Meeting Recordings: How to Record and Where the File Goes
Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet each have their own rules.
To make a meeting recording, start it from the meeting controls in Zoom, Microsoft Teams or Google Meet. Zoom records to your computer on its free plan. Teams and Google Meet need a paid plan, and they save the file to the organizer's OneDrive or Google Drive. Tell people before you record.
Checked November 2026 on each tool's own site.
Recording rules compared
| Platform | Who can record | Where it goes | Plan you need |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zoom | The host, and participants the host allows | Computer recording on your device, or cloud recording on paid accounts | Computer recording works from the Basic (free) plan, but not on phones or tablets |
| Microsoft Teams | Organizers and people from the same organization, not guests | The organizer's OneDrive, or the SharePoint site for a channel meeting | A qualifying Microsoft 365 or Office 365 license, with recording turned on by an admin |
| Google Meet | The host, and others in the meeting if the host has recording permission | The organizer's Google Drive, in a Google Meet folder, with a link in the Calendar event | An eligible Workspace edition, or Google One with 2 TB or more |
How to record in Google Meet
- Select Meeting tools, then Recording
- Select Start recording, and confirm
- To stop, use the same menu and select Stop recording
- Find the file in the organizer's Google Drive. A recording also stops when everyone leaves, or after 8 hours
How to record in Microsoft Teams
- In the meeting controls, select More actions, then Record
- Choose your spoken language and what to capture
- Select Confirm. You can also turn on live transcription
- Find the file in the organizer's OneDrive. Your admin's settings decide when it expires
Before you press record
- • Tell everyone first. Depending on your region, you may need their permission
- • Teams and Google Meet notify participants when a recording starts
- • Check how long your company keeps recordings
Can I record a Zoom meeting for free?
Yes. Computer recording works from the Basic (free) plan on a computer. It does not work on iOS, iPad or Android, which need cloud recording on a paid account.
Where do Teams meeting recordings go?
Most go to the organizer's OneDrive. Channel meeting recordings go to the team's SharePoint site. Your admin's settings decide when they expire.
Where do Google Meet recordings go?
To the meeting organizer's Google Drive, in a Google Meet folder with a sub-folder for each meeting. The link is also added to the Calendar event.
Do people know when a meeting is recorded?
On Teams and Google Meet, participants get a notice when a recording starts. Tell people yourself as well, on any platform, because the law may require their consent.
Can I turn a meeting recording into text?
Yes. Upload the file to a tool with a free plan, or use live transcription during a Teams meeting. Our guide lists the free ways and their limits.