Fathom sometimes does not start when I start a Zoom call -no way to control it

[Pilgrimbrent]

I have a Zoom account and Fathom apparently comes with it. I want Fathom to automatically start recording on all of my Zoom meetings - It automatically starts on some of them, but most of the time when I start a Zoom, Fathom does not. In those cases I want to turn Fathom on for video recording and transcription  but there is no means of doing so. When I am in the non-Fathom meeting and I click on the "Apps" button at the bottom of the page, "Fathom" does not appear. It is a complete mystery to me why Fathom starts sometimes when I start a scheduled meeting, and sometimes does not. So if I can default to it automatically starting in every call, I can turn it off when needed. What's the secret? Why's it hard to find? I don't even know if I'm on the right board. 

[Bort]

Hi @Pilgrimbrent 

I am not terribly familiar with the Fathom app, but I can likely help you troubleshoot the issue overall. Here are a couple of things to confirm: 

• Is there any difference in the meetings where Fathom shows up and those it doesn't? Some hosted by you while others hosted by someone else and you are just a participant? 
  • If so, it could be a restriction on the meetings you are joining that prevents the use of the Fathom app. 
• Are you signed-in for each of these meetings?
  • If not signed-in to your Zoom account, that could explain why the app doesn't automatically start when you join.

[Pilgrimbrent]

Hi Bort. I set up every Zoom meeting, I am always the host, never just a participant, and when I schedule the Zoom call in my account, I then copy and paste the Zoom link into my calendar. When the time comes I click on that link and it opens the meeting. I rarely log in to my Zoom account to go into my account and click on Meetings to start the meeting. So to the best of my recollection, whether Fathom starts or not, I will have clicked on the Zoom link in my calendar to start things. Are you saying that clicking the link does not sign me in? It would be easy to log in first, I can try that. So far there is no rhyme or reason. Thank you for helping. 

[BloomingRose]

If i understand correctly, Fathom requires consent from your participants before recording the call. It could be that the participant did not agree to being recorded when recording doesnt happen automatically!? There are options on the  fathom settings that you can set so either fathom automatically asks the participant for consent prior to the call, or you can. Hope this helps. Just signed up today so dont have much more to offer than that!

[budevans54]

I'm having the same issue. It shows that it's ready to record, then immediately shuts off and puts up the recording review message before the other party even enters. 

[KarriGB]

Pilgrimbrent, I am having the same problem.

It worked beautifully initially, but SOMETHING happened in August and now Fathom doesn't start automatically in my meetings. I finally managed to make it JOIN automatically (after many removals and re-installations), so at least I have the recording, but I have  no control over Fathom in the meeting anymore (e.g. cannot pause the recording, or highlights sections as I did before). There does seem to be some relationships with HOW I join the meeting... whether I click on the link from my Google Calendar or if I go into My Meetings in Zoom and start the meeting from there. I just want to go back in time and understand what changed so I can unchange it.

I have also lost the Fathom pop-up reminder that a meeting is starting in a few minutes. When I used to click on that it worked perfectly.

If you try to start Fathom from inside a Zoom meeting, using the Apps button it does seem to work, but it is much more fiddley than it used to be.

[Jhonleo02]

To ensure Fathom automatically starts recording in all your Zoom meetings, check Fathom's settings in your Zoom App Marketplace under "Installed Apps" to enable auto-start. If Fathom isn't appearing during a meeting, try reinstalling it. For consistent results, schedule all meetings through Zoom's interface and confirm Fathom is linked correctly.

[lbandrew]

I have had no problems with Fathom until recently.  It starts up automatically with every meeting, even those in which I am just a participant.  However, lately, when I try to start the meeting before other participants have arrived, I get the message "! click SKIP in Fathom to start recording now."  But I see NO way to do so.  Help!

[JonesFWM]

I think I figured it out.  I believe you need to make sure the desktop app is open and working when the meetings start.  my computer restarted in the middle fo the night and the desktop app did not restart with it.  I double clicked on the desktop app and then it signed in to every meeting after that