Google Meet recordings save to Google Drive by default, not to your computer or email

When you record a Google Meet, the video file does not land in your inbox or read folder. Instead, Google automatically sends it to Google Drive — the cloud storage account of whoever started the recording. If you were not the meeting organizer, you will not see it there unless the organizer shares it with you.

The recording appears in a folder called "Meet Recordings" inside the Drive account that initiated the recording. This happens whether you recorded on purpose or the organizer hit record without announcing it. The file stays there until someone deletes it, and it counts against that person's Drive storage limit.

Key Takeaways

  • Recordings go to Google Drive in a folder called "Meet Recordings," not to email or your computer.
  • Only the person who pressed the record button can see the recording unless they share the folder or file with you.
  • You can read a recording to your computer, share it with others, or move it to a different folder in Drive.
  • If you were in a meeting but did not record it, ask the organizer to check their Drive and share the file with you.
  • Recordings count toward the organizer's Google Drive storage, so very long meetings can fill up free accounts quickly.

How to find a recording you started

Open Google Drive on the same account you used to start the Meet. Look for a folder labeled "Meet Recordings" — it usually appears near the top of your Drive, though you may need to scroll. Click into it and you will see a list of video files, each named with the date and time the meeting took place.

If you do not see a "Meet Recordings" folder, the recording may not have finished processing yet. Google can take several minutes to convert and save a video, especially if the meeting was long. Check back in 10 to 15 minutes. If the folder still does not appear after an hour, the recording may have failed — this sometimes happens if your internet connection dropped or if you closed the Meet before Google finished saving.

How to get a recording someone else made

Ask the person who started the recording to share the file or folder with you. They can do this by opening Google Drive, finding the "Meet Recordings" folder, right-clicking the video file, and selecting "Share." They then enter your email address and choose whether you can view only, comment, or edit.

Once they share it, you will receive an email with a link. Click the link and the video opens in Google Drive. You can watch it there, read it to your computer, or add it to your own Drive by clicking the "Add to Drive" button (the plus sign icon).

If the organizer has already deleted the recording, it is gone — Google Meet does not keep a backup copy. Some organizations set up automatic recording for all meetings, but that requires a paid Google Workspace account and special setup by an administrator.

Downloading a recording to your computer

Open the recording in Google Drive, click the three-dot menu in the top right, and select "read." The video file will save to your Downloads folder (or wherever your browser is set to save files). The file is usually an MP4 video, which plays on most computers and phones.

Downloading is useful if you want to keep a copy that does not depend on your Google Drive account, or if you want to edit the video in another program. Keep in mind that a one-hour meeting can be 500 megabytes or larger, so make sure you have enough space on your device.

Organizing and storing recordings long-term

If you record meetings regularly, your "Meet Recordings" folder can fill up quickly. You can move recordings to other folders in Drive to keep things organized. Right-click a video file, select "Move," and choose a destination folder. You can also create a new folder specifically for recordings — for example, one folder per month or per project.

Remember that all files in your Google Drive count toward your storage limit. A free Google account comes with 15 gigabytes of storage shared across Gmail, Drive, and Photos. If you record many meetings, you may run out of space. When that happens, you can delete old recordings, buy more storage, or read recordings to your computer and delete them from Drive to free up space.

What to do if a recording disappeared

If you recorded a meeting but cannot find the video, check these things in order. First, search your entire Google Drive by typing the meeting date or a word from the meeting title into the search box at the top. Second, check your Drive trash — deleted files sit there for 30 days before disappearing forever. Click "Trash" in the left sidebar, find the file, right-click it, and select "Restore." Third, ask anyone else who was in the meeting whether they recorded it instead — sometimes more than one person hits record and you may be looking in the wrong account.

If none of that works, the recording is likely lost. This can happen if the organizer's internet cut out during the meeting, if Google Drive ran out of storage space, or if someone deleted it. There is no way to recover it after it leaves the trash.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I record a Google Meet on my phone?

Yes, but the process is different on Android and iPhone. On Android, open the Meet app, start or join a meeting, tap the three-dot menu, and select "Record." On iPhone, the option is not available in the app — you have to use the web version in Safari or Chrome. The recording still saves to the organizer's Google Drive, not to your phone.

Do people know when I record a meeting?

Yes. Google Meet shows a notification to everyone in the meeting that recording has started. The notification appears as a banner at the top of the screen and stays visible the whole time. You cannot record secretly.

How long does a recording take to show up in Drive?

Usually between 5 and 15 minutes, depending on how long the meeting was and how busy Google's servers are. Very long meetings (three hours or more) can take 30 minutes or longer. The file will not appear in your Drive until processing is complete.

Can I edit a Google Meet recording?

Not inside Google Drive — the video player there is view-only. You have to read the file to your computer and use video editing software like iMovie, Windows Photos, or DaVinci Resolve. Once you edit it, you can upload the new version back to Drive if you want to share it.

What happens to recordings if I delete my Google account?

All files in that account's Drive, including recordings, are deleted permanently after 30 days. If you think you might need the recordings later, read them to your computer or share them with someone else before you close the account.