This is alright in certain situations, but for things like daily stand-up calls, and personal meetings, it might come across as odd. But, there is a way you can record any Zoom meeting without permission, and for free.

Sounds illegal, right? Well, not exactly if you use a screen recorder like Vmaker.

Vmaker is an advanced screen recorder that can record Zoom meetings even when you’re a participant. More about it in the latter parts of this blog.

Meanwhile, you can check out the flow of this blog. Feel free to skip to the most relevant section of the blog –

1) How can you record meetings with Zoom if you’re a participant?

2) What are the limitations of recording meetings in Zoom?

3) What is Vmaker?

4) How to record a Zoom meeting on Vmaker?

5) How to save, watch and share Zoom meetings?

If you’re planning to record your meetings in Zoom itself, then you can do it in a simple way. However, there is a minor difference if you’re recording as a host or a participant. So we will split this part into two sections – 

Recording meeting in Zoom as a participant

To record on Zoom as a participant, you have to ask the host for permission. Only when they give you permission, can you record the meeting in Zoom.

This is how the host can give you permission to start recording the meeting.

When you’re about to start recording in Zoom, you get the options of choosing whether you want to record the meeting on Cloud or on your computer.

i) If you choose Record on this computer, then after the recording is over, the video will get downloaded and saved locally, in other words, your computer. Mostly, the location of the file will be Documents folder in your computer

ii) If you choose the other option, Recording to the cloud, then your video gets saved in the cloud storage of Zoom. To watch the recorded Zoom meeting, here’s what you have to do – 

a) If you were the host, sign in to the Zoom web portal. Click on Account Management, then Recording management. Here, you can search the meeting by entering the meeting ID

b) If you were the participant, then sign in to the Zoom web portal. Click Recordings in the navigation menu. Here, you can search the meeting by entering the meeting ID

To share your recorded meeting with others, follow the previous steps of accessing your recordings. Once you’re there, click on the Share button.

This will open a Share this cloud recording pop up dialogue box. Click on Copy Sharing information. Now, you can use this link to enter in your email or share it wherever you feel like. 

Before sharing you can also decide some settings for the recording. Like you can keep an expiration time on the video, allow/disallow the users from downloading the video, password protect it and more. 

Till now, we have been talking about how Zoom can be used for recording its own meeting. From the outset, it looks good, however, Zoom does come with a few limitations when it comes to recording meetings.

1) Permission required: If you’re a participant, then there’s no way you can record the meeting without permission. This curtails the freedom of a participant, and you may miss recording crucial parts of the meeting if you don’t let the host know in advance

2) Limited cloud storage: Zoom offers limited cloud storage for paid plan users. For those who are in the free plan, they don’t even get that option. Moreover, extending cloud storage costs a high amount of money.

3) No in-built editor: This is probably the biggest disappointment of using Zoom. It has a few third-party integrations, but the lack of in-built editor makes it tough to sharpen the video if required. 

Vmaker is a free screen recorder that allows you to make video content by recording your screen, webcam, voice and system audio at the same time. It’s compatible to work on both Windows and Mac laptops.

With Vmaker, you can record personalized video and audio messages, and use it to communicate with someone asynchronously. Moreover, it’s very useful to record videos playing on your laptop or computer screen. 

It has a line of smart features like an advanced video editor that can help to make your video ready for production without being dependent on a third-party tool. It has the one of a kind schedule recording feature which can start recording your screen even without your presence. This means you can record Zoom meetings if you’re not sitting in front of the laptop.

There’s more to Vmaker. Check out the features page to get all the details.

As we said earlier, Vmaker is compatible with Windows and Mac computers, and it’s available as a Chrome extension too. Therefore, to start using Vmaker you have to either download the Vmaker app for Windows or Mac computer. Or you have to add the Chrome extension.

We have split the section below into different categories. Scroll down to the one that is relevant to you.

Here are the steps that you have to follow – 

How to download the Vmaker app on Mac

1. Head over to the Vmaker’s Screen Recorder for Mac
2. Click on the Sign-up now button
3. Enter your username, email address, and password. You can also sign up with your Google and Facebook account 
4. After you click on the Sign-up button, you will see a dashboard pop-up. Download the Vmaker for Mac app
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation

How to download the Vmaker app on Windows

1. Head over to the Vmake’s Screen Recorder for Windows
2. Click on the Sign-up now button
3. Enter your username, email address and password. You can also sign up with your Google and Facebook account
4. After you click on the Sign-up button, you will see a dashboard pop-up. Download the Vmaker for Windows app
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation

