Block users from downloading Microsoft Teams recordings through PowerShell

Participants of a Microsoft Teams meeting are only granted read-only rights to Teams recordings.

From February it is no longer possible for participants to download a recording. This activation is only applicable when the recordings are placed on OneDrive.

This read-only mode does not apply to Microsoft Stream. Here, the old principles still apply.

This activation, which will be forced from February 2020, will be Microsoft's answer to the unwanted distribution of recordings.

Open Powershell as administrator

Install Microsoft's PowerShell module Teams

Run the following line in PowerShell:

Install-Module MicrosoftTeams

Connecting to PowerShell

Import-Module MicrosoftTeams
Set-ExecutionPolicy -ExecutionPolicy Unrestricted
Connect-MicrosoftTeams

Enter the username and password of your Global Administrator or Microsoft Teams administrator.

Retrieve Microsoft Teams with PowerShell?

Get-Team

Command presets from Teams

Get-Command -Module MicrosoftTeams

Read a comprehensive Microsoft Teams Powershell explanation -> here.

How to manage downloads in Microsoft Teams

To ensure that recordings of channel meetings are saved, so that channel members cannot edit or download the recordings, the CSTeamsMeetingPolicy -ChannelRecordingDownload setting must be set to Block.

Execute this line in PowerShell to block recordings for the global population.

Set-CsTeamsMeetingPolicy -Identity Global -ChannelRecordingDownload Block

The ChannelRecordingDownload setting is only available in the Teams PowerShell module version 2.4.1-preview or higher. Use this command to download the latest sample version of the module:

Install-Module -Name MicrosoftTeams -Force -AllowClobber -AllowPrerelease

Teams Enable 1:1 call recording with calling policies

Since May 2021, it has been possible to switch individual call recordings on or off.

Once you have enabled this function, you can record 1:1 conversations in Teams.

Recording will be done in the same way as recording a multi-person meeting.

After the recording has started, the user on the other end of the line will receive a notification. The recording link will be available on the chat screen of both users once the recording has stopped. And will be available in OneDrive for Business.