Step-by-Step Guide to Transcribing Past Zoom Meetings with AI

Ever wished you could quickly revisit the key points from a Zoom meeting without rewatching the entire recording? Whether you need accurate meeting notes, want to make your discussions searchable, or plan to repurpose content, transcribing your Zoom recordings can save hours of time.

While Zoom offers some transcription features, they may not be available for past meetings or may lack the accuracy you need—especially with multiple speakers. This is where AI transcription tools come in. They can process your past Zoom recordings in minutes, produce highly accurate transcripts, and even identify speakers automatically.

In this step-by-step guide, you’ll learn exactly how to transcribe past Zoom meetings with AI—from locating your recordings, to uploading them, to reviewing and exporting your polished transcript. By the end, you’ll have a straightforward process to turn any Zoom meeting into a searchable, shareable text document.

• Can You Transcribe Past Zoom Meetings?
• Why Use AI to Transcribe Zoom Meetings?
• Step-by-Step Guide to Transcribing Past Zoom Meetings with AI
• Tips for Better Transcription Accuracy
• FAQs

Can You Transcribe Past Zoom Meetings?

You may ask if it is possible to get transcripts from old Zoom meetings. The answer is yes. AI tools can change your recordings into text, even if the meeting was a long time ago. You do not have to worry about missing anything important. Many platforms make this easy.

Some AI tools work with both live and saved meetings. Sembly is one of these tools. You can upload audio or video files from your meetings. Sembly will transcribe your offline talks just like it does for live ones. Sembly can join and transcribe Zoom recordings, whether they are happening now or happened before. This lets you turn any meeting into a transcript.

Tip: Always keep your Zoom recordings in a safe spot. You will need them to make transcripts later.

Here is a quick look at what you need to transcribe past meetings with AI tools:

You do not need to be an expert to use these tools. You only need your meeting recording and an AI transcription service. After you upload your file, the tool will turn it into a transcript. You can read, share, or save these transcripts for later. This helps you remember what happened in your meetings and keep track of important talks.

Why Use AI to Transcribe Zoom Meetings?

Artificial intelligence makes zoom transcription much easier than writing notes by hand. You can use AI tools to make a live transcript during meetings or get transcripts from recordings. This saves you time and lets you pay attention to the meeting. Many people say AI transcription tools help them work better and remember important things.

Here is a table that shows the main benefits of using AI for zoom transcription instead of doing it by hand:

You can also see how AI transcription tools are different from writing notes yourself:

• Takes notes for you during meetings
• Gives closed captions and live transcript
• Summarizes main points and action steps
• Helps you get more done

Enable Built-in Transcription

Zoom has a built-in zoom transcription feature for cloud recordings. You can turn this on in your account settings. Go to the Recording tab and turn on audio transcript. Start your meeting and pick Record to Cloud. After the meeting ends, you will find the transcript next to your video file.

Note: Only paid Zoom plans have this feature. You must use cloud recording, not local recording. The host needs to turn on the right settings. Transcripts show up only after meetings end. You can get a live transcript in English. Sometimes, it takes twice as long as the meeting for transcripts to show up.

Access Zoom Transcript

You can get your transcript by logging into the Zoom web portal. Go to Recordings and find your cloud recordings. Pick the meeting you want. You will see the transcript with your files. You can read the live transcript online or download it as a .vtt file. If you want to save the transcript, click the More button and pick Download. Look for the file that ends in .vtt. This is your transcript.

Local recordings do not have built-in zoom transcription. You need other tools to get a live transcript from these meetings. Many AI services can help you make transcripts from local files.

Step-by-Step Guide to Transcribing Past Zoom Meetings with AI

Transcribing zoom meetings is easy when you use the right ai tools. Many automated transcription software options exist, but Utell AI stands out as a recommended ai-powered meeting assistant. Here’s how you can transcribe a meeting from start to finish:

Step 1 – Locate Your Zoom Recording

You need to find your meeting recording before you start. If you saved your meetings on your computer, follow these steps:

1. Open Finder and go to Documents > Zoom.
2. Click the Zoom folder to see all saved recordings.
3. Open a recording folder to find files in .m4a, .m3u, or .mp4 formats.