How to add the Google Chrome extension to your browser

1. Head out to the Google Chrome Web Store
2. Search for Vmaker in the search bar
3. Click on the Add to Chrome button
4. Open your Google Chrome browser, and from the extension drop-down, pin the Vmaker extension
5. Click on the Vmaker logo after it’s pinned
6. Sign up with your email address and start recording videos

Once you have followed the above steps, you can now start recording your Zoom meeting. Now, follow the steps listed below after joining the Zoom meeting

1. Choose the recording area

In this step, you can select the area that you want to record with Vmaker. If you select Full-screen recording, Vmaker will record everything in your laptop. So, if you switch tabs, it will start recording the other tab too. If you just want to record the Zoom meeting, we recommend choosing the Current tab recording in the Google Chrome Plug-in. If you’re using the Mac app, then choose the Record a Window option, and then click on the window which has the Zoom meeting open.

2. Enable audio recording

If you want to record the voice of the participants in the meeting, then you have enable audio recording from the menu. At the top right corner of the app and plug-in you’ll find three horizontal dots. Click on it to select the “Preferences” menu from the drop-down. Switch on the toggle as shown in the screenshots above.

3. Start recording

Once your recording dimensions and audio recording is set, you’re good to go ahead to start recording. Click on the recording button at the bottom of the app or Chrome plug-in and sit back.

Saving, Watching and Sharing Zoom meetings with Vmaker 

Till this part, we have seen how you can start recording your Zoom meeting with Vmaker. From here, we will show you how to save the recording, watch it and share it with others

4. Where do recorded Zoom meetings go?

To save your Zoom meeting recording, click on the stop button that appears in your top toolbar. As soon as you save it, your recording will get saved in your workspace.

5. How to watch recorded Zoom meetings? 

After the video has been saved, it will appear on your workspace. The above screenshot shows where the video gets saved. Once you click on the thumbnail, the video will load in a player page in a separate tab.

The folder icon just above your video, allows you to create folders for specific purpose. So, you can create a folder for “Zoom meetings” only, and move your videos there. This way, you will have better control, and your dashboard will look organized too.

You can watch your videos by directly accessing your workspace from the app or Chrome plug-in. Head over the three horizontal dots, and select “My videos” from the drop-down. Your Workspace will open in a separate tab

6. How to share a recorded Zoom meeting? 

You can share your videos, directly from your workspace. Click on the three vertical three dots at the top right corner of the thumbnail. Click on share from the drop-down.

You will see a dialogue box open like above. Here, you can enter the email address of the person you want to share the video along with editing or viewing only access.

There’s one more way by which you can share a video with others. And, that’s done from the player page.

Click on the Share button on the player page.

As you click on the button, you will see a lot of options to share your recording with others. You can copy the link, and embed the link in the email too.

Closing note

Vmaker is a savior if you attend many Zoom meetings in a day as a participant. It’s tough to be attentive in all the calls, and it’s natural to miss out on some details. By recording these calls using Vmaker, you can always go back to check if you have missed something that is important.

With its simple user interface and advanced features, Vmaker is certainly a tool that you should include in your tool kit.

Bonus Read:

• Best Screen Recorders for Mac
• Best Screencast Software in 2024 ( Free and Paid)
• How To Record a Zoom Meeting as a Participant: A Complete Guide
• How to add subtitles or captions to Zoom meeting recordings
• How to record Zoom, Google Meet, or any online meeting with subtitles?

However, too much of everything is not good. While Zoom provided a respite for companies, too many meetings eat up on the productivity of employees. It’s also difficult to focus on one meeting and remember all the details. 

One of the best solutions to this problem is recording meetings. The host can do that using Zoom, but for the participants there is no choice within the Zoom app. Well, there is a way out now – Vmaker. 

Watch this video & follow the steps to start recording Zoom meeting 

Prefer reading? Here’s an index to help you with that 

This time we will save you from the long build-up, and get to the point directly.

Unlimited number of recording

You don’t have to pay to record Zoom meetings. Make an unlimited number of videos, download unlimited videos for free. No questions asked.

No host permission

With Vmaker’s Screen Recorder, you can records your Zoom meeting discreetly. So, the host of the meeting and the other participants will not know that you’re recording the session.

Automatic recording

If you cannot record the Zoom meeting yourself, you can schedule it. Once that’s done, the recording will start automatically without your presence.

Organized recording

To avoid getting confused about your recorded Zoom meetings, you can have separate folders for specific recordings. You can also share the folder with others for them to view the video

Alright, we have come to the part where we share the steps that you should follow to start recording Zoom meetings without permission.

