Starting a cloud recording
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Cloud recording is automatically enabled for all paid subscribers. When you record a meeting and choose Record to the Cloud, the video, audio, and chat text are recorded in the Zoom cloud. The recording files can be downloaded to a computer or streamed from a browser.
Cloud recordings can be started on the desktop clients, as well as the Zoom app on iOS and Android. Zoom also offers local recording, which saves the recording files to your computer. Cloud recordings allow you to record the meeting in multiple different recording layouts including active speaker, gallery view, and shared screen, and can be configured with a variety of cloud recording storage options.
After a cloud recording has finished processing, you can view, managing, and share cloud recording. If you're having issues with cloud recording, see our frequently asked questions about recording.
This article covers:
Prerequisites for starting a cloud recording
- Pro, Business, or Enterprise account
- Licensed user
- Cloud recording enabled
- Cloud recording settings selected as desired
Note: These settings will affect what's displayed in the cloud recording and the recording layout. - Zoom desktop client
- Windows: 3.5 or higher
- macOS: 3.5 or higher
- Linux: 3.5 or higher
- Zoom mobile app
- Android: 3.5 or higher
- iOS: 3.5 or higher
- Zoom PWA
Limitations for cloud recording
- Accounts with added HIPAA security may have this feature disabled entirely. Please contact your Account Executive regarding enabling this for your account.
-
Cloud recordings do not capture nonverbal feedback or meeting reactions.
- Cloud recordings can not be embedded on websites, in order to protect the security of the recording.
- There is a limit of 150 files that can be generated from a live session's cloud recordings. This includes different recording layouts, audio-only files, chat transcript, and language interpreter views. If you need more than 150 files, Zoom recommends ending the meeting and then restarting, which resets the file count for that live session.
Note: Pausing a cloud recording does not create a separate file, but stopping a recording and starting a new cloud recording does create a new file.
Cloud recording processing times
Cloud recordings generally take about 2 times the duration recorded to process, but occasionally may take up to 24 hours due to higher processing loads at that time.
For example, an hour long meeting with only 30 minutes recorded would typically take 30 to 60 minutes to process.
How to start a cloud recording
Only hosts and co-hosts can start a cloud recording. If you want a participant to start a recording, you can make them a co-host or use local recording. Recordings started by co-hosts will only appear in the host's list of recordings in the Zoom web portal.
To record a meeting to the cloud manually (you can also start your cloud recording automatically):
- Start your instant or scheduled meeting as the host.
- Click the Record
button. - Select Record to the Cloud to begin recording.
Note: If you are muted, a Recording Alert pop-up window will appear indicating You are muted. - To stop recording, click Stop Recording
or End Meeting to stop the recording. You can also click Pause 
to temporarily pause the recording.
Notes:
- Once the meeting has ended, the recording must be processed before viewing.
- If enabled in email notification settings, Zoom will send an email to the host's email address when the process is completed. There will be two links in the email, the first will be for the host, only to manage the recording. The second link will be for the participants.
- Once you stop the recording, you don't need to remain in the meeting for the recording to process.
- Follow the cloud recording troubleshooting steps if you're having issues finding or sharing a cloud recording.
Learn more about how to manage your cloud recordings:
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