To delete a recording in Microsoft Teams, you need to find the file in the chat history or your OneDrive storage. This guide covers the exact steps for both desktop and mobile apps, plus what happens after deletion.
Recordings can clutter your Teams chat or take up valuable cloud space. Knowing how to delete a recording in Teams helps you manage files efficiently and maintain privacy.
How To Delete A Recording In Teams
Deleting a Teams recording is straight forward, but the method depends on where the recording is stored. Most recordings save automatically to Microsoft Stream or OneDrive/SharePoint, depending on your organization’s settings.
Delete From Chat Or Channel
If the recording appears as a message in a chat or channel, you can remove it directly from there.
- Open Microsoft Teams and go to the chat or channel where the recording was posted.
- Find the recording message. It usually shows a video thumbnail or a file name ending in .mp4.
- Hover your mouse over the message to reveal three dots (More options).
- Click the three dots and select “Delete” from the menu.
- Confirm the deletion when prompted.
This action removes the recording message from the chat for everyone. However, the actual file may still exist in OneDrive or SharePoint unless you delete it seperately.
Delete From OneDrive Or SharePoint
Most Teams recordings are stored in the “Recordings” folder inside OneDrive (for chat recordings) or SharePoint (for channel recordings). To fully remove the file, you must delete it from there.
- Open your web browser and go to Office.com.
- Sign in with your work or school account.
- Click the OneDrive app icon (or SharePoint if it’s a channel recording).
- Navigate to the “Recordings” folder. It’s usually under “My Files” > “Recordings”.
- Find the recording file. It will have a name like “Meeting with [Name] – [Date].mp4”.
- Select the file and click “Delete” from the top toolbar or right-click and choose “Delete”.
- Empty your recycle bin to permanently remove the file.
Deleting from OneDrive ensures the recording is no longer accessible to anyone who had the link. Remember to check both the chat and the storage location for complete removal.
Delete From Microsoft Stream (Classic)
Some organizations still use Microsoft Stream (Classic) for recordings. If your recording is there, follow these steps.
- Go to Microsoft Stream and sign in.
- Click your profile picture in the top right and select “My content” > “Videos”.
- Find the recording you want to delete.
- Click the three dots (More options) on the video tile.
- Select “Delete” and confirm.
Stream recordings are less common now since Microsoft moved to OneDrive/SharePoint storage. Check with your IT admin if you’re unsure which system your org uses.
Delete From Teams Mobile App
You can also delete a recording from the Teams mobile app on iOS or Android. The process is similar to the desktop version.
- Open the Teams app and go to the chat or channel with the recording.
- Tap and hold the recording message until a menu appears.
- Select “Delete” from the options.
- Confirm deletion if asked.
Mobile deletion only removes the message from the chat. To fully delete the file, you must use the OneDrive or SharePoint mobile app or a web browser.
What Happens After Deletion
When you delete a recording from the chat, it disappears for all participants. But the original file remains in storage until you delete it from OneDrive or SharePoint. If you only delete the chat message, people can still access the recording via the link if they have it saved.
Deleting from OneDrive or SharePoint removes the file for everyone. The recording is moved to the recycle bin, where it stays for 30 days (or longer depending on your org’s settings). After that, it’s permanently deleted.
If you delete from Stream, the video goes to the Stream recycle bin. It’s permanently removed after 30 days.
Common Issues When Deleting
Sometimes you might not see the delete option. Here are a few reasons why.
- You don’t have permission to delete the recording. Only the meeting organizer or the person who started the recording can delete it.
- The recording is still processing. Wait a few minutes and try again.
- Your organization has disabled deletion for recordings. Contact your IT admin for help.
- The recording is saved to a channel that you don’t own. You may need to ask the channel owner to delete it.
How To Prevent Recordings From Saving
If you want to avoid deleting recordings later, you can stop them from being saved automatically. Before starting a meeting, go to the meeting options and disable recording. Or, during the meeting, click the three dots and select “Stop recording” if one is in progress.
You can also set a policy in Teams admin center to prevent recordings from being saved to the cloud. This requires admin access.
Alternative: Hide Instead Of Delete
If you don’t want to permanently delete a recording but want to clean up your chat, you can hide the message instead. Hover over the message, click the three dots, and select “Hide”. This removes it from your view but keeps it accessible to others.
Hiding is useful if you’re not the meeting organizer and can’t delete the recording. It’s a temporary fix.
Delete Multiple Recordings At Once
To delete multiple recordings, use OneDrive or SharePoint. Select multiple files by holding Ctrl (Windows) or Cmd (Mac) while clicking each file. Then click “Delete”. This is faster than deleting one by one from the chat.
In Teams, you can only delete one message at a time. Bulk deletion is not supported in the chat interface.
Recover A Deleted Recording
If you accidentally delete a recording, you can recover it from the recycle bin. In OneDrive, click “Recycle bin” in the left sidebar. Find the recording, select it, and click “Restore”. The file will return to its original location.
In Stream, go to “Recycle bin” under “My content”. Restore the video there. Note that recordings in the recycle bin are automatically deleted after 30 days, so act quickly.
Delete Recording From Meeting Details
Another way to delete a recording is through the meeting details page. Open the meeting in your Teams calendar, scroll to the recording section, and click the delete icon next to the recording. This removes it from the meeting page but not from storage.
For complete removal, you still need to delete from OneDrive or SharePoint. The meeting details page just provides a link to the file.
Privacy Considerations
Deleting a recording is important for privacy, especially if the meeting contained sensitive information. Always check that the recording is fully removed from all locations. Inform participants if you delete a recording they might have accessed.
Some organizations have retention policies that prevent immediate deletion. Check with your IT department if you’re unsure about your company’s rules.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Delete A Teams Recording If I’m Not The Organizer?
Yes, but only if you have permission to delete messages in the chat or channel. If you don’t see the delete option, ask the meeting organizer or channel owner to remove it.
Does Deleting A Recording From Chat Also Delete It From OneDrive?
No. Deleting from chat only removes the message. The file remains in OneDrive or SharePoint until you delete it there seperately.
How Long Does A Deleted Recording Stay In The Recycle Bin?
Typically 30 days for OneDrive and Stream. After that, the file is permanently deleted and cannot be recovered.
Can I Delete A Recording That Is Still Processing?
No. Wait until the recording is fully processed and visible in the chat before trying to delete it. Processing can take a few minutes.
What If The Delete Option Is Greyed Out?
This usually means you don’t have permission. Contact your IT admin or the meeting organizer to request deletion.
Deleting a recording in Teams is simple once you know the right steps. Always check both the chat and the storage location to ensure complete removal. If you run into issues, your IT team can help with permissions or policies.