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How to record a Google Meet

TL;DR

Three options: (1) Google Meet's built-in recording if you're a Workspace Business Standard or higher subscriber AND the meeting host, (2) SeaMeet's browser recorder — works for anyone in the meeting with no signup, (3) a desktop screen recorder like OBS. Method 2 is the fastest for most people since it works on free Google accounts. Method 1 saves the video straight to the organizer's Drive.

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By SeaMeet Team · Published July 3, 2026

At a glance

Which method should you use?

Question Method 1 Meet built-in recording Method 2 SeaMeet browser recorder Method 3 Desktop screen recorder
Do you have Google Workspace Business Standard or higher? RequiredNot requiredNot required
Are you the meeting host or organizer? RequiredNot requiredNot required
Need it right now, no download? Yes — feature is in Meet already✓ Yes — runs in the browserRequires downloading the recorder first
Recording your own screen or slides too? Only if you share your screen in MeetTab capture only✓ Full screen or window
Want a transcript afterwards? Yes — Meet generates a Google Docs transcript✓ Yes — live transcript in 20+ languagesNo — audio only; transcribe separately

Workspace Business Standard+, host only

Method 1 · Google Meet built-in recording

Meet's native recording. Fastest if you have Workspace Business Standard, Business Plus, Enterprise, or Education Plus, AND you're the meeting organizer (or a host explicitly permitted by the organizer). The video saves to the organizer's Google Drive and can be shared like any other Drive file. All participants see a persistent "Recording" indicator.

  1. 01

    Start the Google Meet call from your Workspace account

    Sign in to the Google account that has Workspace Business Standard or higher. Start or join the meeting where you're the organizer.

  2. 02

    Click "Activities" → "Recording" → "Start recording"

    The Activities button is in the bottom-right of the Meet UI (a shapes icon). Click it, then Recording, then Start recording. Meet asks all participants to consent — this is required.

  3. 03

    Wait for participants to consent

    Every participant sees a modal asking if they consent to being recorded. Recording only starts once they respond. Anyone who declines is dropped from the call.

  4. 04

    Stop the recording when done

    Same Activities → Recording → Stop. Or end the meeting entirely. Meet processes the recording in the background (usually 10–20 minutes).

  5. 05

    Find the recording in the organizer's Drive

    Recordings save to "Meet Recordings" folder in the organizer's Google Drive. The organizer gets an email link when it's ready; they can share via Drive share URL.

If Recording is missing from your Activities menu, you're either on a Workspace plan that doesn't include it (free, Individual, Business Starter), on a personal Google account, or your admin has disabled it. Methods 2 or 3 are your options.
Recommended

Method 2 · SeaMeet browser recorder

Method 2 · Record in your browser with SeaMeet

Runs entirely in your browser tab — Chrome, Edge, or Safari on desktop. No signup, no download, no host permission. Free for the first 15 minutes; Sync Pro removes the cap and adds cloud sync. The fastest path for most people.

  1. 01

    Join or start the Google Meet call as usual

    The browser recorder captures anything that runs in a browser tab — you don't need to change how you join Meet.

  2. 02

    Open app.seameet.ai in a new tab

    Same browser as the Meet call (Chrome, Edge, or Safari on desktop). Meet works in Firefox too but tab-audio capture is browser-specific.

  3. 03

    Choose "A browser tab" and pick the Meet tab

    The browser's picker lists every open tab. Select your Google Meet tab, and remember to tick "Share tab audio" — otherwise you'll get silent video.

  4. 04

    Optionally set the transcription language

    Auto-detect handles most cases. Set it explicitly if the meeting is monolingual — accuracy is a hair higher for e.g. Japanese-only or Spanish-only calls.

  5. 05

    Click Start recording

    Live captions stream into the SeaMeet tab. When the Meet call ends, hit Stop. The recording lands in your SeaMeet library with a transcript + AI summary ready to share.

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15 min free · works on Chrome, Edge, Safari desktop

Any operating system

Method 3 · Desktop screen recorder

Screen recorders like OBS Studio, QuickTime (macOS), or Loom capture Meet running in your browser or desktop. Best if you want the highest video quality, want to capture your own screen (e.g., a live demo you're running alongside the Meet), or want to record for streaming. No transcript — transcribe separately if you need one.

  1. 01

    Install OBS Studio (free) or use QuickTime (macOS built-in)

    QuickTime → File → New Screen Recording is the simplest option on macOS. OBS gives you more control (multiple sources, higher bitrates).

  2. 02

    Configure audio sources

    You need microphone (your voice) + system audio (the other Meet participants). On macOS this requires a virtual audio device like BlackHole or Loopback ($99). On Windows OBS handles it natively.

  3. 03

    Start recording, then join the Google Meet

    The recorder is independent of Meet — no notification, no consent modal.

  4. 04

    Save the video file when done

    You get an mp4 or mov. No transcript, no summary, no timestamps.

  5. 05

    (Optional) Transcribe afterwards

    Upload the video to SeaMeet's "Import file" flow for transcript + summary. Or use Whisper, Rev, or Otter.

Doing this a lot?

Consider the SeaMeet desktop app for Google Meet

Detects the call automatically. Works with the desktop app instead of the web client. Local-first recording — nothing uploads during the call.

See the desktop workflow →

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Can I record a Google Meet on the free plan? +
Meet's built-in recording requires Workspace Business Standard or higher — the free consumer Google account doesn't include it. SeaMeet's browser recorder works with any Google account (free, Workspace Starter, all the way up). It's the only easy path if you're on the free plan.
Do participants get notified when I use SeaMeet? +
No. SeaMeet captures your own browser tab locally — Meet doesn't know it's happening. Legally and ethically, you should still tell participants before recording. Meet's own recording asks every participant to consent explicitly, which is the safest approach.
Where does the Meet recording save? +
Method 1 saves to the organizer's Google Drive in the "Meet Recordings" folder. Method 2 saves locally in your browser, syncs to your SeaMeet library (Sync Pro), and can be re-downloaded any time. Method 3 saves wherever OBS/QuickTime is configured to save — usually Documents/Movies.
Can I record a Google Meet on my phone? +
The Meet mobile app has no user-triggered recording on Android or iOS. On iOS, the built-in Screen Recording (Control Center) captures the Meet screen but you won't get a transcript. On Android, the built-in Screen Recording quick tile works the same way. Upload the resulting video to SeaMeet afterwards for a transcript.
Can I get a transcript? +
Yes — three ways. Method 1 generates a Google Docs transcript automatically (also gated to Business Standard+). Method 2 gives you a live transcript in 20+ languages, free for the first 15 minutes. Method 3 doesn't include a transcript directly, but you can upload the resulting video to SeaMeet or Whisper.
How is Meet's "Take notes for me" (Gemini) different from a transcript? +
Gemini's "Take notes for me" generates a summary and action items in Google Docs — it's an AI-generated abstract, not a full transcript. Great for skimming; not great for search or verification. Method 2 (SeaMeet) gives you both: the raw transcript AND a customizable AI summary you own outright.
How long can I record a Google Meet? +
Method 1 has an 8-hour cap (Meet's meeting-length limit). Method 2 has no recording length cap, but the free tier pauses transcription at 15 minutes; Sync Pro removes that. Method 3 is limited only by your local disk space.
Is it legal to record a Google Meet? +
Depends on jurisdiction. Some states/countries require all-party consent; others accept one-party. Workplaces often have written recording policies. Method 1 forces explicit consent (everyone must click to accept). Methods 2 and 3 don't force consent — but you should still get it.

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