In short
Whereby's own recorder is for room hosts on its Pro and Business plans, in Chrome or another Chromium browser, and saves the file on the host's computer. To record as a guest, or to get a transcript, use a recorder on your Mac such as Notey, and tell everyone first.
Whereby has its own recorder, but only a room host on a Pro or Business plan can use it, only in Chrome or another Chromium browser, and the file is saved on the host's computer. If you are a guest, use Safari, or want a transcript of the meeting, you can record the meeting's audio on your Mac with an app such as Notey instead, after telling everyone.
This guide covers both. Whereby's rules were checked on its help centre on 25 September 2026. Whereby changes; check Whereby's recording help for the current state. For the same choice in the most common app, see how to record a Zoom meeting on a Mac.
These steps use Notey, which records your microphone and the sound your Mac plays as two separate tracks.
Record a Whereby meeting on your Mac
- Tell everyone first. Say at the start that you would like to record, and why. Record only if they agree.
- Check Notey's permissions. The first time, allow Notey to use the microphone and to record the Mac's audio. Notey never asks for Screen Recording.
- Put on headphones. On speakers, your microphone also hears the others, and their words can end up on your side.
- Join the Whereby room in your browser. Allow the browser to use your camera and microphone.
- Allow the recording when Notey asks. In Chrome, Safari, Arc or Edge, once the browser uses the microphone, Notey's floating button says a call started in that browser and asks. Nothing is saved until you press Allow. In another browser, press Start in Notey.
- Check both lanes move. The You lane moves when you speak and the Them lane when others do. A red dot and the elapsed time show while audio is being kept.
- Press Stop when the meeting ends. The transcript is ready; for English meetings, Notey improves it on the Mac afterwards.
Notey names the browser, not the service: "Call in Chrome started", not "Whereby". From outside the browser, a Whereby tab and any other call tab look the same.
Whereby's own recording
Per Whereby's help centre:
- Who can record: "Room Hosts", on "Pro and Business" plans.
- Where: "only available in Chrome and Chromium browsers on a desktop or laptop. It is not available on mobile devices." It records a Chrome tab.
- Where the file goes: "Recordings are only stored locally in your browser cache, and never leave your device!" They are not stored on Whereby's servers. (Whereby recording, Whereby recording storage)
- What guests see: an animation over the room name tells everyone, the host included, that recording is on. A pop-up reminds the host to get consent and that they are responsible for storing the recording. (Whereby: start recording)
Whereby itself runs in the browser: "All calls run directly in your browser… No additional logins or app downloads required." (Whereby Meetings)
Which method to use
| Whereby's recorder | A recorder on your Mac (Notey) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who can use it | Room hosts on Pro or Business | Anyone in the meeting on that Mac |
| Browser | Chrome or Chromium | Any; noticed in Chrome, Safari, Arc and Edge |
| What it records | A browser tab, with video | Audio: your microphone and the Mac's audio, as two tracks |
| Others see it | Yes, an animation over the room name | No; you tell them |
| Transcript | Not part of the recorder | Yes, made on your Mac |
| Where the file goes | The host's computer | Your Mac |
If you host and want a video, use Whereby's recorder. If you want notes and a transcript, or you are a guest, a recorder on your Mac is simpler. You can use both in the same meeting.
Recording in the browser
A browser call reaches your Mac's speakers or headphones like any other sound, which is why an audio recorder can capture it without anything in the meeting knowing. Recording a meeting that runs in the browser covers the browser case in detail, including why a notetaker counts only the microphone for browsers. The steps for Google Meet are the same; see recording Google Meet on a Mac.
Two browser-specific checks:
- The meeting tab must be the one making sound. If you have a video playing in another tab, it is recorded too, on the other side's track.
- Use one tab for the meeting. Joining the same room in two tabs doubles the audio.
Telling people
Whereby's recorder announces itself with its animation. A recorder on your Mac does not, because it is not in the room. Whether you need everyone's agreement depends on where you and they are; in many places you do, and at work your employer's policy may add rules. The simplest habit is to ask at the start. How to ask for consent to record has wording that works. This is general information, not legal advice.
If a side is missing from the recording
Most failed recordings of a Whereby call fail in one of three ways, and each is quick to check before the next call:
- Nothing on the Them lane. The call was not playing on this Mac, or Notey is not allowed to record the Mac's audio. Check the call's sound comes out of this Mac, and check the permission in System Settings › Privacy & Security. Allowing an app to record your Mac's audio shows where it is.
- Nothing on the You lane. The microphone is muted at the system level, the wrong input is selected, or Notey is not allowed to use the microphone. Meeting recording silent or transcript empty goes through the checks.
- A gap in the middle. Usually headphones connected or disconnected, or another microphone chosen, mid-call. Notey marks the meeting incomplete and says which side is missing and from when; it never fills the gap with silence. Why a recording is marked incomplete explains each reason.
What you get afterwards
- A transcript made on your Mac, with your lines as You and the others as Them. After the recording stops, voices on the other side are told apart and you can name them.
- The recording, on your Mac. Every transcript line plays from its timestamp.
- AI notes if you ask, with an account and a paid plan: a summary with action items, minutes and more. Only transcript text is sent, never audio, and everything the AI wrote is labelled as AI-generated.
With no account, nothing leaves the Mac.
Frequently asked questions
Can a guest record a Whereby meeting?
Not with Whereby's recorder, which its help centre says is for room hosts on Pro and Business plans. A guest can record the meeting's audio with an app on their own Mac, after asking everyone.
Where does Whereby save recordings?
On the host's computer. Whereby's help centre says recordings are stored locally in your browser and never leave your device, and are not stored on Whereby's servers.
Does Whereby record in Safari?
No. Whereby's help centre says recording is only available in Chrome and Chromium browsers on a desktop or laptop, and records a Chrome tab.
Does Notey notice a Whereby meeting?
Whereby runs in the browser. In Chrome, Safari, Arc or Edge, Notey notices a call once the browser uses your microphone and asks whether to record. In other browsers, press Start.
Do other people see that I am recording with Notey?
No. Notey is not part of the meeting, so Whereby shows nothing. Notey shows you a red dot and a timer; telling the others is up to you.