Guides / Automatic Call Recording
Do I need consent to record a Zoom call?
It depends on where the people on the call are and what kind of call it is. Some places allow you to record a conversation you are part of, while others require everyone on the call to agree. Zoom's built-in recording shows participants a notice, but a notice and a clear yes are not always the same thing. The safe habit is to say you are recording and get a clear yes before you start. This is general information, not legal advice.
Why the answer changes from place to place
Recording laws are not the same everywhere. They differ by country and, in some countries, by region. Most of them follow a simple split.
- One-party consent: in some places you can lawfully record a conversation you take part in, as long as you agree to it yourself.
- All-party consent: in other places everyone on the call has to agree before you record.
Zoom makes this harder because the people on a call can be in different places. A call with a colleague in another state and a client in another country can touch several sets of rules at once. When the rules differ, the strictest one is the safest to follow.
Laws change and the details matter. For anything high-stakes, such as a legal dispute or a regulated industry, ask a lawyer. This page explains the basics and does not replace legal advice.
Situations that can change the answer
The location of the participants is only part of it. The kind of call also matters:
- Work calls: your employer or a client contract may have its own recording policy, separate from the law.
- Sales, support and interview calls: people outside your company usually expect to be told before you record.
- Calls across regions or borders: follow the strictest rule that could apply to anyone on the call.
- Calls with professionals such as lawyers or doctors: these often carry extra confidentiality expectations, so check before you record.
- Webinars and large events: the host often has its own terms and notices, so find out what applies before you capture anything.
- What happens afterward: keeping a recording for your own notes is different from sharing or publishing it.
If you are not sure which of these applies, ask first. A short question at the start of a call costs almost nothing.
How to ask for consent on a Zoom call
Asking takes less than a minute and most people say yes. Here is a simple order to follow:
- Ask at the very start, before anything sensitive comes up. For example: "I'd like to record this so I can focus on the conversation and keep accurate notes. Is that okay?"
- Wait for a clear yes from each person, out loud or in the chat. Silence is not a yes.
- Say who will hear the recording and roughly how long you will keep it.
- Ask again if someone joins late and missed the first request.
- If anyone says no, do not record. Take written notes instead.
- For calls you schedule, add a line to the calendar invite so people know in advance that you plan to record.
Zoom's own record button shows participants a notice. That helps, but it is still worth saying it out loud so nobody is surprised.
Where Donna fits in
Donna is a Mac menu-bar assistant. With Automatic Call Recording she detects when a call starts and records it locally on your Mac, capturing your mic and the call audio. Nothing is uploaded.
There is no meeting bot. Nothing appears in the participant list and nobody gets a "recorder has joined" notice. That keeps the call clean, but it also means other people are not told unless you tell them. The asking is on you.
That is why Donna reminds you to get consent where it is required. She is a nudge, not a lawyer. She does not give legal advice, and checking the rules that apply to your call stays with you.
A few more things worth knowing:
- Zoom is one of several apps she records. Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Slack huddles, FaceTime, Discord and Webex are covered too.
- Old audio can be auto-deleted on a schedule you pick, so recordings do not pile up.
- Automatic Call Recording is part of Pro, at $8 per month or $80 per year. See pricing for the full list of what is free and what is Pro.
For the setup itself, see how to record a Zoom call on Mac without a bot. For events where you only need to listen, see listen-only webinar recording.
Keep recordings under control after the call
Consent does not end when the call does. A few habits keep you on the right side of what people agreed to:
- Record only the calls where you actually need a recording.
- Keep the audio on your own computer instead of forwarding it around.
- Share only with the people who agreed to it, and only for the purpose you gave.
- Delete old recordings on a schedule. Donna's auto-delete does this for you.
- Keep a record of the yes, such as a line in the chat or a note in your own file.
Donna keeps recordings, transcripts and summaries on your Mac, which makes the "who has this?" question easy to answer.
Try Donna. Records, transcribes and summarizes your meetings on your Mac, with nothing sent to a server.
Frequently asked questions
Does Zoom tell people when I record?
Zoom's built-in recording shows participants a notice. A recording made on your Mac by Donna adds no bot and no notice for other people, so you need to tell them yourself.
Can I record a call if I am one of the people talking?
In some places yes, and in others everyone on the call has to agree. Because the rules differ, asking everyone is the safest habit. For your specific situation, check with a lawyer.
Does Donna get consent for me?
No. She reminds you to get consent where it is required, but you ask the people on the call and you decide whether to record. She does not give legal advice.
What if someone says no to being recorded?
Do not record, or stop if you already started. Take written notes instead, and consider deleting anything that was already captured.
Is call recording free in Donna?
No, Automatic Call Recording is part of Pro, at $8 per month or $80 per year. The Free plan covers auto-open meetings, the next-up list, reminders and the on-device chat.