It's a common scenario: you've just wrapped up an important Google Meet, confident that the recording captured every crucial detail, only to find it missing from your Google Drive. This can be frustrating, especially when you need that content for follow-ups or documentation. At Workalizer.com, we understand this challenge, and based on insights from the Google support community, we're here to demystify where your Google Meet recordings go.

Understanding How Google Meet Recordings Work

The primary confusion often stems from Google Meet's specific rules about who can record and where those recordings are stored. Here’s what you need to know:

Administrator Control: First and foremost, recording capabilities must be enabled by your Google Workspace administrator. If your admin hasn't turned on recording for your account, you won't be able to record meetings, regardless of your role.
Who Can Record: You can typically record a meeting if you are the meeting host, a co-host (even if from outside the host's organization), or a teacher/co-teacher for meetings created via Google Classroom. If Host Management is off, anyone from the host's organization can record.
Where Recordings Are Saved: This is the most critical point. Google Meet recordings are always saved to the meeting organizer’s Google Drive, specifically within a folder named “Meet Recordings.” This means if you started the recording but were not the original meeting organizer, the video will not appear in your personal Google Drive.
Notification Process: Once processed, an email containing the recording link is sent to both the meeting organizer and the person who initiated the recording. The link is also automatically added to the corresponding Google Calendar event.
Processing Time: Recordings, especially longer ones (like a 30-minute interview), require processing time. It’s normal not to see it immediately in the "Meet Recordings" folder. Give it some time – it’s working as expected.

Step-by-Step: Locating Your Google Meet Recording

If your recording isn't immediately visible, follow these steps:

Check Your Email: Look for an email from Google Meet in your inbox. It will contain a direct link to the recording. Remember, this email is sent to the organizer and the person who started the recording.
Review the Calendar Event: Open the original Google Calendar event for the meeting. The recording link is typically added directly to the event details.
Access the Organizer's Google Drive: If you are the meeting organizer, navigate to your Google Drive. Look for a folder titled “Meet Recordings.” Your video should be there once processed. If you are not the organizer, you will need to request the link or access from them.

Troubleshooting Common Recording Issues

"I'm Not the Meeting Organizer!"

This is the most frequent reason for not finding a recording. If you weren't the organizer, the recording won't be in your Drive. Reach out to the person who organized the meeting and ask them to share the recording with you. They will find it in their "Meet Recordings" folder.

"It's Still Not Showing Up!"

Patience is key. Longer meetings, or periods of high server load, can extend processing times. If it's been several hours, double-check all the locations mentioned above.

"Could It Be a Storage Issue?"

While less common for individual recordings, if the organizer's Google Drive is nearing its storage limit, it could potentially impact new file saves. It's always a good practice to see Google storage usage periodically for your Workspace account to ensure you have ample space. Recording is a premium feature available with Google Workspace accounts, unlike the more limited Google Meet duration free options, which typically do not include recording capabilities.

"My Admin Needs to Check Settings"

If you believe all conditions were met and the recording is still missing, or if you were unable to record in the first place, your Google Workspace administrator is the best point of contact. They can verify recording settings for your account and investigate specific issues within your organization's Workspace dashboard.

By understanding these nuances of Google Meet recordings, you can quickly locate your valuable meeting content or know exactly who to contact to retrieve it. For further questions, don't hesitate to contact your Workspace Admin or Google Workspace Support directly.

Google Meet

Lost Your Google Meet Recording? A Workspace User's Guide to Finding It