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.

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.

Get Started

Cloud recordings can be started on the desktop app, as well as the Zoom app on iOS and Android. Zoom also offers computer recording, which saves the recording files to your computer. 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.

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.

This article covers:

Limitations for cloud recording
Cloud recording processing times
How to start a cloud recording

Prerequisites for starting a cloud recording

Licensed user on a Pro, Business, or Enterprise account
Cloud recording enabled
Cloud recording settings selected as desired
Note: These settings will affect what's displayed in the cloud recording and the recording layouts.
Zoom desktop client for Windows, macOS, or Linux: Global minimum version or higher
Zoom mobile app for Android or iOS: Global minimum version or higher
Zoom Web App

Limitations for cloud recording

Accounts with added HIPAA security may have this feature disabled entirely. Contact your Account Executive to enable this for your account.
Cloud recordings do not capture nonverbal feedback or meeting reactions.
Cloud recordings cannot be embedded on websites, in order to protect the security of the recording.
There is a limit of 150 files that can be generated from a live session's cloud recordings. This includes different recording layouts, audio-only files, chat transcript, and language interpreter views. If you need more than 150 files, Zoom recommends ending the meeting and then restarting, which resets the file count for that live session.
- Pausing a cloud recording does not create a separate file, but stopping a recording and starting a new cloud recording does create a new file.

Cloud recording processing times

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.

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):

Sign in to the Zoom Desktop app.
Start your instant or scheduled meeting as the host.
In the meeting controls toolbar, click Record icon .
Click Record to the Cloud to begin recording.
Note: If you are muted, a Recording Alert pop-up window will appear indicating You are muted.
To stop recording, click Stop Recording or End Meeting to stop the recording. You can also click Pause to temporarily pause the recording.

Android|iOS

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

Sign in to the Zoom mobile app.
Start or join a meeting or webinar. Learn how to for iOS or Android.
In the host controls, tap the Record icon.
Note: If you don't see this option, check if you meet the prerequisites for this feature.
Tap Start recording.
In the top-left corner, the app will show that it's recording.
(Optional) To pause or stop the recording, tap the Record icon again, and do one of the following.
- Tap Pause recording.
- Tap Stop recording, then tap Stop to confirm.

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

Web app

Open your browser.
Sign in to the Zoom web app.
Start or join a meeting or webinar.
In the meeting controls toolbar, click More and click the Record icon.
Click Record to the Cloud to begin recording.
To stop recording, click Stop Recording or End Meeting to stop the recording. You can also click Pause Recording to temporarily pause the recording.

Notes:

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. There will be two links in the email, the first will be for the host, only to manage the recording. The second link will be for the participants.
Once you stop the recording, you don't need to remain in the meeting for the recording to process.
Follow the cloud recording troubleshooting steps if you're having issues finding or sharing a cloud recording.

Learn more about how to manage your cloud recordings:

- Download, share, or delete cloud recordings
- Trim the playback range of a shared recording