Record Only One Person in Zoom: How-To

To record only one person in Zoom, you need to use the local recording feature and then edit the video file, because Zoom itself does not offer a built-in option to record a single participant’s audio or video track separately. The most straightforward method is to record the meeting normally and then use a video editor to isolate that person’s feed, or to use the “active speaker” view during recording and then crop the video. Below, we explain the exact steps, the limitations of Zoom’s recording features, and alternative approaches.

Why Zoom Doesn’t Have a “Record One Person” Button

Zoom’s recording feature is designed to capture the entire meeting, not individual participants. When you record locally, Zoom saves a video file that shows either the active speaker, gallery view, or a shared screen, depending on your settings. There is no native option to record only one participant’s audio or video stream. This is a common misconception, especially among users who want to record a single speaker for a podcast, interview, or presentation. The workaround is to record the meeting and then edit the video, or to use a separate screen recording tool that captures only the window or portion of the screen showing that participant.

How to Record a Single Participant Using Local Recording

If you want to record only one person’s video and audio, the most reliable method is to record the meeting in a way that isolates that person, then edit the resulting file. Here are the steps:

1. Start the Zoom meeting and ensure the participant you want to record is visible on your screen.
2. Switch to “Active Speaker” view (the default view) so the video focuses on whoever is speaking. If the person is not speaking, you can pin their video by clicking the ellipsis (…) on their thumbnail and selecting “Pin Video.” This keeps them as the main video feed.
3. Click the “Record” button in the Zoom toolbar and choose “Record on this Computer” (local recording).
4. After the meeting, Zoom will save a recording folder with multiple files, including a video file (usually named something like “zoom_0.mp4”) that shows the active speaker or pinned participant.
5. If the recording includes other participants (because they spoke or appeared in the video), use a video editor to crop the frame or cut out segments where others appear.

This method works best when the person you want to record is the only one speaking, or when you pin their video and they are the main speaker throughout. If others speak, you’ll need to edit out those parts.

Using the “Active Speaker” View for Cleaner Recordings

Zoom’s “Active Speaker” view automatically switches the video to the person currently speaking. If you want to record only one person, you can enable this view and ask other participants to mute their microphones. However, if someone else speaks, the recording will switch to them. To force the recording to stay on one person, you can pin their video. Pinning a video in Zoom makes it the main video for you, and when you record locally, the recording will show that pinned video, regardless of who is speaking. This is the closest you can get to recording only one person without editing.

Recording Only Audio from One Person

If you only need the audio of one participant (for a podcast or transcription), you can record the meeting and then extract the audio track. Zoom’s local recording saves a separate audio file (like “audio_only.m4a”) that contains all participants’ audio mixed together. To isolate one person’s audio, you would need to use audio editing software to filter out other voices, which is difficult. A better approach is to ask the person to record their own audio locally (using a voice recorder app) and send you the file. Alternatively, you can use a virtual audio cable to route only that person’s audio to a separate recording app, but that requires technical setup.

Alternative: Use a Screen Recorder to Capture Only One Window

Instead of using Zoom’s built-in recording, you can use a third-party screen recorder that lets you select a specific window or region of your screen. For example, you can open Zoom in a window that shows only the participant you want (using the “Active Speaker” view or by pinning their video), then use a screen recorder to capture that window. This way, the recording only contains that person’s video and audio, as long as no other windows are captured. Many free and paid screen recorders offer this feature. This method avoids the need for editing, but you must ensure the Zoom window stays in the foreground and doesn’t resize during the recording.

Common Problems and How to Fix Them

• Recording shows other participants when they speak: Pin the participant’s video before recording, and ask others to mute their mics.
• Recording file is too large: Use a video editor to trim the video to only the parts you need, then export with a lower resolution or bitrate.
• Audio is out of sync with video: This can happen if you edit the video. Use a video editor that preserves the original audio track and avoid changing the frame rate.
• Recording stops when the host stops the meeting: Local recordings stop when the meeting ends. Make sure you have permission to record and that the meeting host hasn’t disabled recording.

Costs and Permissions: What You Need to Know

Local recording is available on all Zoom accounts, including the free tier. However, the host must enable local recording for the account or the meeting. If you are not the host, you need the host’s permission to record. Zoom may display a notification to all participants when recording starts. There is no extra cost for local recording, but cloud recording requires a paid plan. For editing, you can use free tools like OpenShot, DaVinci Resolve, or even the built-in video editor on Windows (Clipchamp) or Mac (iMovie).

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I record only one person’s video without editing?

No, Zoom does not have a native feature to record a single participant’s video track separately. The closest you can get is to pin their video and use the active speaker view, but if others speak, they will appear in the recording. To get a clean single-person video, you must edit the recording afterward or use a screen recorder that captures only the window showing that person.

Does Zoom record audio from all participants by default?

Yes, when you record locally, Zoom records all participants’ audio mixed into one track. There is no way to separate individual audio tracks in Zoom’s recording. To get only one person’s audio, you would need to ask them to record their own audio separately or use a virtual audio cable to route only their audio to a separate recorder.

Can I record a participant who is not the host?

Yes, you can record a meeting even if you are not the host, but only if the host has enabled local recording for participants. The host may also receive a notification that you are recording. Always ask for permission before recording to respect privacy.

What is the best free video editor for trimming Zoom recordings?

For simple trimming and cropping, you can use the free version of DaVinci Resolve, OpenShot, or the built-in editors on Windows (Clipchamp) and Mac (iMovie). These tools allow you to cut out segments where other participants appear and export the video in a compressed format.

Why is my Zoom recording blurry when I try to crop to one person?

Zoom records at the resolution you set in your settings. If you crop the video to a small region, the resulting image may appear pixelated because you are zooming into a low-resolution area. To avoid this, set your Zoom video quality to “HD” (1080p) before recording, and position the participant’s video in the center of the screen so you can crop without losing too much quality.

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