How to record a Teams meeting (and where the recording goes)

Applies to: Microsoft Teams for work or school (the new Teams app on Windows and Mac, and Teams on the web). Recording needs a Microsoft 365 licence that includes Teams, and your IT admin must allow it.

Start recording a Teams meeting

1. Join the meeting from Teams. Recording can’t be started from a phone dial-in.
2. In the meeting controls at the top of the window, select More actions (…).
3. Point to Record and transcribe and choose Start recording. In some versions the option is just called Record.
4. A banner tells everyone the meeting is being recorded, and a red recording indicator appears at the top of the meeting window.

Recording includes audio, video and anything shared on screen. Live transcription usually starts at the same time, depending on your organization’s settings. Let people know before you start: in many places it’s a legal or policy requirement, not just good manners.

Stop the recording

Select More actions (…), point to Record and transcribe and choose Stop recording. Any meeting participant who can record can also stop it. If nobody stops it, the recording continues while anyone is still in the meeting and ends automatically when everyone has left.

Where Teams saves the recording

• Regular (non-channel) meetings: the file is saved to OneDrive, in a Recordings folder. In current Teams it usually goes to the meeting organizer’s OneDrive; older recordings went to whoever pressed record, so check both.
• Channel meetings: the file goes to the channel’s SharePoint site, in the Recordings folder under the channel’s Files tab.
• Fastest way to open it: after the meeting, open the meeting chat or the meeting’s Recap tab in your Teams calendar. A link to the recording appears there once processing finishes, which can take a few minutes for long meetings.

Your organization may set recordings to expire automatically after a number of days. The owner can open the file’s details in OneDrive or SharePoint and change or remove the expiration date, or download a copy. If OneDrive itself is causing trouble, see how to stop OneDrive from syncing.

Record every meeting automatically

If you organize a meeting, open it in your Teams calendar, select Meeting options and look for Record and transcribe automatically. Turn it on and save. Recording then starts as soon as the meeting begins. This option only appears when your admin allows it, and on some plans it’s limited or unavailable.

Record button missing or greyed out

• Your admin has turned recording off: recording is controlled by a Teams meeting policy. Only an IT admin can change it, so ask them.
• You’re a guest or from another organization: people outside the organizer’s organization, and anonymous attendees, can’t start a recording.
• The organizer limited it: in Meeting options, the organizer can choose who can record, for example organizers and co-organizers only. Ask to be made a co-organizer or presenter.
• Your licence doesn’t include recording: check with your admin which Microsoft 365 plan you have.
• Teams itself misbehaves: sign out and back in, or clear the Teams cache. If Teams won’t connect at all, start with Teams not connecting.

Recording with Teams free or as a guest

The built-in recording feature is aimed at work and school accounts, and Teams (free) for personal use doesn’t offer the same option. If you can’t use the Teams recorder, you can record your own screen and audio with Windows tools such as the Snipping Tool’s video mode; see how to record video on screen in Windows. Ask everyone in the call for permission first.

Related guides

• Microsoft Teams tips and tricks
• Teams not connecting: how to fix it
• How to record video on screen in Windows
• Spell check on Teams: turn it on, add languages and fix it

Official sources:

• Microsoft Support: Start, stop and find meeting recordings in Microsoft Teams

Frequently asked questions

Do other people know when I record a Teams meeting?

Yes. Everyone in the meeting sees a notice when recording starts, and people who join later see it too. Teams doesn’t support secret recording.

Can I record a Teams meeting if I’m not the organizer?

Usually yes, if you’re in the same organization as the organizer, your admin allows recording and the organizer hasn’t limited who can record.

How long does a Teams recording take to appear?

Often a few minutes after the meeting ends. Longer meetings take longer to process. The link shows up in the meeting chat and the Recap tab when it’s ready.