How to Record a Webinar: Guide for Hosts and Attendees

Whether you’re hosting or attending a webinar, learning how to record this type of event is a must.

For attendees, the recording will be a lifesaver when you want to revisit the topic later. And if you’re the host, you’ll be able to review and repurpose valuable content that can be used to attract leads, boost revenue, and create training materials.

Whether you're a host or participant, the recording process is a little different. We’ve compiled a list of tools and processes to teach you how to record a webinar, whether you're watching or leading the event.

How do you record a webinar as a participant?

To record a webinar as an attendee, choose a tool and ask the host for permission.

First, ask permission to record the session

If you’re attending a webinar and the host isn’t planning on recording the session, you should always ask if they’re okay with you doing it. While many hosts may allow participants to record, others may object.

Sometimes webinars contain proprietary (i.e. trademarked or copyrighted) content that isn’t available for sharing. You should never record someone else's webinar to use for your own commercial purposes.

Choose the best webinar recorder tool

If you’re not hosting the meeting, you need the right tool to record your screen while viewing the webinar:

1. Loom
2. Vimeo Record
3. Snagit

1. Loom

Loom is a video messaging tool for asynchronous communication. You can also use it as a screen recorder following the prompts:

1. Sign up for Loom. The free version will let you record up to 25 videos of five minutes, but the paid plan is only $15 a month and lets you record unlimited videos of any length.
2. Download the Chrome extension. This step is optional but makes it easier to record your screen at any time.
3. Click on the extension button and choose “screen only.” By default, Loom will record the screen and your camera. Click on “screen only” to record the live webinar.

4. Press “start recording.” Once you’re recording, avoid switching tabs and mute all your notifications.
5. Stop recording at the end of the event and access it via the link provided. Loom records to the cloud and automatically generates a link so you can watch the video in your browser. You can also download the recording to your desktop by opening the link to your Loom video, clicking the three dots in the upper right corner, and selecting “download.”

2. Vimeo Record

This Vimeo product lets you record 2 hours of video for free. Here’s how to use Vimeo Record:

1. Sign up for a free or paid plan. Create an account using your email address.
2. Click on “Open Vimeo Record.” Click on the blue button to select your recording preferences. You can also do this directly from the extension.
3. Click on “screen only” and “start recording.” Choose the microphone you wish to use from the list and click on the folder icon to choose where to save the recording.

4. Download your video. At the end of the webinar, your cloud recording will be uploaded to Vimeo. You can change the sharing privacy preferences. Share the link or click the “download” button to get a copy of the webinar saved on your computer.

3. Snagit

Unlike the other options in this list, Snagit doesn’t have a browser version, so you need to download the app to your computer. However, this screen capture tool is very lightweight and easy to install.

Snagit also offers a 15-day free trial. But after that, you’ll need to purchase the license for $62.99, plus yearly maintenance costs. Follow these steps to use Snagit for recording webinars:

1. Download the app. Choose the option that fits your operating system, and download the app.
2. Create an account. Use your email credentials to create an account, or use Google sign-in for faster access.
3. Install the app and choose your preferences. You'll see a popup window to grant recording permissions on your computer.
4. Adjust your settings. Select which window you want to record, and choose whether you want to record your webcam.
5. Click “capture” and turn on the system audio recording. Click the speaker icon to ensure you’re recording the webinar’s audio. For better audio quality, mute your microphone.

6. Choose the destination folder and enjoy your webinar recording. After the event is recorded locally, you’ll be asked by Snagit to choose the destination folder and save it to your computer. The local recording allows you to rewatch or share the recorded webinar.

How do you record a webinar as a host?

