Meetings NEVER record to my computer | Community
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S
Newcomer
SilverDollar
Newcomer
March 15, 2026
Solved

Meetings NEVER record to my computer

  • March 15, 2026
  • 2 replies
  • 36 views

Despite host approving recordings, they NEVER record to my computer (Lenovo). I have checked everywhere on my computer and they are nowhere to be found. Zoom’s AI bot is useless and just parrots everything on the website that I’ve tried. I have looked all over the internet and can’t find an answer. I’m a free member but unwilling to pay because I only attend 1-2 meetings/week and never host. WHY AREN’T THEY RECORDING???

Best answer by ExpertswhoJohn

hi ​@SilverDollar 

that is wierd. 
But I have a suggestion, cos I got this problem also.

Zoom is actually a two stage process for recording.
1. You ask the host permission for recording

You then need to start the recording when you want it to happen.

Asking for permission does not start the recording, you have to start and stop the recording when you want to AFTER you have been given permission.

hope that makes sense

Please like and mark as the solution if this helps

All the best

 

John Drinkwater

Zoom Community Super Champion.

Zoom Developer Champion

Community Champions are not paid to provide this support and have no access to customer settings or data. I am not personally an employee of Zoom

https://www.linkedin.com/in/johndrinkwaterlordzoom/
See my latest content. events, live and prerecorded to showcase features
https://lordzoom.com/go/hub
I run many events and upload most on my channel.
https://www.youtube.com/@boomwithlordzoom

 

2 replies

ExpertswhoJohn
Community Super Champion | Customer
ExpertswhoJohnAnswer
Community Super Champion | Customer
March 17, 2026

hi ​@SilverDollar 

that is wierd. 
But I have a suggestion, cos I got this problem also.

Zoom is actually a two stage process for recording.
1. You ask the host permission for recording

You then need to start the recording when you want it to happen.

Asking for permission does not start the recording, you have to start and stop the recording when you want to AFTER you have been given permission.

hope that makes sense

Please like and mark as the solution if this helps

All the best

 

John Drinkwater

Zoom Community Super Champion.

Zoom Developer Champion

Community Champions are not paid to provide this support and have no access to customer settings or data. I am not personally an employee of Zoom

https://www.linkedin.com/in/johndrinkwaterlordzoom/
See my latest content. events, live and prerecorded to showcase features
https://lordzoom.com/go/hub
I run many events and upload most on my channel.
https://www.youtube.com/@boomwithlordzoom

 

    S
    Newcomer
    SilverDollarAuthor
    Newcomer
    March 22, 2026

    THANK YOU!!! I had my weekly Zoom meeting and did exactly as you said. It worked! I don’t know why it never occurred to me that I had to hit record again after the host approved the request to record. It seems like it should automatically start if the host approves it. You ARE the Zoom Community Super Champion!!! I couldn’t find any answer on the web that stated this so clearly--that it’s a two-step process. I’ll definitely look to your suggestions if I have any other issues. Thanks again!

    tom cary
    Newcomer
    tom cary
    Newcomer
    March 22, 2026

    This is super frustrating 😤 but I think the issue is how Zoom handles recordings on free accounts.

    If you’re not the host, even if they “approve recording,” it doesn’t always mean it saves locally on your computer. Usually:

    • Only the host’s device records locally (if they choose local recording)
    • Or it goes to the host’s cloud recording (which free users don’t get)

    So even with permission, your app might not actually save anything unless the host explicitly gives you recording rights AND you manually start it.

    A couple things to check:

    • Did you actually click Record → Record on this computer?
    • Did the host make you a co-host?
    • Ask the host if THEY have the recording (most likely they do)

    Honestly, Zoom’s wording is confusing here  “permission to record” ≠ “it will automatically save on your laptop” 😅

    S
    Newcomer
    SilverDollarAuthor
    Newcomer
    March 23, 2026

    Thank you for responding. In this recurring meeting, our host does give us permission to record to our computers. This error was totally on me and my misunderstanding of how I thought that once the host approved us to record, that the Zoom app automatically started recording. I didn’t realize that I had to press record again. My bad. After my meeting ended this morning, the window opened that said it was converting the files for saving--which took some time. I was then able to confirm that the session did indeed record and I can view the file. Thanks again for your input!

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