Zoom is one of the most popular video conferencing tools for on-site, hybrid, and remote teams. The platform provides various features—like the transcription function—that are designed for group alignment and global collaboration.

Manual notetaking can be time consuming and steals attendee focus. But Zoom's built-in transcription feature keeps everyone on the same page while allowing the whole team to contribute to the conversation.

Read on to learn how to transcribe Zoom meetings for more effective sessions.

How to toggle audio transcription for Zoom recordings

Before enabling audio transcription, you'll need a Zoom Business, Education, or Enterprise license. These grant you access to premium features like Cloud Recordings so you can record meetings. The account admin must also change the transcription settings for everyone using the licensed profile. Then, each employee can follow these steps to toggle transcription.

1. Log in to your Zoom account.

2. Choose "Account management" from the navigation menu.

3. Tap "Cloud recording" from the "Recording" tab and make sure the setting is "On." Then, click the "Status" toggle to enable recording. A verification box will appear. Select "Turn on" to confirm the setting.

4. Tick the "Audio transcript" checkbox to enable the transcribing feature in the "Advanced" cloud recording settings and click "Save."

5. Tap the lock icon and choose "Lock" to set cloud recording and transcription for all users under the account.

Zoom transcription feature: Pros and cons

When implementing a new tool or feature, work with fellow team leaders to consider how the pros and cons will affect your team.

Pros

1. Already built-in: The transcription feature is fully integrated into the platform, so you don't have to download or activate additional software.

2. Improves accessibility: Transcriptions make meetings more accessible for participants who are hard of hearing and those who prefer reading over listening.

3. Automates note-taking: Zoom automatically transcribes meetings without manual effort, saving time and reducing the workload for participants.

4. Transcribes in real-time: Live transcription lets you see meeting notes as the conversation happens, which is helpful for following along when the audio quality is poor or an attendee’s video glitches.

5. Streamlines navigation: Each video includes timestamps for easy browsing.

Cons

1. Limited formatting: The platform’s formatting options are fairly basic, with timestamps and a simple search feature, making it challenging to find information in lengthier meetings.

2. Limited formatting: The platform’s formatting options are fairly basic, with timestamps and a simple search feature, making it challenging to find information in lengthier meetings.

3. Restricted editing: Zoom's editing tools aren't as user-friendly or intuitive as other options like the Fellow AI Meeting Assistant. This complexity causes frustration when correcting transcripts for better accuracy.

4. Introduces mistakes: Zoom might misinterpret words or omit punctuation and capitalization.

Integrating the Fellow AI Meeting Assistant

If you're looking for a more comprehensive meeting management tool, consider using the Fellow, which offers auto-recording, transcriptions, and summaries. Integrate Fellow with Zoom to enjoy these benefits (and more):

1. Instantly access meeting agendas: Integrating the Zoom app with Fellow lets you centralize meeting transcriptions into one convenient panel, so you don't need to scramble for notes when you're in a hurry. Simply show up for your meeting, and all your agendas are front and center.

2. Focus on teammates: Fellow's Zoom integration ensures employees don't waste time switching between tabs instead of interacting with colleagues. All attendees can collaborate in real time, and each participant has a private note-taking section.

3. Generate action items and takeaways: Ineffective meetings lead to a lack of clear next steps. The Copilot feature keeps meeting participants accountable, sharing straightforward action items and decisions so everyone knows their responsibilities and deadlines.

4. Conduct impromptu meetings: Fellow auto-records and transcribes notes, even for unplanned video calls. And the "New meeting" button in Fellow's Zoom-integrated app automatically syncs with popular calendar features so you don't have to create new events.

With Fellow, you can overcome Zoom’s limitations and even skip meetings without worrying about missing important details. The app and browser extension record and compile all notes, leaving you with quick summaries to skim through to stay up to date.

How to view, edit, and save meeting transcripts on Zoom

If you prefer using Zoom’s in-house features, follow these steps to access and edit transcripts:

1. Log in to your Zoom web portal.

2. Choose "Recordings" from the navigation menu.

3. From the list of recorded meetings, select the one you want to edit and click the "Play" icon.

4. Text will appear on the right side of the recording as it plays. Hover your mouse over any phrase you want to edit and click the pencil icon.

How to generate live captions in Zoom meetings

Captions are another great way to improve meeting accessibility, ensuring all attendees catch important details. Follow these steps to generate captions for your calls in real time:

1. Log in to your account and head to the Zoom web portal.

2. Under “Account settings,” toggle auto-generated captions. Now, the platform will automatically produce live captions in your next meeting.

3. You can also click the "Show captions" button in Zoom's toolbar to ensure live captions are on before your meeting starts.

Zoom in on productivity with Fellow

While Zoom's transcription feature is a good starting point for meeting management, Fellow offers a more comprehensive approach.

With Fellow’s Zoom integration, you can use the video conferencing tool you love while leveraging features like AI-powered note-taking and personalized agendas. Sign up today and enjoy more productive meetings tomorrow.

What’s meeting transcription?

Transcription converts spoken words into written text. This helps people who retain information better via text or are hard of hearing understand what’s going on. And it’s a nice reference document for those who didn’t watch a video or attend a meeting.

Zoom introduced its transcription feature in 2018 as part of an initiative to improve meeting efficiency and accessibility. Offering transcripts means attendees and absentees can access centralized meeting documentation to review at their leisure. And transcripts accommodate diverse auditory needs and learning styles.