Your Comprehensive Guide: How to Remove Otter.ai Notetaker and Reclaim Your Meeting Privacy
Are you tired of Otter.ai Notetaker automatically joining your meetings, sometimes uninvited, and feeling like your conversations are being constantly monitored? Do you crave more control over your meeting privacy and a clearer, more focused meeting environment? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you've come to the right place!
We understand that while AI notetakers like Otter.ai offer incredible convenience, there are times when you need them gone. Perhaps you're concerned about data privacy, prefer manual note-taking, or simply want to declutter your meeting experience. Whatever your reason, this lengthy and detailed guide will walk you through every step of effectively removing Otter.ai Notetaker, ensuring your future meetings are exactly how you want them.
Let's dive in and take back control of your virtual meeting space!
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| How To Remove Otter Ai Notetaker |
Step 1: Identify the Otter.ai Notetaker's Presence
Before you can remove Otter.ai, you need to understand how it's joining your meetings. Is it automatically joining via a calendar integration? Is someone manually inviting it? Or perhaps it's a browser extension? Identifying the source will streamline the removal process.
Sub-heading: Checking for Auto-Join Settings
Many users experience Otter.ai joining automatically because of a calendar integration. This is often the most common culprit.
Look for calendar sync: Check your Otter.ai account settings to see if your calendar (Google Calendar, Outlook Calendar, etc.) is connected. If it is, Otter.ai is likely configured to auto-join meetings found on your calendar.
Observe meeting behavior: Does Otter.ai appear in all your scheduled meetings, even those you didn't manually set up for transcription? This is a strong indicator of auto-join.
Check meeting chat: Does Otter.ai send chat messages at the beginning of your meetings with a link to the live transcript? This is another sign that it's set to automatically join.
Sub-heading: Identifying Manual Addition or Participant Invites
Sometimes, Otter.ai might be present because someone manually added it to a specific meeting or invited it as a participant.
Review participant list: During a live meeting, check the participant list. If "Otter.ai Notetaker" or a similar name appears as a participant, it's either an auto-join or was manually added.
Ask your meeting host: If you're a participant and not the host, it's possible the host has Otter.ai enabled for their meetings. A quick chat with them can clarify this.
Sub-heading: Browser Extensions and Desktop Applications
While less common for the Notetaker functionality itself, it's worth checking for any browser extensions or desktop applications.
Browser Extensions: Go to your browser's extension management (e.g., Chrome Extensions, Firefox Add-ons) and look for anything related to "Otter.ai."
Desktop Apps: If you've downloaded an Otter.ai desktop application, it might have settings that dictate its behavior with online meetings.
Step 2: Stop Otter.ai Notetaker from Auto-Joining Future Meetings (The Most Common Solution)
QuickTip: Save your favorite part of this post.
This is the most critical step for most users experiencing unwanted Otter.ai intrusions. You need to disable the automatic integration.
Sub-heading: Accessing Otter.ai Account Settings
The primary way to control Otter.ai's auto-join behavior is through your Otter.ai account settings.
Sign In to Otter.ai: Open your web browser and go to
otter.ai Navigate to Account Settings:
Look for your profile icon (often in the top-right or bottom-left corner). Click on it.
From the dropdown menu, select "Account Settings."
Alternatively, you might find a gear settings icon on your homepage, especially near the calendar or meetings tab. Clicking this can often lead you directly to Notetaker settings.
Sub-heading: Disabling Auto-Join for Meetings
Once in Account Settings, you'll want to find the meeting-related configurations.
Locate "Meetings" or "Notetaker" Settings: Within Account Settings, look for a tab or section titled "Meetings" or "Otter Notetaker." This is where all the magic happens.
Turn Off Auto-Join:
You'll likely see an option related to "Auto-join settings" or "Automatically add Otter Notetaker to your meetings."
Toggle this setting OFF. There might be several options here, such as "Auto-join all meetings," "Meetings where I am the host," "External meetings outside your domain," or "Internal meetings within your domain."
To stop it from joining any meeting automatically, select "Meetings I manually select" or ensure that "Auto-join all meetings" is disabled.
Confirm the Change: Otter.ai usually saves settings automatically. You might see a small confirmation message. It's always a good idea to review your upcoming calendar events on the Otter.ai homepage to confirm that the Notetaker is no longer scheduled to join.
Sub-heading: Reviewing and Disabling Chat Messages
Even if Otter.ai doesn't join, it might still send chat messages if configured.
