One of the most requested features on Google Meet is the ability to record meetings. Recording meetings can be helpful for various reasons, such as referencing important information discussed or sharing the meeting with those who were unable to attend. It also allows for better documentation of meetings and can serve as evidence for decisions made during the session. In this article, we will discuss how to record a Google Meet on your laptop and phone, with and without permission, as a host and as a participant.

Recording a Google Meet on your Laptop, as a Host

by Tom Pottiger (https://unsplash.com/@tompottiger)

As the host of a Google Meet, you have the option to record the meeting with or without permission from other participants. To record a meeting as a host on your laptop, follow these steps:

1. Start or join a Google Meet on your laptop.
2. Once the meeting has started, click on the three dots at the bottom right corner of your screen.
3. Select "Record meeting" from the drop-down menu.

4. A pop-up window will appear, asking for your confirmation to start recording. Click on "Accept" to proceed.
5. The recording will begin, and a red dot will appear at the top right corner of your screen, indicating that the meeting is being recorded.
6. When you are ready to end the recording, click on the red dot and select "Stop recording" from the menu.
7. The recording will automatically save to your Google Drive, and a link to the recording will be shared with all meeting participants.

Remember that as a host, you have the responsibility to ensure that the recording complies with any relevant legal and privacy guidelines. It is considered good etiquette to inform participants that the meeting will be recorded, both for transparency and to give them the opportunity to voice any objections. Additionally, having a recording can be useful for creating meeting minutes or transcribing important discussions for future reference.

‍

Recording a Google Meet on your Phone, as a Host

To record a Google Meet on your phone as a host, follow these steps:

1. To start or join a Google Meet on your phone, tap on the three dots at the bottom right corner of your screen during the meeting. 
2. From the menu, select "Record meeting" and tap on "Accept" in the pop-up window to confirm. The meeting will then start recording, indicated by a red dot at the top right corner of your screen. 
3. To stop the recording, tap on the red dot and select "Stop recording" from the menu. 
4. The recording will automatically save to your Google Drive and a link will be shared with all meeting participants.

‍

‍

Recording on a mobile device can be just as effective as on a laptop, providing you with the flexibility to capture important discussions even when you're on the move. However, keep in mind that the quality of the recording may vary depending on your device's capabilities and the stability of your internet connection. To ensure the best quality, use a stable Wi-Fi network and check that your device has sufficient storage space for the recording.

‍

Recording a Google Meet as a Participant with Permission

There are two ways to record a google meet as a participant. One way is to do it with the host's permission, which we recommend strongly since it's important to respect the host's rights and the privacy of other participants by following the proper protocol to record a meeting. However, if you are looking for a way around, Bliro.io, an AI Meetings Assistant is a good way around. It works as a desktop app and without bots in the meeting, so the meeting participants can never know you are recording. You get transcriptions and AI generated summaries which you can customize with prompts. Here are both the methods:

‍

As a participant in a Google Meet, you can record the meeting with the host's permission. To request permission to record a meeting on your laptop, follow these steps:

How to Record Google Meet On Your Laptop as a Participant

1. To join a Google Meet on your laptop, click on the "Ask to join" button at the bottom right corner of your screen. 
2. Once the host accepts your request, the meeting will start. 
3. To record the meeting, click on the red dot at the top right corner of your screen.
4. When you're done recording, click on the red dot again and select "Stop recording" from the menu. 
5. The recording will automatically save to your Google Drive, and a link to the recording will be shared with all meeting participants.

It is worth noting that if the host denies your request to record, you should not attempt to record the meeting using other means as this could breach trust and potentially violate privacy laws. If you believe recording the meeting is necessary, consider reaching out to the host privately to discuss your reasons and see if an agreement can be reached.

‍

How to Record Google Meet On Your Phone as a Participant

1. To join a Google Meet on your phone, tap on the "Raise hand" button during the meeting. 
2. Confirm your request to record the meeting. The host can accept or decline your request. If accepted, a red dot will appear to indicate recording. 
3. To stop recording, tap the red dot and select "Stop recording." 
4. The recording will save to your Google Drive and be shared with meeting participants.

‍

When you are recording on a phone, it's important to be aware of the limitations of the device. The audio quality might be different from that of a laptop, and incoming calls or notifications could interrupt the recording. Always ensure your phone is in 'Do Not Disturb' mode to avoid any disruptions during the recording process.

‍

Recording a Google Meet without Permission

‍

‍

Recording a meeting without permission raises ethical and legal considerations with data laws in almost every country. It's essential to respect privacy laws and regulations, which can vary by region. Always seek consent before recording a meeting.

That said, if you are only looking to keep “records” of the meetings and not really “record” the meeting, you can do it more effectively (and legally) with a non-recording AI meeting assistant like Bliro.io. 

With recent advancements in transcription and GPT models, Bliro was developed with the core purpose of transcribing in real time without recording any audio or video. It works as a desktop app and does not need to integrate into your meeting tools. It helps you extract transcriptions and customizable summaries of your meetings with AI at scale. Privacy, data security, and GDPR compliance are the key features Bliro was built for. Here’s how you use it:   

On Your Laptop

• Go to Bliro.io and click on “Sign Up”.

• Make a free trial account, connect your calendar and set up Bliro in just 2 mins. 
• Whenever your meeting is about to start, Bliro will automatically pop-up to ask whether you want to capture the meeting. You can change your preferences of language and headphones at this point.

• When the meeting ends, it will give you an AI summary in the template you have set up. Click “Save” to save your transcripts and summary on the Bliro platform.
• Once you save your meeting on the Bliro platform, you can share the meeting to slack, email or your CRM with 1 click.

On Your Phone

• Some phones come with a built-in screen recording feature. If not, download a third-party app from the app store.
• Start the screen recording before joining the Google Meet.
• Stop the recording after the meeting and save the video file to your device.

