A video window with a red record dot and a cloud-save icon, representing a Microsoft Teams meeting being recorded

How to Record a Teams Meeting (2026)

Microsoft Teams records meetings to the cloud — there’s no local-file option like Zoom has. The recording saves automatically to OneDrive or SharePoint and drops a link into the meeting chat. Here’s how to record on every platform, who’s allowed to, and where the file ends up.


Record on Desktop

  1. Start or join the meeting as the organizer or a presenter.
  2. On the toolbar, click More (the ).
  3. Choose Record and transcribe > Start recording.
  4. Everyone gets a banner that recording (and transcription, if on) has started.
  5. To stop: More > Record and transcribe > Stop recording, or end the meeting.

Recording stops automatically if everyone leaves but no one clicks Stop — it ends after a few minutes of an empty meeting.


Where Teams Recordings Save

Teams no longer uses Stream for new recordings — files go to cloud storage tied to the meeting type:

  • Regular meeting / chat meeting: saves to the OneDrive of the person who started the recording, in a Recordings folder.
  • Channel meeting: saves to the SharePoint site for that channel, in a Recordings folder.

Either way, a playable link appears in the meeting chat for everyone invited. Open it there, or go to OneDrive > My files > Recordings.


Record on Mobile (iOS/Android)

  1. In the meeting, tap More (the ).
  2. Tap Record and transcribe > Start recording.
  3. Tap More > Stop recording to finish.

The recording lands in the same chat and cloud folder as a desktop recording — you can watch it from the meeting chat on your phone.


Troubleshooting

The Record option is greyed out or missing

You’re likely an attendee, not a presenter. Recording is limited to the organizer and presenters from the same organization. Ask the organizer to record or to make you a presenter (Participants > your name > Make a presenter).

Guests and external people can’t record

Recording is blocked for guests, anonymous joiners, and people from other organizations by design. Someone from the host organization has to start it.

I can’t find the recording after the meeting

Check the meeting chat first — the link posts there. If it’s not ready, cloud processing can take a few minutes. Otherwise look in OneDrive > Recordings (regular meetings) or the channel’s SharePoint > Recordings (channel meetings).

Recording starts but there’s no transcript

Transcription is a separate toggle. Use More > Record and transcribe > Start transcription to capture captions and a searchable transcript alongside the video.

Admin has disabled recording

Your IT admin controls recording in the Teams admin center. If the option never appears for anyone, the policy is off — that’s an admin change, not a per-meeting setting.


Quick Reference

GoalWhat to do
Record a meetingMore > Record and transcribe > Start recording
Stop recordingMore > Record and transcribe > Stop recording
Find a regular recordingOneDrive > Recordings (or meeting chat)
Find a channel recordingChannel’s SharePoint > Recordings
Let someone else recordMake them a presenter
Add a transcriptMore > Record and transcribe > Start transcription

Related Teams guides: How to share your screen on Teams · How to create a Teams meeting in Outlook · How to use breakout rooms in Teams · How to raise your hand in Teams · The best AI note takers for Zoom, Teams & Meet · How to use Copilot in Teams · Microsoft Teams meeting limits

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