Before we get to that, there are two ways you can record on Zoom using Vmaker. 

• You can download the Vmaker Screen Recorder for Mac or Windows App
• You can use the Vmaker Chrome extension to record Zoom meetings on the browser

First, let’s see how you can record Zoom meetings on Mac using the Vmaker app.

Note: If you have a Windows operating system, or want to record Zoom meetings without downloading the app, then scroll down to the next section where we explain the steps to recording Zoom meetings using Vmaker Chrome extension.

1. Head over to the Vmaker website
2. Click on the Sign-up now button
3. Enter your username, email address and password. You can also sign up with your Google and Facebook account 
4. After you click on the Sign-up button, you will see a dashboard pop-up. Download the Vmaker for Mac app
5. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation

After you have downloaded the Vmaker app for your Mac computer, you can start to record your on Zoom. If you’re not able to locate the Vmaker app, simply search for it in your Finder. It will spot the application.

Step 1: Join the Zoom meeting

You know the drill. There’s nothing to add here. Just add the meeting link and name, and join the Zoom meeting.

Step 2: Open the Vmaker app and select Screen recording

After you open the Vmaker app, select the Screen option for recording. In this mode, Vmaker will only record whatever is going on in the Zoom meeting. If you want to record your face too, then you can choose the Screen + Webcam option.

Step 3:(Optional) Enable internal audio

If you want to record the audio of the Zoom meeting, then you have to enable internal audio. To do that, select Preferences from the dropdown menu. From there, select the Use system audio option. Now, Vmaker will record the voices of all the participants in the recording.

Step 4: Click on the Start Recording button

When you click on the button, Vmaker will start recording at the count of three. After this, you don’t have to follow any steps. Vmaker will continue recording unless you ask it to stop.

Step 5: Stop recording

At the top of the browser toolbar, you will see the Vmaker icon along with the recording counter. Click on it, and the Zoom meeting recording will stop immediately. You will see a Vmaker tab open up which will show you the status of the video getting uploaded. After the video has been uploaded to your workspace, you will get a notification.

And, you’re set. Your recording of the Zoom meeting is ready.

As promised, here are the steps that you need to follow to record on Zoom using the Vmaker Chrome extension. This is a great choice for Windows users. Also, if you don’t want to download the Zoom app, then you can still record Zoom meetings using the Chrome extension.

Here are the steps for adding the Vmaker Chrome extension to your Chrome browser:

1. Head out to the Google Chrome Web Store
2. Search for Vmaker in the search bar
3. Click on the Add to Chrome button
4. Open your Google Chrome browser, and from the extension drop-down, pin the Vmaker extension
5. Click on the Vmaker logo after it’s pinned
6. Sign up with your email address and start recording videos

After you have added the Vmaker Chrome browser extension, follow these steps:

Step 1: Join the Zoom meeting

Step 2: Open the Vmaker Chrome Extension

You might be prompted to log-in for the first time. So, just fill in your email address and password. Once you sign-in you will see the above screen

Step 3: Choose screen recording mode

Step 4: Select the type of recording 

Select the type of recording you want for your Zoom meeting. If you choose Full-screen recording, Vmaker will record everything open in the browser window. So, if you switch between tabs, Vmaker will record the content of other tabs too. If you only want to record the Zoom meeting, then go for the Current tab recording.

Step 5 (optional):  Enable include tab audio

If you want to record the audio of the meeting, then enable the Include tab audio from the Preferences section of the Chrome extension.

Step 6: Click on Start Recording 

As mentioned earlier, you can also schedule your Zoom meeting recordings. This way, your recording will begin automatically without your presence. 

Here’s what you have to do — 

Select the Schedule option after you open the Vmaker app.

You will see a window pop-up where you can set the title of your video, along with the date and time of the Zoom meeting. 

Make sure that you click on the checkbox to get notified. This you will know that the Zoom meeting is about to start. Also, remember to keep the app open in your laptop to begin recording automatically

Final words

So that was it. An easy guide to recording your Zoom meeting with Vmaker. You don’t need to spend extra dollars on this because you can record for free. If you want to know more about the power of Vmaker head over to the features page.

If you liked what you just read, you can sign up for Vmaker here. There’s no trial plan, you can use it for free, for the lifetime. 

Recommended Reading:

How To Record a Zoom Meeting as a Participant: A Complete Guide (2024)

10 Best Screen Recorders To Record Zoom Meetings

How to save, watch and share Zoom meetings for free

How to record Zoom, Google Meet, or any online meeting with subtitles?

How to add subtitles or captions to Zoom meeting recordings