How to Record a Webinar on Any Device – Mac, PC & Phone

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

Loading...

By Barrera Alcova

Webinars are now a regular part of work and learning. Studies show over half of B2B folks hop on at least one webinar a week, and with everyone working from home more, that number’s just going up. But what if you want to keep a copy – to rewatch it yourself, pass it to the team, or whatever?

Image: Freepik

Why Recording a Webinar Is Great Idea

Even the greatest webinars occasionally have moments that go by too fast, such as a powerful PowerPoint presentation, an insightful story, or an unexpected statistic. Without a webinar recording, those nuggets are gone. Actually, webinars with recordings available for replay see higher engagement post-event. So, recording isn’t just a convenience; it’s a growth hack for knowledge retention.

And if your webinar uses PowerPoint with nice slides, you’ll want those visuals to come through clearly. That sharp infographic you spent time on? Definitely worth saving.

Before You Hit Record: Some Preparation

Pressing Record and crossing your fingers rarely works. A bit of prep makes all the difference for a smooth webinar and a clean recording. Here’s a short checklist to help you stay on track:

• Check your platform’s settings: Zoom or Microsoft Teams or other big ones have built-in recording. But settings vary: sometimes the host has to allow recording, and sometimes you need local vs. cloud recording.
• Clear your screen: Close distracting tabs, notifications, and random cat videos. You don’t want your desktop chaos immortalized.
• Test your audio! No one appreciates a polished presentation that sounds like it’s happening underwater.
• Plan for slides: If you’re using a slideshow maker, check transitions, animations, and any embedded media run smoothly. Some of that stuff doesn’t record perfectly on screen.

Sure, it’s a bit of prep work, but as anyone who’s suffered through a choppy webinar can tell you, it pays off.

Recording on a Mac

Mac users, rejoice: your machine comes with surprisingly powerful screen record software already installed.

Using QuickTime Player

1. Open QuickTime Player.
2. Click File | New Screen Recording.
3. Select the area you want to record (full screen or just the webinar window).
4. Hit the Record button.
5. Don’t forget to test if audio from the webinar itself is being captured – sometimes Mac users miss this step.

QuickTime is simple, clean, and free. No frills, no fuss.

Popular Tools

If you want more control – annotations, picture-in-picture, or direct export to MP4 – apps like OBS Studio or CamStudio are solid. OBS is powerful (albeit a bit intimidating at first), while CamStudio is perfect for those who want fast and sleek results with less tinkering.

Recording on a PC

PC users have options too, ranging from built-in features to dedicated webinar recording software.

Windows Built-in Recorder

• Press Win + G to open the Xbox Game Bar.
• Click the Record button.
• Select audio options and start recording.

It’s mostly designed for gaming, but it handles webinars surprisingly well. Who knew, right?

Dedicated Software

You can get pretty flexible with programs like Movavi Screen Recorder to record webinar, capture just the slides, your webcam, or even a single window.

Recording on Mobile Devices

Ah, the phone – the device that fits in your pocket yet can capture a whole webinar. Both iPhone and Android make it surprisingly easy.

iPhone Screen Recording

Apple built this into iOS for a reason. To record webinar sessions:

1. Open Control Center.
2. Tap Screen Recording.
3. Make sure microphone audio is on if you want your commentary.
4. Start your webinar on your iPhone and hit Record.

The result is surprisingly high quality. And yes, iPhone screen recording works for Zoom recording on mobile too, though some settings are different than the desktop version.

Android Options

These days, most Android phones can record their screens right out of the box. But if your phone’s a bit older or you’re after extra features, apps like AZ Screen Recorder or Mobizen come to the rescue.

Zoom Recording: A Special Note

Zoom remains one of the most popular platforms for webinars, and it’s got built-in recording features that make life easy. Webinar hosts can allow participants to record locally or in the cloud. Here’s a quick peek at the steps:

1. Click Record during your Zoom webinar.
2. Choose local (on your computer) or cloud (Zoom stores it online).
3. Pause or stop as needed, then access the file once the session ends.

As you see, Zoom recording is super easy and fits in 3 step instruction.

Be Wise!

A few easy tweaks that really pay off:

• Keep your internet steady – dropped connections lead to choppy recordings.
• Use an external USB mic; even a basic one gives much better sound.
• Good lighting helps if you’re on camera. It keeps you from looking washed out.
• Name your files clearly with the date. You’ll be glad later when you need to find them.
• If your slides have fancy transitions, it’s a good idea to export the deck as a PDF or video first – some effects don’t always record smoothly.

A few simple steps can make your webinar look and sound so polished that viewers might almost forget it wasn’t live.

Sharing and Storing Recordings

Once you finish hosting your webinar and your recording’s safely saved, think about where to store it. Google Drive, OneDrive, or Dropbox work perfectly for sharing with your team or clients, and some platforms even let you drop the recording straight into an email or a webpage.

Quick tip: If you’ll use the webinar for training, break it into short 5–10 minute clips. People are more likely to watch those than a full hour-long video.

Recording a webinar is kind of like taking a selfie in front of a massive crowd – except it’s all online. Things happen: maybe your coffee break sneaks in, the dog barks, or someone lets out an epic cough. Totally normal. The best part? With a recording, you can fix it – trim the messy bits, clean it up, and reuse it without anyone ever knowing.

Final Say

No matter if you’re on a Mac, PC, iPhone, or Android, recording a webinar is pretty simple, useful, and yeah, it can even be fun. A little planning, the right tools, and knowing your platform’s quirks make it smooth. Your ideas are what matter most, but getting those animated slides to look sharp in the recording? That’s the cherry on top.

Recording your webinars isn’t just about documentation; it’s about maximizing impact, keeping a resource for future reference, and yes – sometimes reliving that moment when a slide finally clicks with your audience. With these tips, anyone can hit record and feel a little like a pro filmmaker, even if your only crew is your cat watching from the corner.

The views and opinions expressed in this blog post or content are those of the authors or the interviewees and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any other agency, organization, employer, or company.