#  New retention period to be applied to Zoom cloud recordings  

 





March 10, 2026

 

 

Many individuals or departments record classes, town halls, webinars or other Zoom-based meetings using Zoom's "Record to the Cloud” option. Those cloud recordings are stored indefinitely in their Zoom accounts. To reduce storage costs and align with the University’s [privacy principles](https://privsec.harvard.edu/privacy-principles), the **University will implement a new 36-month retention period for Zoom cloud recordings on June 10, 2026.**

The 36-month retention period will be retroactive, meaning that **all Zoom cloud recordings created prior to June 10, 2023 will be deleted on the day it goes into effect and on a rolling basis as recordings reach 36 months of age.**

Deleted recordings may be [recovered and downloaded from the trash folder ](https://support.zoom.com/hc/en/article?id=zm_kb&sysparm_article=KB0060380)in the Zoom web portal for 30 days.

## If you have Zoom cloud recordings, we recommend that you:

1. [Review your Zoom cloud recordings](https://support.zoom.com/hc/en/article?id=zm_kb&sysparm_article=KB0067567#h_01F4CQVR9DAJAQ46G0TXNM95KP) and determine which need to be saved per [Harvard's records schedules](https://grs.harvard.edu/) or for business continuity purposes.
2. [Download any Zoom cloud recordings that you need to save](https://harvard.service-now.com/ithelp?id=kb_article&sys_id=d78a1a9f47eb9a101469f46b416d4338).
3. [Save downloaded recordings to the appropriate storage platform](/storage "Storage").
4. If you have shared the URL of your Zoom cloud recording, notify viewers of the new location.

Faculty members using recordings for classroom instruction may [move files to Panopto ](https://harvard.service-now.com/ithelp?id=kb_article&sys_id=f20dad871b2cd4d0773886a3cc4bcbb2)for future playback or request help from [their local academic support staff](https://harvard.service-now.com/ithelp?id=kb_article&sys_id=a3d3d53637a9b2809aa163d2b3990e89) for additional assistance.

If you don’t want to keep your recordings, you may [delete them](https://support.zoom.com/hc/en/article?id=zm_kb&sysparm_article=KB0066493#h_01EG72AYMTVJ4AB7FK273H7HXKZ) or wait for them to reach the end of their retention period when they will be deleted automatically.

If you have questions or need help, you can contact the [HUIT Service Desk](/get-help "Get Help") or [your local IT support](/schools "Find your School's IT support"). You can also [register to attend Zoom office hours](/event/zoom-cloud-recording-retention-period-office-hours "Zoom cloud recording retention period office hours").