How to use tl;dv: a beginner’s guide
We may earn a commission from some links. It never changes our picks. How we make money
Sign in, choose which meetings it records, and get your first AI notes and clips.
Sign in with your work calendar
Go to tl;dv and log in with Google or Microsoft. tl;dv says it connects to your Google calendar when you log in with Google, or your Outlook calendar when you log in with Microsoft, so it can see upcoming Google Meet, Zoom and Teams meetings.
Choose which meetings it records
Open your personal preferences and find Auto-record calendar events under Automations. You can record all meetings, selected meetings that match conditions you set, or none. Beginners often start with No meetings or a narrow selection, then record manually, so nothing is recorded by surprise. tl;dv notes that accounts on public email domains such as @gmail.com can’t use the internal-only or external-only options.
Record a meeting
For Google Meet, install the tl;dv Chrome extension: a tl;dv button appears next to the Meet controls, which you click to invite the bot and start recording. For Zoom and Teams, install the desktop app and choose Start recording from its menu-bar or system-tray icon. Or use Record now on your tl;dv homepage and paste the meeting link. If the host uses a waiting room, the notetaker must be admitted, or it won’t record.
Tell people, then review and share
Let everyone know tl;dv is recording and get consent. After the call, open the meeting to review the video, transcript and AI notes. Fix names and numbers, highlight the key moments and share a clip with anyone who missed it.
Settings worth checking on day one
- Auto-record: the help centre recommends auto-recording for reliability; just make sure the rule matches meetings you’re happy to record. You can still deny the bot entry at the start of any meeting.
- Bot-free recording: tl;dv’s desktop app can record without a bot on Zoom, Meet and Teams, and from system audio on other platforms. On a Mac you’ll need to allow microphone and system-audio access.
- Language: tl;dv says choosing the language per meeting requires the Chrome extension and a manual recording; this isn’t yet supported for Zoom and Teams with the desktop app.
Free plan and pricing
The free plan includes unlimited recordings with AI notes for 10 meetings. tl;dv lists prices in euros: Pro was €18 per seat a month billed annually (€29 monthly) when we checked on 14 October 2026. See is tl;dv free?, our tl;dv review, and compare it in Fireflies vs tl;dv or tl;dv vs Otter.
Consent
Recording laws vary between Australian states and territories, and many organisations have their own rules. Tell everyone at the start of the call and offer to stop recording if anyone objects.
Official help docs we used
- Auto-record (opens in new tab)
- Understanding and setting your preferences (opens in new tab)
- Recording meetings with Google Meet (opens in new tab)
- Recording meetings with Zoom (opens in new tab)
- Record meetings on any platform (tl;dv desktop app) (opens in new tab)
This tutorial summarises the official documentation as it read on 14 October 2026. We haven’t independently tested every step, and interfaces change, so follow the current docs if anything looks different.
This page includes paid links (we may earn a commission if you sign up through them, at no extra cost to you). It doesn’t change our recommendations. Read our affiliate disclosure.