How to record a Zoom meeting without a bot
Open Reline on your computer and start a recording before you join the call. Reline captures your microphone and the meeting's system audio locally on your device, so no bot ever joins the Zoom call as a participant. When the meeting ends you get a full transcript, a summary where every point links to the exact transcript moment, and click-to-seek playback.
Open Reline and create a note
Open the Reline desktop app on macOS, Windows, or Linux (or use the web app). Create a new note for the meeting — this is where the recording, transcript, and summary will live. There's no mobile app, so record from the same computer you'll run Zoom on.
Grant system-audio permission on macOS (one time)
On macOS, capturing the other participants' audio requires a one-time system-audio / screen-recording permission. Reline prompts you the first time; approve it in System Settings and you won't be asked again. On Windows there's no extra step for system audio. On Linux, mic capture works today; system-audio capture is in active testing / early release.
Start the recording, then join Zoom as normal
Hit record in Reline before or right as you join the call. Reline records your mic and the system audio (everyone else) locally on your device — it does not dial into the meeting, so nobody sees a bot or extra attendee in the Zoom participant list. Run Zoom exactly as you always do.
Tell people you're recording
Reline does not announce itself in the call, so telling the room you're recording is on you — and it's the defensible move both legally and socially. A quick "I'm recording this for notes" at the top of the call is usually enough; some jurisdictions require all-party consent, so don't skip it.
Stop recording and read the cited summary
Stop the recording when the meeting wraps. Transcription runs and supports 60+ languages. Reline generates a summary where every point links back to the exact transcript moment it came from, so you can verify any claim instead of trusting a black box.
Replay, search, and reuse the meeting
Click any line in the transcript to seek straight to that moment in playback. Ask Reline's chat questions across this note, the folder, or the whole workspace — answers cite the underlying transcripts. Apply a Lens (16 reusable AI templates ship in-app, and you can build your own) to turn the recording into action items, a recap, or whatever format you need.
FAQ
- Will other people see a bot in the Zoom call?
- No. Reline records mic and system audio locally on your device and never joins the meeting, so there's no extra participant, no "X is recording" bot, and nothing in the attendee list. From Zoom's perspective you're just a normal participant.
- Do I have to tell people I'm recording?
- Reline won't announce itself, so the disclosure is up to you. Telling everyone you're recording is the defensible move — some jurisdictions require consent from all parties — and a one-line heads-up at the start of the call covers it.
- Does this work with Microsoft Teams, Google Meet, or in-person meetings too?
- Yes. Because Reline captures whatever audio plays on your device rather than connecting to a specific platform, the same flow works for any call or an in-person conversation. If you use Google or Microsoft calendar sync, scheduled meetings auto-attach to notes (read-only, no bot).