If you used Zoom’s cloud storage:

1. Go to Zoom.us and sign in.
2. Click My Account, then go to the Recordings tab.
3. Select Cloud Recordings to see all your stored meetings.

You can also use the Zoom desktop app. Sign in, click the Meetings tab, and switch to Recorded to view your list.

Step 2 – Download Utell AI

Utell AI is a powerful ai-powered meeting assistant. Download and install it on your computer. Make sure your system meets these requirements:

Step 3 – Upload the Recording

Open Utell AI and upload your Zoom recording. Most ai tools support many file types, such as MP4, M4A, MP3, and WAV. Here is a quick look at supported formats:

After you upload the file, the automated transcription software will process your meeting and create a transcript.

Step 4 – Set AI Transcription Preferences

You can adjust settings for better results. Many transcription tools offer speaker identification (diarization) and language options. You may choose custom speech-to-text models for local dialects. Some ai tools let you create speaker profiles or turn off diarization if you do not need it. These features help you get accurate audio transcriptions and clear transcripts.

Tip: If your meeting has many speakers, enable speaker identification for the best transcript.

Step 5 – Export & Use Your Transcript

Once the ai-powered meeting assistant finishes, you can export your transcript. Common export formats include .vtt, TXT, and SRT. You can save, share, or archive your transcripts for future use. Many users download all files, including video, audio, and transcript, for easy access. With these steps, transcribing zoom meetings becomes simple and efficient.

Tips for Better Transcription Accuracy

You want your transcript to be correct. Start by making sure your audio sounds clear. Use a good microphone and keep background noise low. Loud sounds like cars, barking dogs, or echoes can confuse AI. This makes it hard for the AI to write the right words. When you record meetings, ask everyone to speak slowly and clearly. Tell people not to talk at the same time. This helps the AI tell speakers apart and makes the transcript better.

You can use Zoom transcription with live services and other AI tools. This mix gives you better results for your transcript. Otter.ai often gets 90% or more correct. Trint can get up to 99% right. Most AI tools get about 85% correct. Clear audio helps you get the best transcript. Good microphones and noise settings are very important.

Tip: Always test your microphone and setup before meetings. This helps you avoid problems with your transcript later.

If you want to make meeting minutes, use speaker identification. This feature helps you know who said each thing in the transcript. If you need to share meeting minutes, save your transcript as TXT or VTT. Automated tools can help you turn transcripts into short meeting minutes. AI tools can show action items and main ideas. You can use these summaries to make clear meeting minutes for your team.

• Use the Zoom Meeting SDK to get raw audio.
• Send audio to other services for real-time transcripts.
• Make clear rules for transcripts and meeting minutes. Always ask everyone in the meeting for permission.

Summarization works best when your transcript is correct. If the transcript has mistakes, your meeting minutes may be wrong. If the AI mixes up speakers, tasks can go to the wrong person. AI tools cannot see body language, so always check your transcript before sharing meeting minutes.

You can use AI tools to turn your meetings into text. First, pick zoom transcription to get started. You can use built-in features or Utell AI for this. These tools give you accurate transcripts and show who is talking. They also make smart summaries of your meetings. When you finish, you can share or save your transcripts. Many companies use transcripts for training and policy updates. They also keep them safe for later. To protect your transcript, use encrypted meetings. Only let certain people see the files.

FAQs

How do you get a transcript from a Zoom meeting?

You need to save your meeting recording first. Then, upload the file to an AI tool like Utell AI. The tool will create a transcript for you.

Can you transcribe local Zoom recordings?

Yes, you can. AI tools let you upload local files from your computer. You get a transcript even if you did not use Zoom’s cloud recording.

Is zoom transcription accurate?

Most AI tools give you high accuracy. You get better results with clear audio and good microphones. Some tools reach up to 99% accuracy.

What file formats do AI transcription tools support?

You can upload these formats to most AI transcription services.