How to Use Google Meet's Built-in Recording Feature

If you have a qualifying Google Workspace plan, recording is as simple as clicking a button. This guide shows you exactly how.

✅ Plans WITH Built-in Recording

Business Plans

• Business Standard ($12/user/month) ✓
• Business Plus ($18/user/month) ✓
• Enterprise Starter ✓
• Enterprise Standard ✓
• Enterprise Plus ✓

Education Plans

• Education Plus ✓
• Teaching and Learning Upgrade ✓

Other Qualifying Plans

• Google One (2TB+ storage) ✓
• Workspace Individual ✓

❌ Plans WITHOUT Recording

• Free Gmail accounts (@gmail.com)
• Business Starter ($6/user/month)
• Education Fundamentals (free)
• Education Standard

Need alternatives? See our guides for Gmail accounts or Business Starter.

Step-by-Step: Using the Built-in Recorder

Before You Start

1. Verify your plan includes recording (see list above)
2. Check admin settings - your admin must enable recording
3. Ensure adequate storage in Google Drive
4. Test with a practice meeting first

How to Record

1. Start Your Meeting

• Open Google Meet
• Start or join your meeting
• Wait for all participants to join

2. Start Recording

1. Click the Activities button (puzzle piece icon) in bottom toolbar
2. Select Recording from the menu
3. Click Start recording
4. Click Start in the consent popup

What happens:

• Red "REC" indicator appears for ALL participants
• Recording notification is shown to everyone
• Meeting is being saved to Google Drive

3. During Recording

• Recording indicator: Red dot visible to all
• Audio/Video: Both are captured automatically
• Screen shares: Recorded when active
• Chat: NOT recorded (save separately if needed)
• Captions: NOT included in recording

4. Stop Recording

1. Click Activities button again
2. Select Recording
3. Click Stop recording
4. Confirm by clicking Stop recording again

5. After Recording

Automatic process:

• Processing begins (5-30 minutes typically)
• Email sent to organizer and recorder with link
• Recording saved to organizer's Drive
• Link added to calendar event

📍 Finding Your Recordings

In Google Drive

1. Open Google Drive
2. Go to My Drive → Meet Recordings folder
3. Recordings named: [Meeting name] [Date] [Time]

Via Email

• Check inbox for "Your recording is ready"
• Click link to access recording

In Calendar

• Open the original calendar event
• Recording link automatically added

⚙️ Recording Settings & Options

What's Recorded

✅ Included:

• Active speaker view
• Presented screens
• All audio (participants + system)
• Pinned/spotlighted videos

❌ NOT Included:

• Chat messages
• Live captions/subtitles
• Participant thumbnails
• Reactions/hand raises
• Breakout rooms

Quality Settings

• Resolution: Up to 1080p (depends on plan)
• Frame rate: 30fps
• Audio: 48kHz stereo
• Format: MP4

Storage Requirements

• Approximate sizes:
  • 30 min = 150-200 MB
  • 1 hour = 300-400 MB
  • 2 hours = 600-800 MB
• Counts against Drive storage quota

🔧 Troubleshooting

"Recording is not available"

Solutions:

1. Verify you have a qualifying plan
2. Ask admin to enable recording
3. Try different browser (Chrome recommended)
4. Clear browser cache

"Can't start recording"

Check:

• You're the host or in same organization
• Not using mobile app (desktop only)
• Meeting hasn't exceeded 24 hours
• Drive has available storage

"Recording didn't save"

Possible causes:

• Insufficient Drive storage
• Network interruption
• Processing error (wait 24 hours)
• Check spam folder for email

"Poor recording quality"

Improve by:

• Using ethernet vs WiFi
• Closing other applications
• Upgrading internet speed
• Using Chrome browser

👥 Permission & Access Control

Who Can Record?

• Meeting organizer (always)
• Same organization members (if enabled)
• External participants (rarely, admin setting)

Who Gets the Recording?

Automatically:

• Meeting organizer
• Person who started recording

Can be shared with:

• Anyone via Drive sharing
• Specific people/groups
• Public link (if allowed)

Managing Access

1. Open recording in Drive
2. Click Share button
3. Set permissions:
   • Viewer (watch only)
   • Commenter (can comment)
   • Editor (can edit/delete)

🎯 Best Practices

Before Recording

• Announce recording at start
• Get verbal consent from all
• Check audio levels with test
• Close unnecessary tabs to improve performance

During Recording

• Mute when not speaking
• Use good lighting for video
• Share screen in full screen mode
• Avoid switching views frequently

After Recording

• Review before sharing for sensitive content
• Trim if needed (use video editor)
• Set appropriate permissions
• Delete when no longer needed

📊 Recording Limits

🔐 Security & Compliance

Privacy Considerations

• Recording notification is mandatory
• Cannot record secretly
• Follows organization's data policies
• Subject to regional laws

Compliance Features

• GDPR compliant with proper notice
• FERPA compliant for education
• HIPAA capable (with BAA)
• Audit logs available

💡 Pro Tips

1. Schedule recordings in calendar invite description
2. Use co-hosts to manage recording if you disconnect
3. Download locally for important recordings
4. Create highlights using YouTube editor after upload
5. Enable captions post-recording in Drive

🆚 Built-in vs Third-Party Recording

Need Transcription?

Google's recording doesn't include transcription. Convert your recordings to text:

Quick Reference Card

Start Recording Checklist

• Have qualifying Workspace plan
• Join meeting as host/organizer
• Inform all participants
• Click Activities → Recording → Start
• Verify red REC indicator

Stop Recording Checklist

• Announce recording will stop
• Click Activities → Recording → Stop
• Confirm stop recording
• Wait for processing email
• Check Drive for recording

The Bottom Line

If you have a qualifying Google Workspace plan, recording is incredibly simple - just click the button. The built-in recorder handles everything automatically, from capture to storage to sharing.

For those without recording access, see our guides for alternative recording methods.