, but the etiquette rule is simple: record the way you’d be comfortable being recorded.
Which option should you use?
| Situation | Best option |
|---|---|
| You’re the host and the video stays on your computer | Zoom local recording (free) |
| You’re the host and need a shareable link or transcript | Zoom cloud recording (paid), with transcripts enabled in settings |
| You’re a participant | Ask the host to allow recording; you’ll record locally |
| You’re on a phone | Cloud recording as host on a paid plan; otherwise test your phone’s recorder first |
| The meeting could have been a message | Skip the call and send a recorded walkthrough instead |
That last row matters more than it looks. Many meeting recordings exist for people who only needed the information. Loom vs Zoom covers when an async video beats a live call, and how to send a video by email covers sharing the result.
FAQ
Can you record a Zoom meeting on the free plan?
Yes. The free Basic plan records locally with the desktop app. It can’t record to the cloud, and meetings are limited to 40 minutes.
Can participants record a Zoom meeting without the host knowing?
Not with Zoom’s Record button: participants need the host’s permission, and Zoom shows a recording indicator. Record openly and ask first.
Why can’t I find the Record button?
You’re probably a participant without permission, on the mobile app on a free plan, or in an account where recording is disabled by an admin.
How long can a Zoom recording be?
On Basic, the meeting itself stops at 40 minutes. On Pro and Business, meetings can last up to 30 hours; cloud recordings are limited by your storage allowance.
Bottom line
Hosts should use Zoom’s built-in recording: local on Basic, cloud on Pro and Business. Participants should ask for permission and expect a local file. For walkthroughs that don’t need a live meeting at all, Chairkick records your screen and camera in the browser and gives you a share link with a searchable transcript, with a 14-day Pro trial for new workspaces.
Sources and fact check
Checked October 4, 2026 against Zoom’s pricing page and Zoom’s support documentation on cloud recording and local recording.