Should I use Zoom Cloud recording or Local recording for my meetings? How do I access my Zoom Local recordings?

Whether hosting a staff meeting, training, or course lecture, it is recommended that you use Local recordings in Zoom, so all of your meetings are stored on your computer for safe keeping. You can then share your recordings by uploading them to U-M Google Drive or Dropbox. Course instructors also have the option to add them to the Media Gallery of their Canvas course site for students to view, similar to uploading Kaltura Capture videos.

By default, Local recordings will be placed in the Zoom folder on your computer at the following file paths:

  • Windows: C:\Users\User Name\Documents\Zoom
  • macOS: /Users/User Name/Documents/Zoom

Zoom Cloud only provides a limited amount of storage space, and only stores recordings for 150 days. If you do choose to use Zoom Cloud recordings, you are strongly encouraged to download or transfer them to another storage option as soon as possible. For example, instructors can connect their Canvas site to Zoom, and easily share their Zoom Cloud recordings with students. In addition, Zoom Cloud recordings are only saved to the account for the Host of the meeting. If the Host needs to leave the meeting early, they can designate a Co-Host for the meeting, and recording will continue and be available in their account once the meeting ends.

Note to Instructors: Zoom Cloud recordings are accessible to people outside of the Canvas course based on the recording sharing settings. To understand more about protecting your cloud recordings, refer to the U-M Safe Computing page: Recording Class Activities: (Some) Rules of the Road