Enabling and disabling automatic recording

Automatic recording is a feature that enables hosts to begin recordings automatically when a meeting or webinar starts, without manual intervention. This functionality helps streamline the recording process.

When automatic recording is enabled, Zoom will automatically start recording each time you initiate a session. The system offers two recording options:

Whether you enable or disable automatic recording, changing the option in your web portal settings only applies to future meetings that are scheduled after that setting is changed. It will not apply to existing meetings and webinars (including recurring sessions) or your Personal Meeting ID, which you must edit at the meeting or webinar level.

Requirements for enabling and disabling automatic recording meetings and webinars 

Limitations of automatic recordings

Table of Contents

How to enable automatic recording

Account

To enable or disable Automatic recording for all users in the account:

  1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal as an admin with the privilege to edit account settings.
  2. In the navigation menu, click Account Management then Account Settings.
  3. Click the Recording & Transcript tab.
  4. Under General, click the Automatic recording toggle to enable or disable it.
  5. If a verification dialog appears, click Enable or Disable to verify the change.
  6. Select either Record to computer or Record in the cloud.
  7. Click Save.
  8. (Optional) To prevent all users in your account from changing this setting, click the lock icon, and then click Lock to confirm the setting.

Note: Account admins and owners can disable the Cloud recording downloads feature from account settings.

Group

To enable or disable Automatic recording for a group of users:

  1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal as an admin with the privilege to edit groups.
  2. In the navigation menu, click User Management then Groups.
  3. Click the applicable group name from the list.
  4. Click the Recording & Transcript tab.
  5. Under General, click the Automatic recording toggle to enable or disable it.
  6. If a verification dialog appears, click Enable or Disable to verify the change.
    Note: If the option is grayed out, it has been locked at the account level and needs to be changed at that level.
  7. Select either Record to computer or Record in the cloud.
  8. Click Save.
  9. (Optional) To prevent all users in the group from changing this setting, click the lock icon, and then click Lock to confirm the setting.

User

To enable or disable Automatic recording for your own use:

  1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal.
  2. In the navigation menu, click Settings.
  3. Click the Recording tab.
  4. Under General, click the Automatic recording toggle to enable or disable it.
  5. If a verification dialog appears, click Enable or Disable to verify the change.
    Note: If the option is grayed out, it has been locked at either the group or account level. You need to contact your Zoom admin.
  6. Select either Record to computer or Record in the cloud.
  7. Click Save.

Note: If Automatic recording is enabled in your settings, it will be set for any meetings that you schedule going forward. It will not apply to existing meetings or your Personal Meeting ID. You will need to enable it for these meetings individually.

Individual meeting

If you do not want to turn on automatic recording for all meetings, you can turn it on for individual meetings. You can also turn it on for an individual meeting, even if you do not have the setting enabled at the account, group, or user level.

  1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal.
  2. In the navigation menu, click Meetings.
  3. Click Schedule a Meeting or click the meeting topic from the list of Upcoming tab and click Edit.
    Note: You can also select your PMI by clicking on the Personal Meeting Room tab.
  4. Next to Options, click Show.
  5. Select the check box next to Automatically record meeting.
  6. Select either On the local computer or In the cloud.
  7. Click Save.

How to disable automatic recording

Disable automatic recording for new meetings and webinars

Once you disable this setting in the Zoom web portal, it will apply to any new meetings and webinars you create. To disable this setting in existing meetings or webinars, you can disable it at the meeting or webinar level.

  1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal.
  2. In the navigation menu, click Settings.
  3. Click the Recording tab.
  4. Click the Automatic recording toggle to disable it.
  5. If a verification dialog appears, click Disable to verify the change.
    Note: If the option is grayed out, it has been locked at either the group or account level. You need to contact your Zoom admin.

Disable automatic recording for an existing meeting or webinar

Windows | macOS | Linux

Edit an upcoming meeting to stop automatically recording

  1. Sign in to the Zoom desktop app.
  2. In the left navigation bar, click the Meetings tab  or Calendar tab .
    Notes:
    • If you have set up the calendar and contacts integration to connect your calendar, you will have the Calendar tab. If you haven’t connected your calendar, you will have the Meetings tab.
    • If you do not see either the Meetings or Calendar tab, click the More tab , then click Meetings or Calendar.
  3. Click the meeting you want to modify.
  4. At the top of the meeting card, click the edit icon .
  5. If you selected a recurring meeting, choose if you want to modify this meeting only, this and following meetings, or all meetings in this series, then click Continue.
  6. Click Settings.
  7. Under Advanced, clear the check box next to Automatically record meeting.
  8. Click Save.

Edit your personal room to stop automatically recording

Your personal room is a virtual meeting room permanently reserved for you that you can access with your Personal Meeting ID (PMI) or personal link. You can edit the settings for this personal room in the Zoom desktop app or web portal.

  1. Sign in to the Zoom desktop app.
  2. In the left navigation bar, click the Home tab.
  3. Next to New meeting, click the down arrow icon.
  4. Hover over your PMI (10-digit number), then click PMI settings.
  5. In the Personal Meeting ID Settings window, click Advanced Options.
  6. Clear the check box next to Automatically record meeting.
  7. Click Save.
Android | iOS

Edit an upcoming meeting to stop automatically recording

  1. Sign in to the Zoom mobile app.
  2. Tap the Calendar tab.
  3. Tap the meeting you want to edit.
  4. In the top-right corner of the meeting details, tap the ellipsis icon.
  5. Tap Edit.
  6. If you selected a recurring meeting, choose if you want to modify this event or all events.
  7. Tap Meeting settings.
  8. Under Advanced, tap the Automatically record meeting toggle to disable it.
  9. Tap Save.
Web portal

Edit an upcoming meeting to stop automatically recording

  1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal.
  2. In the navigation menu, click Meetings.
  3. On the Upcoming tab, hover over the name of a meeting, then click Edit.
  4. Next to Options, click Show.
  5. Clear the check box next to Automatically record meeting.
  6. Click Save.

Edit your personal room to stop automatically recording

Your personal room is a virtual meeting room permanently reserved for you that you can access with your Personal Meeting ID (PMI) or personal link. You can edit the settings for this personal room in the Zoom desktop app or web portal.

  1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal.
  2. In the navigation menu, click Meetings.
  3. On the Personal Room tab, click Edit.
  4. Next to Options, click Show.
  5. Clear the check box next to Automatically record meeting.
  6. Click Save.

Edit an upcoming webinar to stop automatically recording

  1. Sign in to the Zoom web portal.
  2. In the navigation menu, click Webinars.
  3. On the Upcoming tab, hover over the name of a webinar, then click Edit.
    If it's a recurring webinar, you will be asked to choose to edit the single occurrence or all the occurrences.
  4. Scroll down to Webinar Options.
  5. Clear the check box next to Automatically record webinar.
  6. Click Save.