How to record a Microsoft Teams meeting on Windows
Teams has a built-in recording button, but it needs the right license, often needs the organizer's permission, and always saves to OneDrive or SharePoint. If you want the recording on your own disk, you record it yourself. Here is the manual route and the automatic one.
Record it yourself with OBS
OBS Studio captures the Teams window and, once the audio sources are set up, both sides of the conversation.
- 1
Install OBS Studio
Download and install OBS from the official site. You will adjust the audio routing; the rest of the defaults are fine.
- 2
Add a window capture for Teams
Add a 'Window Capture' source and select the Teams window, either the desktop client or the browser tab if you use Teams on the web. Window capture keeps notifications and other apps out of the recording.
- 3
Capture system audio and your mic
Add an 'Audio Output Capture (WASAPI)' source for your speakers or headset. That records the other participants. Add an 'Audio Input Capture (WASAPI)' source for your microphone. Watch that both meters react during the call.
- 4
Set the output and start recording
In Settings, Output, set MP4 and a hardware encoder (NVENC, Quick Sync, or AMD). Start recording before the call begins and stop afterwards.
- 5
Transcribe the recording
OBS produces a video, not text. For a transcript, run the audio through a local Whisper build afterwards. It is a manual step after each call.
How Teams audio works on Windows
Windows routes audio through WASAPI. To record the other people on a Teams call you do not capture a microphone. You capture the playback device, which Windows exposes as a WASAPI loopback.
A loopback capture records exactly what is sent to your speakers or headset, Teams audio included. Your own voice still comes from the microphone, so a complete recording mixes the WASAPI loopback with the mic. One catch with Teams: it sometimes treats a headset's communications channel as a separate device, so make sure your loopback follows the device Teams is actually playing through.
The faster route: let Autorec do it
Autorec handles the window capture, the WASAPI loopback, and the transcript, and writes everything to your disk instead of the cloud.
- 1
Install and launch Autorec
Run the Windows installer and start the app. It sits in the system tray.
- 2
Join your Teams call as usual
Autorec detects the Teams call and starts recording on its own. It captures the call and mixes your microphone with the WASAPI loopback. No bot joins the meeting, so no extra participant appears.
- 3
Get the video, transcript, and summary
When the call ends, Autorec transcribes the audio on your machine with whisper.cpp and writes an AI summary. The MP4, .txt, .srt, and summary stay local. Nothing goes to OneDrive, SharePoint, or any vendor.
Common problems
Teams recording is greyed out or needs permission
Teams' built-in recording depends on your license and on policies the organizer or admin set. A desktop recorder sidesteps all of that. It records the call window from Windows, with no Teams permission involved.
The recording captured no call audio
The loopback is on the wrong device. Teams may be playing through a headset's communications channel while your loopback watches the speakers. Set the loopback to the device Teams is actually using.
The video is stuttering
Software encoding is competing with Teams for the CPU. Switch OBS to a hardware encoder, record at 30 fps, and set the Windows power plan to high performance.
Questions people ask
Why would I not just use Teams' own recording?
Teams recording needs a qualifying license, can be blocked by admin policy, and always saves to OneDrive or SharePoint. If you need the file on your own disk, or recording is disabled for your account, a desktop recorder is the way to do it.
Is it legal to record a Teams meeting?
Recording-consent law varies by country and state. Some require everyone's agreement, others only one party. Tell the other participants and check the rules for your location and theirs before you record.
Does a desktop recorder work with the Teams desktop app and the web app?
Yes. Both OBS and Autorec capture whichever window Teams is in, the native client or a browser tab. Autorec detects either one by its window title and process.
Where do the recordings end up?
On your own disk, in a folder you choose. Autorec has no cloud account and uploads nothing. The video, transcript, and summary stay on your machine.
Keep reading
For the longer story behind local recording, see our guide: recording Teams meetings without cloud upload
Skip the setup
Autorec detects the call, records it to your disk, and transcribes it on your machine. No bot joins the meeting and nothing is uploaded. The free tier covers 3 recordings every 24 hours, up to 40 minutes each.