How to Record a Google Meet in 2025 (Without Stressing Out)
14 Apr 2025
Let’s be real, online meetings are everywhere now. Whether you’re working, learning, or just trying to stay connected, Google Meet is one of the go-to platforms. But what if you need to remember what was said or share the meeting with someone who missed it?
Recording your Google Meet can save you a lot of headaches. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the easiest ways to record your meetings, whether you’ve got the fancy tools or just your laptop and some creativity.
First, can you even record on Google Meet?
Meeting being held
Good question. Google Meet does have a built-in recording feature that you can use to record a Google Meet meeting, but it’s not available to everyone. Here’s what you need to know:
Paid Google Meet Subscription required: Only Google Workspace users (like Business or Education plans) or Google One users with 2 TB+ storage can record directly in Meet.
Computer only: The mobile app doesn’t support the built-in recording tool.
Host permission: Only the host (or co-host) can record. You might need the host to permit you.
Storage location: Recordings go to the host’s Google Drive in a folder called “Meet Recordings.” You should know where your Google Meet recordings go so you can have a deeper look at things.
8-hour limit: The recording will cut off if you exceed this time.
Notification: All participants get notified when the recording starts or ends.
How to Use Google Meet’s Built-In Recording (If You Have Access)
Here’s the step-by-step version, friendly and easy to record Google Meet meetings:
Start or join the meeting on your computer.
Click the “Activities” icon (shapes in the corner) or go to the three-dot menu (“More options”).
Choose “Recording.”
Hit “Start recording.” It might ask if you want captions and what language to use.
You’re recording! You’ll see a red “Recording” badge on the screen.
To stop, return to the same place and click “Stop recording.”
That’s it! This is how you record a Google Meet meeting. The video will save automatically to Google Drive, and you’ll get an email when it’s ready.
Where to Find (and Share) Your Recording
Check Google Drive: It’s in the “Meet Recordings” folder of the host’s Drive.
Email notification: The organizer (and whoever hit record) gets a link.
Easy sharing: Just send the link or adjust the file’s sharing settings.
Download option: Click the three dots on the file in Drive and hit “Download.” It saves as an MP4.
No Built-In Recorder? No Problem
If you don’t have a paid Google account, here are some other ways to record your meeting:
Use 3rd party screen recording software:
How it works: Open your meeting, run the screen recorder, and hit record.
Heads-up: Be sure to tell everyone you’re recording. It’s just good manners (and sometimes required by law).
Use your computer’s built-in recorder:
Windows: Hit Win + G to open Xbox Game Bar and record.
Mac: Press Shift + Command + 5 to start screen recording.
Record on your phone:
Android: Pull down the quick settings panel and tap “Screen Recorder.”
iPhone/iPad: Swipe down to open Control Center and tap the record button.
Use AI meeting assistants:
Setup is easy: Sign up, connect your calendar, and the bot joins your meetings like magic. You can use Echo for AI meetings and notes.
Bonus: They give you notes, action items, and searchable transcripts. Super handy.
AI meeting notes: They provide you with AI meeting notes.
AI meetings transcriptions - They provide you with AI meeting transcriptions, and one of the best tools to do this is Echo.
A Few Friendly Tips
Ask for consent: Always ask before you record. It’s respectful, and sometimes it’s the law.
Explain your reason: If you’re recording to take notes later or share with someone, just say so.
Check your sound: Use a headset if possible, and find a quiet space.
Do a test run: Make sure your setup works before something important.
Keep your Drive tidy: Recordings can pile up, so clean out the old ones now and then.
Stay organized: Use folders and labels so you’re not digging around for that one meeting
Use Official Support: Make sure to use Google's official support if you can't record or something goes wrong with your recording.
FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What approach should I use to start recording during a Google Meet session?
Click the three-dot menu (⋮) during your meeting and select "Record meeting." You need host/co-host permissions.
Q. What capabilities does a user have to record sessions within Google Meet?
Only meeting hosts, co-hosts, or users within the same organization with a Google Workspace account can record.
Q. Which has better recording features, Google Meet or Zoom?
Both meeting tools have their own perks and uses. For a detailed comparison, you can have a look at the comparison between Google Meet vs Zoom
Q. Is the recording capability available in specific editions of Google Workspace?
Yes, only in Business Standard/Plus, Enterprise Essentials/Standard/Plus, Education Plus, and Teaching and Learning Upgrade.
Q. What is the location of your saved Google Meet recordings?
Recordings are saved to the organizer's Google Drive in a "Meet Recordings" folder, with an email link also sent.
Q. Does the time needed for recording development start after meetings finish and end with post-meeting preparation?
Recordings typically take a few minutes to process after the meeting ends, with longer meetings requiring more time.
Q. Is recording a meeting through my mobile phone possible?
No, recording is only available on computers through a web browser, not on mobile devices.
Q. Will the system provide participants with notice about the start of recording?
Yes, all participants receive both visual and audio notifications when recording begins and ends.
Q. The storage space required by these recorded files is estimated for Google Drive storage.
A. Typically 20-200MB per hour, depending on meeting content and video quality.
Q. The longest recording duration available through Google Meet remains undefined.
Recordings can last up to 24 hours, the same as the maximum meeting duration for most plans.
Q. Is it possible to record breakout rooms when conducting Google Meet sessions?
No, recordings only capture the main meeting room, not breakout sessions.
Q. Participants need to know the most practical way of sharing recordings.
Right-click the recording in Google Drive, select "Share," and send the link with appropriate permissions.
Q. Is the ability to edit Google Meet recorded sessions available to users?
No built-in editing; you must download and use third-party software to edit recordings.
Q. Does the duration of my Google Drive stored recordings determine their storage period?
Recordings remain indefinitely until manually deleted or you run out of storage space.
Q. Is it possible to record Google Meet meetings without letting participants know about it?
No, Google Meet always notifies all participants when recording begins and ends.
Q. How do I end a recording?
A. Click the three-dot menu (⋮) and select "Stop recording," or it stops automatically when everyone leaves.
Q. Do the video recordings include caption features?
Yes, if live captions were enabled during the meeting, they'll appear in the recording.
Q. Can users record the audio track from Google Meet discussions only?
No native audio-only option; recordings include both audio and video, but you can extract audio later.
Q. Does the ownership of Google Meet recording copyrights remain an unresolved question?
Generally, recordings belong to the content creator, but organizational policies may state that work recordings belong to the organization.
Q. After deleting a Google Meet recording, is there any method to retrieve it?
Recover from Google Drive Trash within 30 days; after that, it's permanently deleted.
Q. Does a solution exist to establish automatic recording for all Google Meet sessions?
No automatic recording feature exists; each recording must be manually started by a host/co-host.
Conclusion:
Recording your Google Meet sessions can be a lifesaver, whether you're working on a project, running a class, or just trying to stay organized. The built-in tools are great if you’ve got access, but if not, there are still plenty of easy (and free) workarounds. Just remember: always let people know you’re recording and use those recordings wisely. With the right setup, you’ll never have to say “Wait—what did they say again?” ever again.