Finding, Sharing, and Troubleshooting Zoom Recordings: An Essential Guide.
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Locating Your Zoom Recordings: A Comprehensive Guide
Updated: April 2, 2025
Published: August 28, 2023
By: Alex Jordan
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Are you having difficulty finding your saved Zoom recordings? In this guide, we'll explain how to record a Zoom meeting, find your recordings whether on your computer or in the cloud, and how to share them. We'll also address common troubleshooting tips for recording issues.
What We'll Explore:
- How Can I Record a Zoom Meeting?
- How Can I Find My Cloud and Local Zoom Recordings?
- How Can I Set a Custom File Path for Local Recordings?
- How Can I Distribute My Zoom Recordings?
- How Can I Locate My Missing Local Zoom Recordings?
- How Can I Access Zoom Recordings on My Smartphone?
- Is It Possible to Recover Zoom Meetings That Weren't Recorded?
How Can I Record a Zoom Meeting?
Recording a Zoom meeting is generally simple, but by default, only hosts and co-hosts possess recording privileges. Participants need to request permission from the host to record, unless the meeting settings explicitly allow participant recording.
To begin recording a Zoom session:
- Join the scheduled meeting.
- Select the Record button located at the bottom of the Zoom interface.
- If cloud recording is active, you'll be prompted to choose between recording to your computer or to the cloud.
- Once the recording commences, a red indicator light with the word "Recording" will appear in the top-left corner.
- Click Pause to temporarily halt the recording.
- Click Resume to continue recording.
- Click Stop to conclude the recording process.
How Can I Find My Cloud and Local Zoom Recordings?
You can access your Zoom recordings either via the cloud (a feature for paid subscribers) or on your local machine (for local recordings).
How to Access Your Zoom Cloud Recordings
Cloud recordings are a benefit for paid Zoom subscribers (Pro, Business, or Enterprise plans). These are automatically stored in your Zoom account, offering convenient access without consuming local disk space.
Option 1: Email Alert
After your meeting concludes, Zoom dispatches an email containing a link to your cloud recording.
- Check your inbox for an email from Zoom.
- Click the link within the email to view your recording.
Option 2: Zoom Web Portal
Alternatively, your cloud recordings can be found via the Zoom web portal:
- Navigate to zoom.us and log in.
- Select Recordings from the menu on the left.
- Under the Cloud Recordings tab, you will find your recording.
Note: Cloud recording access is exclusive to paid users. If you're using a free plan, refer to your Zoom local recordings.
How to Access Your Local Zoom Recordings (Mac or Windows)
If you don't subscribe to a paid plan, Zoom automatically saves recordings locally as .mp4 files for video and .m4a files for audio.
To locate your local Zoom recordings:
- Launch the Zoom Desktop Client and sign in.
- Click Meetings at the top, then navigate to the Recorded tab.
- Observe the File Location to see where the recording is stored.
- Click Open to access the folder with your recordings.
Default Storage Paths:
- Windows: C:\Users\[Your Username]\Documents\Zoom
- Mac: /Users/[Your Username]/Documents/Zoom
How Can I Find the Zoom Recording as an Attendee?
If you joined a Zoom meeting as an attendee, you will not have direct access to the recording unless the host shares it with you.
To request access:
- Ask the host to provide the cloud recording link via email.
- If it’s a local recording, the host can upload it to a service like Google Drive, Dropbox, or YouTube for sharing.
How Can I Set a Custom File Path for Local Recordings?
Wish to save your Zoom recordings in a different directory? Follow these instructions:
- Open the Zoom Desktop Client and log in.
- Click the Settings gear icon in the top-right corner.
- Choose Recording from the left-hand menu.
- Select Change next to the "Store my recording at:" field and pick your desired folder.
Important: It's advisable not to save recordings directly to cloud-synchronized services (like Google Drive or Dropbox) or external storage devices during the recording process, as this might lead to data corruption or loss.
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How Can I Distribute My Zoom Recordings?
Once you've found your Zoom recordings, sharing them with colleagues is straightforward.
How to Share Your Cloud Recording
- Log in at zoom.us.
- Go to Recordings > Cloud Recordings.
- Locate the recording and click Share to create a shareable link.
- You can also share the link directly from Zoom's email notification.
How to Share Your Local Recording
- Find the recording file on your computer.
- Upload it to a cloud storage platform like Google Drive, YouTube, or Dropbox.
- Share the generated link via email, social media, or embed it on a website.
How Can I Locate My Missing Local Zoom Recordings?
If you're unable to find your recording, check these possibilities:
- Verify the Local Recording File Location: Open the Zoom Desktop Client, navigate to Meetings > Recorded. Click Open to check the file path. If it’s still missing, sign in to the Zoom Web Portal, go to Recordings > Local Recordings, and confirm the location details there.
- The Recording May Still Be Processing: If your recording doesn't show up right away, Zoom might still be converting it. Allow some time (a few hours) and check again.
- You Lack Access to Cloud Recordings: Only meeting hosts can typically access cloud recordings. If you were not the host, you'll need to request access from them.
What to Do if Zoom Indicates "Recording Does Not Exist"?
If you encounter a "Recording does not exist" error, consider these steps:
- Confirm the meeting was actually recorded: If the recording feature wasn't activated, no recording will exist.
- Check if it was deleted: Cloud recordings are automatically purged after a duration determined by your Zoom plan. Local recordings can also be deleted manually.
- Verify your Zoom account: Make sure you are logged into the correct account under which the recording was made.
- Look for backups: Check your computer's Recycle Bin (Windows) or Trash (Mac) for any accidentally deleted local recordings.
- Contact Zoom Support: If you're still unable to locate your recording, visit Zoom Support for further help.
How Can I Access Zoom Recordings on My Smartphone?
Zoom does not support saving recordings locally on mobile devices. However, if you recorded a meeting to the cloud, you can access it using the Zoom mobile application:
- Open the Zoom app on your mobile device and sign in.
- Tap More (often represented by three dots or lines) and then select Recordings.
- Find your recording listed under Cloud Recordings.
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Is It Possible to Recover Zoom Meetings That Weren't Recorded?
No, unfortunately, if a Zoom meeting was not recorded, there is no method to retrieve it. Zoom does not offer a feature to recover sessions that were never recorded.
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Key Features of DeepVo.ai:
- High-Accuracy Speech-to-Text: Get precise transcripts in over 100 languages.
- AI-Powered Summaries: Quickly generate concise summaries from your meeting content.
- Intelligent Mind Maps: Visualize key topics and their connections for better understanding.
- Secure & Free: Benefit from end-to-end encryption and a generous free tier.
- Easy to Use: Simply upload your audio/video files to DeepVo.ai to get started.
Wrapping Up
Finding and managing your Zoom recordings doesn't need to be a complex task. Whether you store them in the cloud or locally on your computer, this guide has provided the necessary steps to locate, share, and troubleshoot your recordings.
If you frequently forget to initiate a recording or seek a more efficient method for capturing, organizing, and retrieving meeting insights, DeepVo.ai offers a compelling solution. With its accurate transcription, rapid AI summaries, and insightful mind maps, you can ensure all your critical discussions are preserved, well-organized, and easily retrievable.
FAQ
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If you have additional questions, feel free to get in touch with the DeepVo.ai team or check their support resources.
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