Where Do Google Meet Recordings Go?

Google Meet recordings are saved to the meeting organizer’s Google Drive, in a folder named “Meet Recordings.â€� The recording owner (usually the person who started the recording) receives an email with a link, and the file is stored as an MP4 video file. This article explains exactly where to find your recordings, how to access them, and what to do if they’re missing.

How Google Meet Recording Works

When you record a Google Meet session, the recording is processed and then saved to Google Drive. The default location is the organizer’s Drive, but the person who starts the recording can choose a different location if they have the right permissions. Here’s the breakdown:

• Recording owner: The person who clicks the “Recordâ€� button is the owner of the recording file.
• Default save location: The owner’s Google Drive, in a folder called Meet Recordings.
• File format: MP4 video file.
• Notification: The owner gets an email with a direct link to the recording once it’s processed.

If the meeting is a scheduled event, the recording may also appear in the calendar event’s page, under the “Recordingâ€� tab. But the primary storage is always Google Drive.

Where to Find Your Recording in Google Drive

To locate a recording you’ve made, follow these steps:

1. Go to drive.google.com and sign in with the account that started the recording.
2. In the left sidebar, click “My Drive�.
3. Look for a folder named “Meet Recordingsâ€�. If you don’t see it, use the search bar at the top and type type:video to filter for video files.
4. Open the folder to see your recording. The file name typically includes the meeting title and date/time.

If you don’t see the folder, check the “Shared with meâ€� section—sometimes recordings are saved to the organizer’s Drive and shared with you.

Accessing Recordings from the Calendar Event

If the meeting was scheduled via Google Calendar, you can also find the recording in the calendar event itself:

1. Open Google Calendar and click on the original meeting event.
2. Look for the “Recording� tab or section.
3. Click the link to open the recording in Google Drive.

This works best when the recording was started by the meeting organizer. If someone else recorded, the file may not appear in the calendar event.

Why Can’t I Find My Recording? (Common Issues)

There are a few common reasons a Google Meet recording might seem lost:

• Recording not started properly: If the host didn’t click “Recordâ€� and get the confirmation, no recording exists.
• Processing delay: It can take up to 24 hours for Google to process a recording, especially for long meetings. Wait a few hours and check again.
• Wrong account: The recording is saved to the account of the person who started the recording, not necessarily the meeting host. If you’re not that person, ask them to share the file.
• Storage full: If the owner’s Google Drive is full, the recording may fail to save. Check for a notification email about storage issues.
• Deleted by accident: The recording might have been manually deleted. Check the Trash in Google Drive (left sidebar → Trash).

How to Share or Download the Recording

Once you’ve located the recording, you can share it like any other Drive file:

1. Right-click the file in Google Drive.
2. Select “Share�.
3. Add people or copy the link and set the permission to “Anyone with the link� if you want broad access.

To download the MP4 file, right-click and select “Downloadâ€�. The file will be saved to your computer’s downloads folder.

Recording Permissions and Access Rules

Google Meet recording access is tied to the meeting’s settings:

• Only the meeting host or a participant with the host’s permission can start a recording.
• If the meeting is within a Google Workspace organization, the admin may have disabled recording or restricted who can view recordings.
• When the recording is saved, the owner automatically gets full access. Other participants get access only if the owner shares the file or if the meeting settings allow it.

For external participants (outside your organization), they cannot access the recording unless the file is explicitly shared with them.

What About Recordings in Google Workspace for Education or Business?

In Google Workspace for Education or Business, the recording storage rules are the same—it goes to the recording owner’s Drive. However, some organizations set up a shared Drive or a specific folder for recordings. If you’re in a company or school, check with your IT admin if you can’t find a recording. Also, your admin may have enabled “recordings saved to the organizer’s Driveâ€� as a default, which can override the owner’s choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I move a Google Meet recording to another folder?

Yes. Once the recording is saved to your Drive, you can move it to any folder you like, just like any other file. Right-click the file, select “Move to,� and choose the destination.

How long does Google keep Meet recordings?

Google does not automatically delete recordings. They remain in the owner’s Drive until the owner deletes them or the account is closed. However, if the account reaches its storage limit, the recording might not be saved in the first place.

Why did my recording fail to save?

The most common reasons are insufficient Drive storage, a poor internet connection during the meeting, or the recording was stopped before the meeting ended. Check your email for a notification from Google Meet about the failure.

Can I record a Google Meet if I’m not the host?

Yes, but only if the host has enabled recording for participants. If the option is grayed out, ask the host to allow it. The recording will still be saved to your Drive, not the host’s.

Do recordings include captions?

If you enable captions during the meeting, the recording will include them as a separate .vtt file, not burned into the video. You can find both files in the same Drive folder.

Can I share a recording with someone outside my organization?

Yes, but you need to change the sharing settings to “Anyone with the link� or add their email address. If your organization restricts external sharing, you may need to download the file and send it manually.

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