Zoom meetings have become ubiquitous in our remote work and learning landscape. While hosting engaging video calls is critical, being able to record those sessions for later reference or to share with others who couldn‘t attend live is equally important.
But a common frustration arises when users can‘t locate their Zoom recordings after wrapping up a meeting or webinar. Never fear – this comprehensive 2500+ word guide will equip you to easily find any Zoom recording, customize where they are saved, and share them seamlessly.
Local vs Cloud Recordings: Key Differences & Considerations
The first key to understanding Zoom recordings is knowing the difference between local and cloud-based versions:
Local recordings are stored directly on the device you are using for the meeting, whether your desktop, laptop, or mobile device. The benefit here is no internet is required to record. However, the downside is local recordings take up storage space and can only be shared by manually sending the video file.
Cloud recordings are automatically saved to Zoom‘s servers, do not take up space on your device, and allow instant sharing via generated view links. But these are only available with a paid Zoom plan, not on the free tier.
Here is a comparison of the major pros and cons for each recording storage type:
| Local Recordings | Cloud Recordings | |
|---|---|---|
| Storage Location | On your device | Zoom cloud servers |
| Internet Required | No, can record offline meetings | Yes |
| Recording Length Limit | No limit based on storage space | 30-24 hours max depending on paid plan |
| Built-in Sharing | No, manual file transfer | Yes, shareable viewing link |
| Cost | Free | Varies by subscription lvl |
| Max Video Quality | HD 1080p (Pro plan) | 720p |
Average Storage Needed Per Recording Length
| Recording Length | Storage Per Hour at 720p |
|---|---|
| 1 hour | ~200MB |
| 2 hours | ~400MB |
| 8 hours | ~1.5GB |
Knowing what type of recording you have – local or cloud – will inform the steps required to find, organize and share it.
Method 1: Find Recordings in Your Zoom Account
For the most straightforward access to cloud recordings, sign into the Zoom website and navigate to the Recordings tab:
Here you have clear organization separating cloud recordings from local recordings. You can easily search, play, download, share, or delete cloud recordings.
Advanced controls like auto-transcribing recordings, enabling auto-captions, saving chat transcripts and more are also available here to maximize later utility of your meetings.
For accessing local recordings only, using the Zoom desktop app instead of the web portal offers a few more options like seeing file save locations.
This centralized recordings hub streamlines finding, managing and sharing your library – no digging though folders required!
Method 2: Locate Recording Files on Your Computer
Accessing recordings directly through your local files is sometimes necessary too, especially for sharing saved local recording files not viewable in your Zoom account cloud.
By default, Zoom stores local recording files in the Zoom folder within your personal Documents folder.
On Windows:
- Open File Explorer
- Navigate Documents > Zoom
- Open the folder with your first name and recording date for the MP4 video file
On Mac:
- In Finder, select Documents > Zoom
- Open folder with meeting name/date to find MP4 file
You will then see the replayable local recordings ready for sharing via email or cloud drive link.
Note: Only cloud recordings are accessible via the mobile app
Customize Recording Save Folder
If you want recordings kept somewhere other than your main Documents folder for better organization, customize the save destination within Zoom settings:
On Desktop App:
- Log into Zoom desktop app
- Click the gear icon > Recording
- Select new save folder path
On Zoom Web:
- Login to Zoom web portal
- Click Settings > Recording
- Choose new location for recordings folder
Having all recordings automatically redirected to a central location, shared team folder, or saved within respective project folders makes finding specific meetings much easier.
Share Recordings via Email, Cloud Drives or View Links
Once found, sharing recordings simply requires:
Local Recordings:
- Manually emailing the MP4 file
- Uploading to a shared cloud drive folder
Cloud Recordings
- Copying and sending the auto-generated view link
- Enabling link protections like passwords or expiration dates especially for sensitive recordings
If collaborating with larger teams, uploading cloud recordings to a shared cloud drive folder like Dropbox or Google Drive allows for centralized access.
Password protecting sensitive recordings is another option within account settings on the Zoom web portal:
Upgrade for 60-Day Cloud Recording Retention
One limitation to note with cloud recordings on lower tier paid plans is Zoom only retains them for 30 days before automatically deleting them.
Upgrading to the $200/year Business plan extends this retention period to 60 days. The $240/year Enterprise plan allows indefinite cloud storage within customizable admin settings.
So if needing to reference recordings older than a month, the Business or Enterprise plans are best. Review this detailed pricing breakdown to identify the right tier for your needs.
Extend Max Recording Lengths
Another common frustration Zoom users face is truncated recordings on the free plan after just 40 minutes – often not long enough to capture an entire meeting or webinar!
The good news is this recording limit can easily be lifted by upgrading to any paid Zoom plan, with maximum lengths ranging from 12-24+ hours depending on tier:
| Basic | Pro | Business | Enterprise | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Meeting Limit | 24 hrs | No limit | No limit | No limit |
If needing to capture marathon sessions longer than 24 hours on the Basic plan, one workaround is to:
- Schedule separate back-to-back meetings in 24 hour blocks
- End meeting and immediately start second scheduled meeting
- Combine .MP4 files from cloud recordings using free video editing software like ShortCut or iMovie
This takes a bit more effort but lets you utilize Zoom‘s lowest paid tier for unlimited-style recordings.
Integrate Zoom with External Platforms
While Zoom on its own offers robust recording management capabilities, integrating with other apps can provide additional utility:
- Auto-Save Cloud Recordings to Google Drive or Dropbox for centralized access
- Auto-Transcribe Recordings using Otter.ai integration for text searchability
- Share via YouTube for public viewers by auto-uploading recordings
Plus many more ways to maximize recordings value like Otter.ai for conversation transcription.
The Bottom Line
As you can see, accessing recordings is always within easy reach no matter the storage method. Follow along above based on your specific recording type for smooth finding and sharing every time to get the most from your Zoom meetings long after you say goodbye!
With the right settings and integrations, you can build an always accessible, searchable archive of meetings spanning your entire organization.
Now put these pro tips into play to eliminate frustrating hunting for lost recordings or bumping up against restrictive limits.