‍

It is important to note that recording a Google Meet without permission is not recommended and may be seen as a violation of privacy. However, in some situations, such as a virtual classroom setting, the host may want to record the meeting for educational purposes without obtaining consent from each participant.

While recording without explicit permission may be necessary in certain contexts, it is crucial to ensure that this is done in compliance with institutional policies and legal frameworks. In educational settings, for instance, it may be standard practice to record sessions for students to review later, and this would typically be outlined in the institution's policies. Nonetheless, transparency and communication with participants should be prioritized to maintain trust and ethical standards.

Tips for Recording a Google Meet

• Make sure to inform all participants before recording a meeting, especially if you plan to share the recording afterward. This is a best practice that fosters an environment of trust and accountability among all meeting attendees.
• If you are recording a meeting for educational or training purposes, it is recommended to obtain consent from participants beforehand. This not only respects their privacy but also ensures a cooperative atmosphere where participants are aware that their contributions may be reviewed later.
• Check your local laws and regulations regarding recording conversations and meetings to ensure you are not violating any privacy laws. Different jurisdictions have different laws, and it is important to be aware of and comply with these regulations.
• If you are recording a meeting without permission, make sure to only record the screen and not the audio to protect the privacy of participants. This can help mitigate privacy concerns, especially in cases where recording is necessary for note-taking or documentation purposes.

Important Things to Consider

Before recording a Google Meet, there are a few important things to keep in mind:

Google Meet Recording Permissions

When you record a Google Meet, it is important to consider the privacy of the other participants. If you choose to notify them before recording, they will have the option to leave the meeting if they do not want to be recorded. If you choose to record without notifying them, they will not have the opportunity to give their consent.

How to Record Google Meet Without Consent

As mentioned above, you can record a Google Meet without consent by using screen recording software on your laptop or phone. However, it is important to consider the privacy implications of doing so and to use this option only when necessary. Make sure to familiarize yourself with the regulations surrounding recording private conversations in your area.

Storage Space

Recorded Google Meets are saved to your Google Drive, which means they will take up storage space. If you have a large team and are recording frequent meetings, it may be necessary to purchase additional storage space. Keep an eye on your storage limits to avoid interruptions in your ability to record and store important meetings.

Legal Compliance

It's also critical to ensure that you are compliant with any legal requirements when recording a Google Meet. Some regions have strict laws about recording communications, and you may need to secure consent from all parties involved. Always check your local laws and regulations before recording a meeting, especially without permission.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on How to Record Google Meet

1. How can I record a Google Meet on my laptop as the host?

As the host, recording Google Meet is straightforward. Start or join the meeting, click on the vertical ellipsis for more options, then choose "Start recording." Recordings are automatically saved to your Google Drive. For extensive recording needs, consider using an AI meeting assistant like Bliro to manage and analyze your meeting data effectively.

2. What are the steps to record a Google Meet on my phone?

To record Google Meet on your phone, you need to be the meeting host or have permission from the host. Open the Google Meet app, start or join a meeting, then tap on the three dots to access more options and select "Start recording." Note that recordings are stored in Google Drive as Google Meet does not support local recordings on mobile devices.

3. Can I record Google Meet if I am not the host?

If you're not the host, you will need permission from the host to record the meeting. Alternatively, for non-recording solutions, you can use Bliro to transcribe, summarize, and archive meeting details in your CRM systems without actually recording audio or video, ensuring compliance with GDPR and privacy laws.

4. How do I record Google Meet without permission?

Recording Google Meet without permission is not advisable as it may contravene ethical standards and legal regulations. To ethically keep records of meetings without recording, use Bliro's transcription and summary services, which can provide detailed meeting notes and insights without breaching privacy norms.

5. Is there a way to record Google Meet discreetly?

Bliro provides a discreet way to gather meeting insights by transcribing and summarizing Google Meet sessions without traditional recording. This bot-free AI meeting assistant offers a less intrusive alternative, although notifying participants is always recommended to ensure transparency.

6. What should I do if I need access to a recording but cannot make it to the Google Meet?

If you're unable to attend the meeting, request the host to record the session and share the recording from their Google Drive. Hosts have the capability to record and share sessions, making it accessible for participants who were unable to attend.

7. Are there any limitations to recording Google Meet on different devices?

The main limitation is that only the host or authorized participants can initiate recordings, and all recordings are stored in the cloud (Google Drive). Google Meet does not allow local recordings, and mobile devices require an active internet connection to record to the cloud.

8. How to record Google Meet without the record button?

If the record button is not available due to administrative restrictions or lack of permission, consider using third-party screen recording software or Bliro for capturing the content. Screen recording can capture video and audio locally on your device, whereas Bliro can provide text-based summaries and insights.

9. How to record Google Meet without premium?

Non-premium users cannot directly record meetings in Google Meet. However, you can use third-party screen recording tools or rely on Bliro to transcribe and summarize the meeting's content without needing a premium Google account.

Conclusion

Recording a Google Meet can be a useful tool for reference, keeping absent participants up-to-date, and for legal purposes. As a host, you have the option to record the meeting with or without notifying participants.

As a participant, you can use screen recording software on your laptop or phone to capture the meeting. However, it is important to consider the privacy implications and storage space before recording a Google Meet. With these tips, you can effectively record Google Meets on both your laptop and phone, with or without permission, as a host and as a participant. Make sure to navigate the ethical and legal landscape carefully to ensure that your recordings are appropriate and lawful.

Remember to always communicate with your fellow meeting attendees about recording intentions and obtain the necessary permissions to ensure a respectful and lawful meeting environment. However, Bliro can allow you to get around that restriction since bliro does not record any audio to transcribe.

‍