how to delete a teams recording

2025

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31-03-2025

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Meta Description: Learn how to delete Microsoft Teams recordings from your computer, the cloud, and your mobile device. This comprehensive guide covers all scenarios, from individual recordings to entire chat histories, ensuring your privacy and data management. Find quick solutions and troubleshooting tips for various situations.

Finding Your Teams Recordings

Before you delete, you need to locate your recording. The location varies slightly depending on where you saved it and the device you are using.

Locating Recordings on Your Computer

• Download Folder: If you downloaded the recording to your computer during or after the meeting, it'll be in your default downloads folder. Check this first!
• Teams Chat: Open the Teams chat where the meeting took place. The recording will often appear as a file attached to the chat.
• Meeting Chat: Within the meeting itself (if you have access to the recording through the meeting chat), there is often a link to download the recording.

Locating Recordings in the Cloud (OneDrive)

Microsoft Teams typically saves recordings to OneDrive, your cloud storage.

1. Access OneDrive: Log into your OneDrive account (often accessible through the Microsoft 365 portal).
2. Navigate to Recordings: Look for the folder where Teams recordings are stored. This might be under a folder named "Teams Recordings" or a similar designation; sometimes it's within your own profile folder.
3. Identify the Recording: Locate the specific recording you wish to delete by its name and date.

Locating Recordings on Your Mobile Device (iOS and Android)

Finding recordings on mobile is less straightforward. They usually aren't directly stored on your phone unless you explicitly downloaded them. Check the meeting chat within the Teams app for a download link.

How to Delete a Teams Recording

The deletion process differs slightly depending on where the recording is located.

Deleting a Recording from Your Computer

1. Locate the File: Find the recording file on your computer (see instructions above).
2. Delete the File: Right-click the file and select "Delete." Confirm the deletion when prompted.

Deleting a Recording from OneDrive

1. Access OneDrive: Log in to OneDrive as explained above.
2. Select the Recording: Find the recording you want to delete.
3. Delete the Recording: Right-click the recording and select "Delete." Confirm the deletion. Deleted files might remain in your OneDrive recycle bin for a short period.

Deleting Recordings from the Teams Chat

You can't directly delete recordings from within the chat itself. Instead, you must delete the file as described above, from your computer or OneDrive.

Deleting Multiple Recordings

To delete multiple recordings in OneDrive, you can select multiple files by holding down the Ctrl key (Windows) or Cmd key (Mac) while clicking on each file. Then, right-click and select "Delete."

Troubleshooting and Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Can I recover a deleted Teams recording?

A: If the recording was deleted from your computer, recovery depends on your system's recycle bin. If it was deleted from OneDrive, it might be recoverable from the OneDrive recycle bin for a short time (check OneDrive's help resources for details).

Q: What if I don't have permission to delete a recording?

A: You likely only have permission to delete recordings you created or that are stored in your personal OneDrive folder. If it's a recording from a shared channel or someone else's meeting, you may not have the authority to delete it. Contact the meeting organizer.

Q: How do I delete the entire chat history containing a recording?

A: You can't selectively delete just the recording from a chat. Deleting the chat history will remove everything including the recording link or file. In Microsoft Teams, go to your chat history, open the chat you want to delete and select more options (three dots), then "Delete chat."

Q: Why can't I find my recording?

A: Check your download folder and OneDrive thoroughly. Ensure you are logged into the correct Microsoft account. The recording may also be delayed in appearing, especially for larger files.

Maintaining Your Privacy with Teams Recordings

Remember to always be mindful of the content of your recordings and ensure compliance with any relevant privacy policies before sharing or deleting them. Regularly reviewing and deleting unnecessary recordings helps manage your storage space and enhances your privacy. This guide helps you effectively manage and delete your Microsoft Teams recordings, ensuring a cleaner and more organized digital environment.