Find "Notetaker chat messages": In the same "Meetings" or "Otter Notetaker" settings, look for a section like "Notetaker chat messages."
Toggle Off Messages: You might have options like "Send live transcript and summary" or "Send Otter Chat Q&A." Toggle both of these to OFF to disable any chat notifications from Otter.ai during your meetings.
Step 3: Removing Otter.ai Notetaker from a Live Meeting (Immediate Action)
If Otter.ai has already joined a meeting and you want it gone now, here's how to remove it. This applies to Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams.
Sub-heading: Removing via Otter.ai's Interface
You can stop a live recording directly from your Otter.ai account.
Go to Otter.ai Home Page: Log in to your Otter.ai account.
Navigate to Calendar or Conversations:
On the right side of the Otter.ai Home page, look for the Calendar section. The current live Notetaker recording should be displayed. Click the "Stop Recording" button. Confirm by clicking "Yes, turn it off."
Alternatively, go to "My Conversations" and select the conversation that is currently being recorded by Notetaker. You'll find a "Stop Notetaker" button in the control playback bar. Click it and confirm.
Sub-heading: Removing via Meeting Platform Controls (Host Permissions Required)
QuickTip: Use posts like this as quick references.
If you are the host or have co-host permissions in your meeting, you can remove Otter.ai like any other participant.
For Zoom:
During the meeting, click on the "Participants" button.
Find "Otter.ai Notetaker" in the participant list.
Hover over its name, click "More," and then select "Remove" or "Put in Waiting Room" (if you want to control its re-entry).
For Google Meet:
During the meeting, click on the "People" icon (usually in the bottom right).
Locate "Otter.ai Notetaker" in the list.
Click on the three dots next to its name and select "Remove from meeting."
For Microsoft Teams:
During the meeting, click on the "Participants" icon.
Find "Otter.ai Notetaker" in the participant list.
Click on the three dots next to its name and select "Remove."
Step 4: Disconnecting Calendar and Other Integrations
To ensure Otter.ai has no lingering connections to your meeting schedule, it's a good idea to disconnect any integrated calendars.
Return to Account Settings: In Otter.ai, navigate back to "Account Settings."
Find "Apps" or "Integrations": Look for a section or tab labeled "Apps" or "Integrations."
Disconnect Your Calendar:
You'll see a list of connected applications, including your calendar (Google Calendar, Microsoft Outlook Calendar).
Next to your connected calendar, click the "Disconnect" or "Remove" button.
Confirm the disconnection if prompted. This will prevent Otter.ai from seeing your future meeting invitations.
Step 5: Checking for Browser Extensions and Revoking Permissions
While Otter.ai Notetaker primarily functions through its web application and calendar integrations, it's good practice to check for browser extensions or permissions that might be granting it access.
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Sub-heading: Managing Browser Extensions
For Google Chrome:
Click the three dots in the top-right corner of Chrome.
Go to "More tools" > "Extensions."
Find any extension related to "Otter.ai."
You can either toggle it off (disable) or click "Remove" (delete).
For Mozilla Firefox:
Click the three horizontal lines (hamburger menu) in the top-right.
Go to "Add-ons and themes" > "Extensions."
Find "Otter.ai" and choose to Disable or Remove.
For Microsoft Edge:
Click the three dots in the top-right.
Go to "Extensions."
Find "Otter.ai" and click "Remove."
Sub-heading: Reviewing Connected Accounts/App Permissions (Google/Microsoft)
If you used your Google or Microsoft account to sign up for Otter.ai, you can also revoke its access directly from your account settings in those platforms.
For Google Account Permissions:
Go to your Google Account (myaccount.google.com).
In the left navigation panel, click "Security."
Scroll down to "Third-party apps with account access" and click "Manage third-party access."
Find "Otter.ai" in the list and click on it.
Click "Remove Access."
For Microsoft Account Permissions:
Go to your Microsoft Account privacy dashboard (
account.microsoft.com/privacy Navigate to "Apps and services that can access your data."
Look for "Otter.ai" and remove its permissions.
Step 6: Considering Account Deletion (If You No Longer Need Otter.ai)
If you've decided to completely part ways with Otter.ai and don't foresee using its services again, you can delete your account. Be warned: This is a permanent action and will delete all your conversations and data.
Sub-heading: Steps to Delete Your Otter.ai Account
Sign In to Otter.ai: Log in to your Otter.ai account.
Navigate to Account Settings: Click on your profile icon and select "Account Settings."
Go to the "General" Tab: Within Account Settings, look for the "General" tab.
