Zoom Clips records short video messages, screen recordings and presentation-style videos outside a meeting, then lets you share them by link, email, channel or embed. On a free Basic account you get up to 5 clips per user at 2 minutes each as of October 2026, while Zoom Workplace Pro and higher get unlimited clips of unlimited length.
The 2 minute cap is the limit people hit first. It's fine for a quick hello or a short walkthrough, but a free account can't hold a full demo, and with only 5 clips per user you'll be clearing old ones out before long. Viewing statistics, like plays and reactions, are only visible with Clips Plus too.
Clips Basic or Clips Plus: what your account gets
| Feature | Clips Basic | Clips Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Number of clips | Up to 5 per user | Unlimited per user |
| Length of each clip | 2 minutes maximum | Unlimited |
| Record, edit, share and comment | Yes | Yes |
| Content library | Yes | Yes |
| Translated captions | No | Yes |
| View analytics | No | Yes |
| Comes with | Basic (free), Legacy Enterprise, Zoom Meeting EDU Core, Legacy Site and Site | Zoom Workplace Pro and higher, Zoom Workplace for Education (not K-12), Healthcare new and Online BAA |
That's Zoom's comparison as of October 2026. For what each Workplace plan includes beyond Clips, see my guide to Zoom's plans.
Recording your first clip on desktop
You'll need Clips enabled on your account and the Zoom desktop app at version 5.15.5 or higher on Windows and macOS, or 6.1.0 or higher on Linux. On Android and iOS, it's version 6.1.0 or higher.
- Sign in to the Zoom desktop app and click the Clips tab. If it isn't on the top menu, look under More.
- Click Record clip.
- Choose what's recorded: Screenshare and video, Screenshare only, or Video only.
- Pick your audio source, video source and resolution: Auto (1080p), 1080p, 720p or 360p. The 360p option is only for Video only clips.
- Open Advanced settings if you want a virtual background, a layout and wallpaper, or noise suppression, then click Start recording.
- After the countdown, use the floating toolbar to mute, annotate, change what you're sharing, pause, discard or restart.
- Click Stop. The clip opens so you can trim it, copy the link, download it or edit its details.
Zoom's October 2026 release notes add browser recording from the web portal, so you don't have to install the Zoom Workplace app first. It works in Chrome version 117 or higher on Windows and macOS. On iOS and Android there's also a time-lapse mode that condenses longer moments.
Sharing, embedding and passcodes
From your clip library, you can copy a link, download an MP4, share with a contact, channel or email address, or embed the clip on a web page at a responsive or fixed size. Download and embed aren't available on mobile. In the share window, More settings lets you add passcode protection.
Link access has three levels as of October 2026: anyone with the link, anyone at your organization, or only invited members. Viewers can react and leave comments at a specific moment in the clip, but guest users have to sign in before they can comment. On the Edit tab you can add a call-to-action button with a link, upload your own logo and colour scheme through custom branding, and choose who can see comments or the transcript.
Zoom adds a note worth knowing if you use video channels. When a clip goes into a channel in Zoom Video Management, it keeps its own sharing settings, but the channel's visibility settings can still give other people access, even if the clip itself is more restricted.
What admins control in the web portal
Whether anyone can create clips is up to your account owner or admin. Clips is enabled by default, and an admin can turn it on or off at account, group or user level, then lock it. If Clips is disabled and locked for the whole account, the admin can click the eye icon to make it invisible, so the Clips tab disappears from users' web portal and desktop app. These are the settings I'd look at first:
- Allow users to upload videos as clips: turns people's own videos into clips in MP4 format.
- Allow users to download your account's clips: either the owner only, or the owner plus signed-in viewers with access. Switched off, only admins with content view permission can download.
- Share clips and playlists: with anyone, or only inside your organization. Switched off, only the clip owner and admin can access clips.
- Require guests register their emails: viewers give their email, so their activity is tracked by email rather than shown as guest.
- Require passcode to access shared clips: only applies to clips made after you switch it on.
- Auto-delete clips: based on when a clip was created, last viewed or last modified, with an optional reminder before deletion.
Admins can see every clip on the account under Account Management, then Clip Management, along with the owner, file size and creation time, and can share, rename, download or delete any of them. A July 2026 release added a Skip Favorites toggle so starred clips aren't removed by retention rules; it's off by default.
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Deleting a clip and the 30 day trash
Deleted clips move to the Trash tab and immediately become inaccessible to everyone. They stay there for 30 days from the deletion date, then they're permanently deleted and can't be retrieved. Each clip in Trash shows when it'll go for good, and you can restore it or delete it straight away. Empty Trash wipes everything at once, so look twice before you click it.
Is Zoom Clips worth using?
I'd use Zoom Clips if your team already works in Zoom Workplace on Pro or higher and you want quick async updates, client walkthroughs or how-to videos with comments, branding and a call-to-action button in one place. I'd skip it on a free account for anything beyond a quick hello, because 5 clips of 2 minutes run out fast. If what you want is a written record of your meetings rather than short videos, here's how Zoom AI Companion handles meeting summaries.
Short async videos cut down on meetings, and the next win is getting the follow-up work around them to happen on its own. I run AI training and workshops for teams, and help businesses with AI enablement and workflow automation, so the busywork runs itself and people get time back. Most of that work is with SaaS marketing teams and small businesses. Here's how we can work together.
Frequently asked questions
Is Zoom Clips free?
Yes, Clips Basic comes with free Basic accounts as of October 2026, but it's capped at 5 clips per user and 2 minutes per clip.
How long can a Zoom clip be?
On Clips Basic, 2 minutes maximum. On Clips Plus, which comes with Zoom Workplace Pro and higher, there's no duration limit per clip.
Can I recover a deleted Zoom clip?
Yes, for 30 days. Deleted clips sit in the Trash tab and you can restore them until they're permanently deleted.
Why is Clips grayed out in my settings?
It's been locked at account or group level by your account owner or admin. Only they can turn it on for you.
Can I see who watched my Zoom clip?
Statistics such as plays, reactions and comments are only visible with Zoom Clips Plus.