For hosts, it's usually a good idea to record your webinar, especially when you're creating important content. After the event ends, you can repurpose the content and distribute it across marketing channels. Follow these steps for recording webinar content:

1. Choose the best webinar recording software

As a host, you don't need the screen recording tools above. Instead, you can easily record from your webinar software using the built-in recording feature. Here are some of the top tools that allow you to record high-quality video and audio as you live stream to your audience:

• Livestorm: Our video conferencing tool lets you host and record webinars, meetings, and virtual events. You can also create pre-recorded webinar content and set it to play automatically.
• Zoom: When you host Zoom meetings or webinars, you can record them directly from your Zoom account.
• Teams: You can record meetings using this Microsoft collaboration tool, which is widely used by enterprise-level businesses.
• GoToWebinar: This tool for hosting webinars allows you to host large audiences and record live sessions without downloading any additional tools.

2. Let participants know the session will be recorded

Before starting the webinar, make sure your audience knows you plan to record. You can add a disclaimer to the webinar description before users sign up for it or explicitly say it at the beginning of the session. This will prevent any privacy violations.

3. Click the meeting record button

If you’re using Livestorm, you can stream and record webinars in HD either manually or automatically. Livestorm is an automated webinar software, so if no one is on stage or there's no activity for 30 seconds, the recording will pause. It’ll resume recording once the session is active again.

For automated webinar recordings, you have to tick the option “automatically record upon event start” when planning your meeting. You’ll find this option under settings in the category “recording & on-demand.”

In the "recordings" section of the toolbar, you can also select who can view the replay afterward and access the webinar.

If you want more control, you can deactivate the automatic recording settings. Instead, when you're ready to start, go to your event and click on “start event.”

Click the record button and save your session. The audio and video recording will stop as soon as you end your event. While you’re live and recording, you’ll see these two icons on the upper left of your screen:

How do you record a webinar in Zoom?

To record a webinar you’re hosting in Zoom:

1. Create a Zoom event
2. Start the meeting
3. Click on “More”
4. Click on “Record on this computer”
5. Pause or stop the recording whenever you want in the Zoom window
6. End the meeting
7. Wait for the Zoom recording to process and save the file

If you’re not hosting the meeting, you’ll need to ask the host to grant you permission to record the session. Then, you’ll need to:

1. Go to your Zoom app
2. Click on the settings icon
3. Scroll down and click on “view more settings”
4. Click on the “Recording” tab

5. Enable the “local recording” option to save the recording locally to your computer
6. Follow the instructions above

How do you record a webinar in Teams?

To record a webinar in Teams:

1. Start or join a webinar
2. Click on the three dots in the toolbar
3. Scroll down and click on “start recording”
4. Stop the recording by following the same process or by ending the meeting
5. Find and share your recording from SharePoint or OneDrive

Only meeting owners or people from the same organization can record webinars directly from Teams.

How do you record a webinar in GoTo Webinar?

If you’re hosting a webinar using GoTo Webinar, here’s what you need to do to record it:

1. Start your webinar
2. Ensure you have at least 5GB of free space in your computer
3. Click on “start recording” (Windows) or “record” (Mac)
4. Stop your recording
5. Get redirected to your video library
6. Edit and share your webinar recording files

How do hosts share a webinar recording?

If you’re using Livestorm to host your webinar, the replay will be available for you and all attendees automatically after the webinar ends. When planning your webinar, you activate these options:

• Automatically record upon event start
• On-demand replay access

Then, all attendees will receive an automated email after the webinar ends with the replay link. If not, you can download the replay or click on “share event” to get a shareable link to the replay.

With Livestorm, you can change the access permissions for replays. That means you can make on-demand webinars private or accessible at any time, even after the event has ended.

How to download a Zoom webinar recording

If you’re hosting a webinar in Zoom, the video recording is saved locally. You don’t need to download the recording.

If you’re using Livestorm, you can save your webinar recording in two different ways:

1. As soon as the webinar ends and you get the recording on the same page. You’ll find a download icon on the top right. If you click on it, the replay will automatically be saved to your computer.

