Guest given permission to record - where is the file?

[mattfromblox]

I recently attended a Zoom call hosted by someone else. I joined as a guest, and didn't have my own Zoom account at the time/wasn't logged in.

I requested permission to record the call, which the host granted, and the recording icon was present throughout the call.

After the call ended, the host does not recall seeing the video converting message, and cannot find the recording locally/in the cloud. Likewise, I cannot find the recording locally, and as I say, wasn't logged in/didn't even have an account at that time.

What has become of the recording, and how can we access it?

Many thanks in advance!

[rebeccametea]

Did you get an answer to this?   Just had the same thing happen

[mattfromblox]

not yet!

[mattfromblox]

Since posting, I've received five emails from Zoom awarding me various badges and promotions, but not one response from support to this issue?

[mattfromblox]

Bumping in case support monitor these forums!

[CarlaA]

Hi everyone! 

Please review this article for steps on how to access and locate your recordings: Finding your local and cloud recordings

Note: Only host and co-host can record to the cloud. 

Please also review @ZoomTestKitchen solution here on locating your local recordings: Cannot find my local recording 

I hope this helps! 

Carla,
Zoom Community Team

[mattfromblox]

Hi @CarlaA - as per my original post, I wasn't signed in (indeed didn't even have a Zoom account at that time), so I can't follow the instructions at either link to check my default recording location from that time.
Now I have created an account I can see a default folder, but that folder is empty on my local drive.

Again, I was a guest without an account, in a meeting hosted by someone else. I was the one who asked for permission to record however. So my question is, where is this recording now located?

[Bort]

Hi @mattfromblox 

In this case, with you being not signed in and granted permission to record, the only place it could be is locally on your device. The default storage location would be in your Documents folder, where you should find a Zoom folder containing other individual folders, each specific to a meeting you recorded. Its also possible that you chose to save the file somewhere elsewhere instead of the default location. 

Here's my suggestions: 

1. First, check the default location (Documents > Zoom). Each folder should be named with the date, time, and meeting name/topic. That should be able to help you track down the correct folder if there are multiple. 
2. If not there, you will need to do a search on your entire computer. I'd suggest searching for a  "recording.conf" file, which is typically created as a by-product of the recording files.
   1. Another helpful search would be "double-click-to-convert-01", as this is what recordings are stored as before they are converted to a normal video file. If you find this file, follow the instructions here to manually convert the recording: https://support.zoom.us/hc/en-us/articles/201362753#h_01G60E4JXAJ07QEYYEPH5CHZ2P
      
      

One last thing to keep in mind, the local recording files do not transfer between devices, so if you recorded on desktop A, and since then switched to using desktop B, you won't be able to find the files on B. 

Hope that helps and let me know if you have any further questions. Otherwise, make sure to mark the solution as accepted if this information is what you needed.

[mattfromblox]

Hi Bort, thanks for the more detailed response.

I do have a Zoom folder in my documents, but it is empty. And searching for both suggested filenames throws up nothing. This is the same device I was on when I was on the meeting in question.

@rebeccametea - would be interested whether Bort's solution helps you?

[jenn-rodz]

Hi,

I was sign in to my account. The person call me, I requested to record the meeting, they accept. The recording is NOT on default location (Documents > Zoom). Nor anywhere else. 

It's incredibly frustrating and frankly, not very professional of zoom to have this big issue. Did anyone find a solution??

[jrg2]

Hello - I had the same issue so was reading this thread - I clicked on Carla's link and saw "Recordings started by co-hosts will only appear in the host's list of recordings in the Zoom web portal." I think that's what is going on with mine so in case it is with yours as well...!

[mattfromblox]

I wasn't a co-host though, just a guest

[SxlCmbr]

Hi Carla, 

I have a question. If a guest recorded a meeting I was hosting, is it possible to see their email? They logged in and put a name, but did not put in their email address. Is it possible to delete their recording? Is it possible to get any information on that individual? Thank you!

[Ilan1010]

Hello CarlaA and every one else,

I have the same problem.

I attended today a meeting as a guest - NOT A CO-HOST - The meeting was recorded and in addition I was granted permission to record. At the end of the meeting I did not see the pop up screen about converting the meeting recording. I know where the recorded meetings file are located - IT'S NOT THERE.

I had 3 meetings with this specific host. Only after the first I was able to locate the recorded file (after the pop up screen regarding the conversion).

I did not change anything on my computer (besides application update).

The host did recieve the pop up screen and the recorded file and will send it to me later but I wish to save him the hassle.

What's the reason for not getting the recording? could it be the update? how can I solve it?

Thank you,

Ilan

[Frank_TB]

Hello,

Zoom cloud recordings always go to the host account of the person who scheduled the meeting not to someone in the meeting who was made co host. If it's a local recording it can only be on your own computer or not at all.

Regards

[mattfromblox]

Thanks Frank. The Host is quite certain he doesn't have the recording either locally or on the cloud, and as I said does not recall seeing the video converting message. Going to assume it's vanished into the ether at this point sadly! Appreciate the help though!

[francespei]

Hey Matt, I hear exactly what you're saying.  I have the paid version and was on a zoom call and didn't log into my account for my group call with 9 other people.  We were advised by the host to record our call individually and were granted permission to do so.  Once the call ended among the group, only one person had actually recording.  We're now wondering if it could be possible only one guest can record?? Seems silly when every attendee is given the option to record.  Not sure if this helps if you didn't have a group meeting.

[Tuvi]

Today I had similar issue: I was invited as a guest to importnat zoom meeting, I asked permission to record and record on cloud and tree was a message recording all the time, and I stop recording at the end . But the recording file is not on my zoom cloud .  Is it possible that it was recorded on the zoom cloud of the host organisation?

thanks, tuvi 

[MPollock]

Almost identical issue, and we are not able to find the recording. Here are the steps to get to where I could not find the recording. I do have a paid zoom account, and normally when I am the one who hits the record button, at the end of the meeting I get a popup that says preparing the recording, or something like that, and some time later a video files appears that is the recording. Today, there were a few differences... here is what happened:

1) I started a zoom meeting as the host for 3 attendees, me being one of them.

2) I gave one of the attendees the host so they could share their screen

3) one of the other attendees ended up hitting the record button, and I got a notice on my screen asking if it is ok to record, as did the other person who was at the time the host. We both hit Yes, that it was OK.

4) the meeting ended for all 3 of us and I heard a notice saying recording has stopped. The attendee who I had passed the host to was still the host at the end of the meeting.

That was the last thing that happened. I never received a notice saying the recording was being compiled. The person who was the acting host at the end received nothing. The 3rd attendee said there was no note on their screen either saying that the recording was being compiled. Where did the recording go?

[MPollock]

Update. The recording was found. The attendee who clicked the record button, but was not the host at the time and was not me, did in fact receive a notice from the zoom asking where he would like the recording of the session saved. He said the saved file worked great.

So it would seem whoever hits the record button, their hardware should have been given the ability to download the recording. I wonder what happens if someone hit record while on their cell phone... would the file be downloaded to a cell phone?

All I know is I had absolutely no visibility as to anything related with the recording other than I clicked yes when asked if it was OK for them to record. I had no notice that it had been saved, that it had been downloaded, or no option for me to download it. When I logged into my account and go to recordings, it does not show that the session from today was ever recorded. It only shows the last recording that I did, where I clicked the record button.

I hope this helps anyone searching for their long lost recordings!