Hi @David Martin,
I am sorry to hear what happened. To answer your query, Zoom doesn’t erase or delete local recording files on your computer. Local recordings are saved only on your device, so if the entire “Zoom” folder disappeared, it’s usually due to something on the computer side (folder moved, deleted, profile/location change, sync tool, etc.), not the billing suspension itself.
Here’s what to check next to locate them:
- Check Zoom’s local recording location setting
- In the Zoom desktop app, go to Settings > Recording and look for Store my recordings at (the folder path).
- Use Open (if shown) to jump directly to the folder Zoom is currently using.
- Manually search the default Zoom local recording folder Default locations are:
- Windows:
C:\Users\<Username>\Documents\Zoom - macOS:
/Users/<Username>/Documents/Zoom - Linux:
/home/<Username>/Documents/Zoom
- Search your computer for Zoom recording file types / meeting folders If the folder was moved or renamed, search your drive for:
- folders named like Zoom meeting dates/times, or
- recording files (commonly .mp4, .m4a), or
- Zoom recording folders under Documents.
About cloud recordings (if any of those “hundreds of files” were cloud recordings):
- Cloud recordings are tied to your Zoom account. Suspension/cancellation timing affects retention differently than local files; Zoom notes cloud recordings are retained during suspension and may be deleted after cancellation timelines (for example, 30 days after account cancellation).
I hope this helps and thank you for joining Zoom Community!