Initiate Account Deletion: Scroll down to the very bottom. You should see an option like "Delete account."
Verify and Confirm:
You'll likely be prompted to enter your Otter.ai password or verify your credentials (if you used Google, Microsoft, or Apple sign-in).
Carefully read the pop-up warning about what happens when you delete your account (all conversations, data, and subscriptions will be removed).
Click "Delete account" to confirm.
Tip: Reflect on what you just read.
Sub-heading: Important Considerations Before Deleting
Active Subscriptions: If you have an active paid subscription, you will need to cancel it first and let it expire before you can delete your account. You might need to contact Otter.ai support to forfeit the remaining subscription if you wish to delete immediately.
Workspace Members: If you are part of an Otter.ai Workspace with other members, you cannot delete your account until you are the only remaining member or have been removed/deleted from the Workspace by an administrator.
Step 7: Post-Removal Best Practices
Even after following the steps, a few additional actions can ensure a clean break and prevent similar issues with other tools.
Restart Your Computer/Browser: A simple restart of your computer and/or web browser can help clear any lingering processes or cached data that might be associated with Otter.ai.
Check Meeting Platform Settings:
For Zoom, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams, explore your personal meeting settings. Look for options related to "approved apps," "integrations," or "participant management." You might find additional controls to prevent any third-party AI notetaker from joining your meetings without explicit consent.
Consider enabling waiting rooms for your meetings, which gives you control over who enters.
Inform Your Team/Colleagues: If Otter.ai was used collaboratively, inform your team that you've removed it from your setup. This helps manage expectations and ensures everyone is on the same page regarding meeting notes.
Explore Alternatives (if needed): If you still require meeting transcription but want more control, research other AI notetakers or consider manual note-taking tools that don't auto-join.
This comprehensive guide should empower you to effectively remove Otter.ai Notetaker from your meetings and take charge of your virtual meeting environment. Remember, your privacy and control over your data are paramount!
10 Related FAQ Questions
How to stop Otter.ai from automatically joining all my meetings?
You can stop Otter.ai from automatically joining all meetings by logging into your Otter.ai account, going to "Account Settings," then "Meetings" or "Otter Notetaker," and toggling off the "Auto-join all meetings" option, or selecting "Meetings I manually select."
How to remove Otter.ai Notetaker from a live Zoom meeting?
To remove Otter.ai from a live Zoom meeting, if you are the host, click on "Participants," find "Otter.ai Notetaker," click "More," and then select "Remove."
How to disconnect my Google Calendar from Otter.ai?
To disconnect your Google Calendar from Otter.ai, sign in to your Otter.ai account, navigate to "Account Settings," then "Apps" or "Integrations," find your Google Calendar, and click the "Disconnect" or "Remove" button.
How to prevent Otter.ai from sending chat messages in my meetings?
QuickTip: Note key words you want to remember.
You can prevent Otter.ai from sending chat messages by going to your Otter.ai "Account Settings," then "Meetings" or "Otter Notetaker," and toggling off "Notetaker chat messages" options like "Send live transcript and summary."
How to delete my Otter.ai account permanently?
To delete your Otter.ai account permanently, log in to Otter.ai, go to "Account Settings," then the "General" tab, scroll down to "Delete account," and follow the prompts to verify your identity and confirm deletion. Be aware this is irreversible.
How to check if Otter.ai is connected to my Microsoft Teams meetings?
To check if Otter.ai is connected to your Microsoft Teams meetings, verify your Otter.ai auto-join settings in your account, or check your Microsoft Account's app permissions for connected services.
How to remove Otter.ai browser extension?
To remove an Otter.ai browser extension, go to your browser's extension management settings (e.g., Chrome Extensions, Firefox Add-ons), locate the Otter.ai extension, and choose to disable or remove it.
How to manage auto-share settings for Otter.ai notes?
You can manage auto-share settings for Otter.ai notes in your Otter.ai "Account Settings," under "Meetings" or "Notetaker," where you can set the "Default audience for shared notes" to "Don't Share - keep my notes private."
How to stop Otter.ai if I'm not the meeting host?
If you're not the meeting host, you cannot directly remove Otter.ai. You would need to ask the meeting host to remove it as a participant from the meeting controls.
How to ensure Otter.ai doesn't re-join after being removed?
To ensure Otter.ai doesn't re-join, you must disable its auto-join settings in your Otter.ai account (Step 2) and disconnect any calendar integrations (Step 4). Removing it from a live meeting is only temporary unless these underlying settings are changed.
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