Starting a cloud recording

Cloud recording is automatically enabled for all paid subscribers. When you record a meeting and choose Record to the Cloud, the video, audio, and chat text are recorded in the Zoom cloud. The recording files can be downloaded to a computer or streamed from a browser.

You can use the desktop or mobile app to start a cloud recording. Cloud recordings allow you to record the meeting in multiple different recording layouts including active speaker, gallery view, and shared screen, and can be configured with a variety of cloud recording storage options. Zoom also offers computer recording, which saves the recording files to your computer.

After a cloud recording has finished processing, you can view, manage, and share it. If you're having issues with cloud recording, see our frequently asked questions about recording.

Requirements for starting a cloud recording

Limitations for cloud recording

Table of Contents

How to start a cloud recording

Only hosts and co-hosts can start a cloud recording. If you want a participant to start a recording, you can make them a co-host or use computer recording. Recordings started by co-hosts will only appear in the host's list of recordings in the Zoom web portal.

Windows | macOS | Linux

To record a meeting to the cloud manually (you can also start your cloud recording automatically):

  1. Sign in to the Zoom desktop app.
  2. Start your instant or scheduled meeting as the host.
  3. In the meeting controls toolbar, click the More icon .
  4. Click the Record icon .
  5. Click Record to the cloud to begin recording.
    A recording indicator will appear in the top-right corner of the meeting window.
    Note    : If you are muted, a Recording alert pop-up window will appear indicating that You are muted.
  6. To pause the recording, in the meeting controls toolbar, click the Record icon , then click Pause recording.
  7. To stop recording, do one of the following:
    • In the meeting controls toolbar, click Record , then click Stop recording.
    • In the meeting controls toolbar, click End , then click End meeting for all or Leave meeting.
      This option will stop the cloud recording by either ending the meeting for everyone or removing yourself from the meeting.
Android | iOS

Note: It's not possible to Record to computer files from an iOS or Android device.

  1. Sign in to the Zoom mobile app.
  2. Start or join a meeting as the host or co-host.
  3. In the meeting controls toolbar, tap the More icon .
  4. Tap the Record icon .
  5. Tap Start recording.
    In the top-left corner, the app will show that it's recording.
  6. (Optional) To pause or stop the recording, in the top-left corner, tap the recording indicator.
    • Next to Recording, tap the pause icon to pause the recording.
    • Next to Recording, tap the stop icon to stop the recording, then tap Stop to confirm.

After the meeting ends, the recording will process and appear under Recording & Transcripts on the Zoom web portal.

Zoom Web App
  1. Open your browser.
  2. Sign in to the Zoom Web App.
  3. Start or join a meeting as the host or co-host.
  4. In the meeting controls toolbar, click the More icon .
  5. Click the Record icon .
  6. Click Record to the cloud to begin recording.
  7. To pause the recording, in the meeting controls toolbar, click the Record icon , then click Pause recording.
  8. To stop recording, do one of the following:
    • In the meeting controls toolbar, click Record , then click Stop recording.
    • In the meeting controls toolbar, click End , then click End meeting for all or Leave meeting.
      This option will stop the cloud recording by either ending the meeting for everyone or removing yourself from the meeting. 

How to manage your cloud recordings after the meeting

Once the meeting has ended, the recording must be processed before viewing. If enabled in email notification settings, Zoom will send an email to the host's email address when the process is completed. The email includes share options.

Your recordings are accessible from Zoom Hub on the Zoom desktop app and the Recordings & Transcripts page in the Zoom web portal. If you can't find or share a cloud recording, learn how to troubleshoot these issues. 

Learn more about how to manage your cloud recordings:

Cloud recording processing times

Once you stop the recording, you don't need to remain in the meeting for the recording to process. Cloud recordings generally take about 2 times the duration recorded to process, but occasionally may take up to 24 hours due to higher processing loads. For example, an hour-long meeting with only 30 minutes recorded would typically take 30-60 minutes to process.

Note: If your recording is still being processed after 48 hours, learn how to troubleshoot this issue.

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Need to catch up on a long meeting or webinar? Smart Recording allows you to get the key takeaways in a quick and digestible format through recording highlights, and identify action items to take after the meeting or webinar with next steps.

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