2. Go to your Livestorm sessions, click on recordings, and then click on the download button.

How to edit a Zoom webinar recording

If you want to edit a Zoom or Livestorm webinar recording, you’ll need a video editor platform like Premiere Pro, Windows Movie Maker, iMovie, or Final Cut.

What’s the best way to record a webinar?

If you’re a host, the best way to record a webinar is using your meeting software's native recording tools. You won’t need to download any additional software, and it just takes a few clicks.

If you’re attending a webinar, you need to pick one of the best webinar recording software we mentioned at the beginning (Loom, Vimeo Record, or Snagit). Here’s how to do it depending on your device:

How to record a webinar on Mac

If you’re using a Mac computer you can use any of the tools mentioned above. Loom and Vimeo Record are browser-based, and Snagit has a Mac version available for download.

If you want to use an Apple product, you can use the QuickTime Software. To do so:

1. Download the app
2. Launch QuickTime
3. Click on “File” and then on “New Screen Recording”
4. Choose your screen and cursor visibility options
5. Access the webinar
6. Click on “record” (the red button)
7. Stop the recording whenever you’re ready
8. Save your file and export it to a specific location

How to record a webinar on Windows 10

Windows 10 users can also record their screens using Loom, Vimeo Record, or Snagit. If you’re looking for a Microsoft product, you can use Microsoft Stream. However, this product has a 15-minute time limit, which means you’d need to record many videos to save the complete webinar.

To use Microsoft Stream, you should:

1. Open the Microsoft 365 app
2. Click “Create” and then “Record screen from your navigation bar in Stream”
3. Check the recording button to start recording
4. Choose which tab or window you want to record
5. Once you finish the recording, go back to the Stream Recorder tab, and click on next to view your video.

How to record webinars on Android, iPhone, or iPad

If you’re using your phone to watch and record webinars, you can download the Loom app. This app is available on Android and iOS. That way you can record webinars on Android and Apple devices.

Apple devices come with an integrated screen recorder that allows you to get a recording of your screen. The problem with this tool is that it doesn’t record audio in video calls due to privacy regulations.

Is it worth using webinar recording software?

It's always a good idea to get a recording of your webinar or create a pre-recording to distribute later. Attendees can use webinar recordings to refresh interesting concepts or to show them to decision-makers at their company. And hosts can easily turn recorded webinars into evergreen content to capture leads.

If you’re attending a webinar, you should ask the host to record and share the recording with you. Otherwise, you should ask for permission to use Loom, Vimeo Record, or Snagit to keep the recording on your computer.

If you’re hosting a webinar, the best thing that you can do is use tools with built-in recorders instead of using additional webinar recording software. Livestorm lets you host, record, and analyze webinars without switching apps. You can easily share this recording with attendees automatically or manually, and continue to capture leads after the webinar ends.

Frequently asked questions about recording a webinar

Can I record a webinar I’m watching?

You can record the webinar you’re watching using a screen recording tool like Loom or Vimeo Record. However, you need to ask the webinar host for their permission.

Can you record a webinar on your computer?

You can record a webinar on your computer in many different ways:

1. Using Loom to record your screen
2. Signing up for Vimeo Record and recording your screen
3. Using Snagit to record your screen

You can also ask the webinar host to record the session and share the video with you.

What’s the best webinar recording software?

The best webinar recording software is the one that’s built into your webinar platform. For example, Livestorm allows hosts to record sessions automatically and send them to all registrants after the event.

If you’re recording a webinar you’re attending, one of the best webinar recording software is Vimeo Record. It’s free for recording videos up to two hours long, you get a shareable Vimeo link, or you get to download the video.

How to record a webinar on my iPhone?

You can record a webinar on your iPhone using the Loom app. If you use the iPhone's integrated screen recording tool it won’t record the audio.

How to record a webinar on iPad?

To record a webinar on your iPad, you should try using the Loom app. If you use the iPad’s integrated screen recording tool, you’ll get a video-only recording.