Body
Questions
- How do I record a Zoom meeting if I can't record to the cloud?
- As a student, how do I record a Zoom meeting I'm hosting?
- Where does a local Zoom recording get saved on my computer?
- Why don't I see a cloud recording option in Zoom?
- How do I find my Zoom recording after the meeting ends?
- Can I record a Zoom meeting on my iPad or phone?
- How do I share a Zoom recording I saved to my computer?
Environment
This article applies to Bowdoin community members whose Zoom account does not include cloud recording — most commonly students on a Basic account. Local recording is available in the Zoom desktop app on macOS and Windows. Only the meeting host, or a participant the host allows, can record.
Note: Local recording is not available in the Zoom mobile app (iPad or phone) or the web client. To record from those devices, you would need a cloud-recording (Pro) license, or you can use Microsoft Teams, which records for everyone. See Choosing Between Zoom and Microsoft Teams at Bowdoin in the Related Articles section.
Resolution
Record a Meeting Locally
- Start or join the meeting as the host using the Zoom desktop app.
- In the meeting toolbar, click Record.
- If you are offered a choice, select Record on this Computer. (If you only have a Basic account, this is the only option.)
- A recording indicator appears in the top-left corner. Use Pause or Stop in the toolbar as needed.
- When you end the meeting, Zoom converts the recording and saves it to your computer.
Let the conversion finish. After the meeting ends, Zoom needs a few moments to convert the recording. Do not shut down or force-quit your computer until it completes, or the recording may be lost.
Where the Recording Is Saved
By default, local recordings are saved to a Zoom folder inside your Documents folder, in a subfolder named for the meeting date and time. Each recording produces a video file (.mp4) and, in some cases, a separate audio file.
- macOS:
~/Documents/Zoom
- Windows:
Documents\Zoom
You can confirm or change this location in the Zoom desktop app under Settings > Recording.
Record Only Audio
If you only need the audio, you can still record locally and use the resulting audio file, or adjust your recording settings before the meeting. Local recording always captures what is shared on screen and spoken; there is no separate video track to disable during a local recording, so simply keep cameras off if you want an audio-focused capture.
Share or Store the Recording
Because a local recording lives only on your computer, upload it somewhere safe if you want to keep or share it:
- Upload it to your OneDrive and share a link. See Upload Zoom Recordings to OneDrive in the Related Articles section.
- For a class, add it to your course space as directed by your instructor.
Tip: If you record often, consider using Microsoft Teams instead — it records to your OneDrive automatically, so there is no local file to manage or lose.
Additional Help
If you need further assistance, you have several options:
- Bowdoin Bot: Chat with Bowdoin Bot directly from any KB page for instant answers.
- Phone: Call the Bowdoin College Service Desk at (207) 725-3030.
- In person: Visit the Tech Hub in Smith Union during business hours.
- Submit a ticket: Request assistance through the Service Catalog.
AI-assisted content: This article was drafted with the assistance of an AI writing tool and reviewed by Bowdoin IT staff for accuracy.