zoom-rec-dl

Save Zoom cloud recordings to a local directory. A cross-platform video and audio download script.

Requirements

• Windows, macOS, and Linux - any operating system that supports Node.js and npm.
• Zoom cloud recording share link that does not require any additional authentication.

---

For protected cloud recordings, the shareable link

• Should have the passcode embedded in the link.
• Should show a media player and a download button.
• Should not show an 'Enter the passcode to watch'.

Reference the documentation and update the following settings in the Zoom web portal.

ADMIN / Account Management / Account Settings
e.g. https://us06web.zoom.us/account/setting

[v] Allow cloud recording sharing - By disabling this setting, nobody else except the host can access the shareable link.

[v] Cloud recording downloads - Allow anyone with a link to the cloud recording to download
[ ] └── Only the host can download cloud recordings

[ ] Require users to authenticate before viewing cloud recordings

[ ] Set recording as on-demand by default - Users must register before they can watch the recording

[v] Require passcode to access shared cloud recordings
[v] └── Embed passcode in the shareable link for one-click access

Prerequisites

Node.js and npm are required. The latest Node.js LTS installer can be downloaded here.

• npm should be installed. (Included in the Node.js installer)
• Add to PATH option should be checked. (Windows only)

Instructions

1. Create a urls.txt file and add URLs to the text file, one in each line.
2. Open a terminal in the directory where the urls.txt file is located.¹
3. Execute the npx zoom-rec-dl@latest command² in the terminal.

Need to install the following packages:
  zoom-rec-dl@x.x.x
Ok to proceed? (y) ← Press enter

Advanced

Get Notified on Completion

Create a sendgrid.json file alongside urls.txt to send an email when the download is completed.

{
  "apiKey": "SendGrid-API-Key",
  "from": "sender@domain.com",
  "to": ["receiver1@domain.com", "receiver2@domain.com"]
}

Automatically Start Downloading

Modify the urls.txt file to trigger a download process.

1. Install the PM2 process manager globally.
2. Install the PM2 log rotating module.
3. Create a ecosystem.config.js file.

// ecosystem.config.js - should be placed alongside the `urls.txt` file.
// Reference https://pm2.keymetrics.io/docs/usage/application-declaration/
module.exports = {
  apps: [
    {
      name: 'zoom-download',
      script: 'npx zoom-rec-dl@latest',
      // script: 'pnpm dlx zoom-rec-dl@latest',
      watch: ['urls.txt'],
      time: true,
      autorestart: false,
    },
  ],
};

4. Run pm2 start and start the watch process.

Footnotes

1. When ls or dir command is executed, the urls.txt file should be listed. ↩

2. pnpm users can use the pnpm dlx zoom-rec-dl@latest command instead. ↩