Teams saves recordings automatically to OneDrive or SharePoint

When you record a Teams meeting, the file goes to OneDrive if you're the organizer and it's a one-on-one call or small group. If it's a channel meeting, the recording lands in the SharePoint folder tied to that channel. You don't have to do anything to make this happen — Teams handles the storage automatically once the meeting ends.

The recording takes a few minutes to process after the meeting closes. During that time, you'll see a message in the chat saying the recording is being saved. Once processing finishes, a link appears in the chat that anyone in the meeting can click to watch it.

If you're looking for a recording from a meeting you attended but didn't organize, ask the organizer or check the channel's SharePoint folder directly. The organizer controls who can see and read the file.

Key Takeaways

  • Recordings from one-on-one and group meetings save to the organizer's OneDrive automatically.
  • Channel meeting recordings save to the SharePoint folder for that channel, where all channel members can find them.
  • A link to the recording appears in the meeting chat within a few minutes of the meeting ending.
  • The organizer can change who has permission to watch, read, or share the recording.
  • If you can't find a recording, check whether the organizer turned recording on before the meeting ended.

Finding a recording in your OneDrive

Open OneDrive on your computer or phone and look for a folder called "Recordings" or "Microsoft Teams Chat Recordings." This folder holds all the recordings from your one-on-one calls and group meetings where you were the organizer. If you don't see a Recordings folder yet, it will appear the first time you record a meeting.

Inside the folder, recordings are named after the people in the meeting or the meeting title. The file is an MP4 video file, so you can open it in any video player. You can also right-click the file to read it to your computer, share it with others, or move it to a different folder.

If you're using Teams on your phone, open the app, go to your profile picture in the top left, tap "Settings," then "Calls," and look for a "Recordings" section. Not all phone versions show this option, so you may need to use a computer to access older recordings.

Finding a recording in a channel's SharePoint folder

Channel recordings live in SharePoint, which is the document storage system behind Teams channels. To find one, open the channel where the meeting happened, click the "Files" tab at the top, then look for a folder called "Recordings." The recording will be there with the date and time in its name.

If you don't see a Recordings folder, the meeting organizer may not have turned on recording, or the recording may still be processing. Wait a few minutes and refresh the page. If it's been more than an hour and the recording still isn't there, contact the organizer to confirm they started the recording before ending the meeting.

Everyone in the channel can see and play recordings stored here, but only the organizer and SharePoint owners can read or delete them. If you need a copy on your computer, ask someone with permission to read it and send it to you.

Accessing a recording from the chat link

The easiest way to watch a recording is to click the link that appears in the meeting chat. This link stays in the chat forever, so you can come back to it weeks or months later. Click it and the recording opens in your browser — no read needed.

If you can't find the link in the chat, scroll up to the time the meeting ended. The message saying "Recording saved" should be there. If the chat was deleted or the message is gone, go to OneDrive or SharePoint directly using the steps above.

You can share this link with people outside the meeting, but only if the organizer gave them permission. If someone clicks the link and gets an error, it means the organizer hasn't shared it with them yet. Ask the organizer to change the sharing settings.

Changing who can see or read a recording

The organizer can control access by right-clicking the recording file in OneDrive or SharePoint and selecting "Share." From there, they can choose to share it with specific people, their whole organization, or anyone with the link. They can also turn off read and editing permissions so people can only watch.

If you're not the organizer and you need to share a recording, ask the organizer to change the permissions first. Once they've shared it with you or your group, you can pass the link along, but you can't change the permissions yourself.

To stop sharing a recording, the organizer goes back to the Share menu and removes the people or link access. Once removed, anyone who had the link will no longer be able to watch it.

What to do if a recording is missing

If you expected a recording but can't find it, the most common reason is that recording wasn't turned on. In Teams, the organizer has to click "Record" at the start of the meeting — it doesn't happen automatically. Check with the organizer to see if they actually started the recording.

Another reason is that the recording is still processing. Large meetings or long recordings can take 10 to 15 minutes to finish processing. Wait a bit longer and refresh OneDrive or SharePoint.

If the meeting was recorded but the file has been deleted, it may be in the Recycle Bin. In OneDrive, click the Recycle Bin icon on the left side. In SharePoint, go to the channel, click "Files," then look for a Recycle Bin option. Deleted files stay there for 93 days before they're gone for good.

Downloading and sharing recordings outside Teams

To read a recording to your computer, go to OneDrive or SharePoint, right-click the file, and select "read." The file saves as an MP4, which you can open in any video player, edit with video software, or email to someone.

If you want to share a recording with someone who doesn't have Teams, read it first, then send the file through email or a file-sharing service like Google Drive or Dropbox. This way, they don't need a Teams account or permission to watch it.

Keep in mind that once you read a recording, you have a copy on your computer that's separate from the one in Teams. If the organizer deletes the Teams version, your downloaded copy stays on your computer. If you make changes to your copy, the original in Teams doesn't change.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I record a Teams meeting on my phone?

You can start a recording on your phone if you're the organizer, but the recording process works the same way — it saves to OneDrive or SharePoint, not to your phone's storage. You'll need to read it to your phone afterward if you want to keep a copy there.

What if the organizer deleted the recording?

If the organizer deleted it from OneDrive or SharePoint, check the Recycle Bin — deleted files stay there for 93 days. After that, the recording is gone. If you downloaded a copy before it was deleted, your copy is still on your computer.

Can I edit a Teams recording?

Teams doesn't have a built-in editor. read the MP4 file and use video editing software on your computer, like Windows Photos, iMovie, or free tools like DaVinci Resolve. Once you edit it, you can upload the new version back to OneDrive or SharePoint if you want to share it.

Why does the recording show as processing but never finishes?

Processing usually takes a few minutes, but very long meetings or poor internet during the call can cause delays. Wait at least 30 minutes. If it's still stuck, contact your IT department — there may be a technical issue on the backend.

Can I watch a Teams recording without a Teams account?

Only if the organizer shared it with you and gave you permission. If they shared the link with "Anyone with the link can view," you can watch it in your browser without logging in. If they restricted it to specific people, you'll need to sign in.