Meeting Coach

How to get the transcript from a Zoom meeting

Zoom writes a transcript for any cloud recording. Here is where it lives and how to export it.

  1. 1Sign in at zoom.us and open Recordings in the left menu.
  2. 2Pick the meeting. Cloud recordings have an Audio Transcript entry; local recordings do not.
  3. 3Select Audio Transcript, then download. You get a .vtt file.
  4. 4If there is no transcript, audio transcription was off for that meeting. Turn it on under Settings → Recording → Advanced cloud recording settings so future meetings have one.

Zoom keeps speaker names and timestamps, so pace and talk-time both work.

Common questions

Why is there no transcript for my Zoom meeting?
Zoom only writes a transcript for cloud recordings, and only when audio transcription is switched on. A local recording saved to your own machine has no transcript. Turn it on under Settings, Recording, Advanced cloud recording settings so future meetings have one.
Does the Zoom transcript include speaker names?
Yes. Zoom labels each segment with the speaker, which is what lets an analysis separate your turns from everyone else’s. Without speaker labels a transcript cannot be used for personal feedback.
What file format does Zoom give you?
A .vtt file, which is WebVTT — plain text with timestamps and speaker labels. Because it keeps timestamps, metrics like speaking pace and talk time can be measured rather than estimated.
Can I get a transcript for a meeting someone else hosted?
Only if they share it. The transcript lives with the recording in the host’s account. Ask the host to download and send the .vtt file.

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No account, and nothing is stored.