Is Otter.ai crashing your Zoom meetings or simply overstaying its welcome? Are you finding its automatic participation more of a hindrance than a help? If you're nodding along, then you've come to the right place! While Otter.ai can be a fantastic tool for transcribing meetings, there are times when you need it to step aside. This comprehensive guide will walk you through every step to get Otter.ai off your Zoom meetings, whether it's stopping it from auto-joining, removing it from a live session, or even completely uninstalling its integration.
Let's dive in and take back control of your Zoom experience!
How to Get Otter.ai Off Zoom: A Step-by-Step Guide
Otter.ai, with its "OtterPilot" feature, is designed to seamlessly integrate with your calendar and join meetings automatically. While convenient, this can sometimes be intrusive. Below, we'll cover various scenarios and their corresponding solutions.
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| How To Get Otter Ai Off Zoom |
Step 1: Understand Why Otter.ai Might Be Joining (and Why You Want It Gone!)
Before we jump into the "how-to," let's quickly address why Otter.ai might be appearing in your Zoom calls. Most often, it's due to its calendar integration and the "auto-join" feature. It sees a meeting on your synced calendar and, like a diligent assistant, pops in to transcribe.
But why would you want it gone?
Tip: Share one insight from this post with a friend.
Privacy Concerns: You might be discussing sensitive information that you don't want transcribed, even if it's securely stored by Otter.ai.
Unnecessary Transcriptions: Not every meeting needs to be transcribed, and having Otter.ai present can clutter your account with irrelevant conversations.
Performance Issues: While generally lightweight, in rare cases, additional participants (even bots) can impact meeting performance.
Consent: It's crucial to obtain consent from all participants before recording or transcribing a meeting. If Otter.ai joins automatically, you might inadvertently violate this.
Now that we're clear on the "why," let's move on to the practical steps!
Step 2: Stop Otter.ai from Automatically Joining Future Zoom Meetings
This is often the primary goal for most users. Preventing Otter.ai from automatically joining ensures you have control over which meetings are transcribed.
Sub-heading 2.1: Through Your Otter.ai Account Settings
This is the most effective and recommended method to prevent Otter.ai from auto-joining.
Log In to Otter.ai: Open your web browser and go to
otter.ai. Sign in to your account.Navigate to Account Settings:
Look for your profile icon or name in the top-left corner of the Otter.ai homepage. Click on it.
From the dropdown menu, select "Account Settings".
Access Meeting Settings:
Within the Account Settings, look for the "Meetings" tab on the left-hand menu. Click on it.
Disable OtterPilot Auto-join:
You'll find a section dedicated to "OtterPilot".
Locate the option that says "Auto-join all meetings" or similar. This is usually a toggle switch.
Toggle this option OFF. It should turn gray or indicate "Disabled."
Review Individual Calendar Events (Optional but Recommended):
Even after disabling the global auto-join, it's a good idea to double-check your calendar on the Otter.ai homepage.
Navigate to the "Calendar" section (usually on the right side of the homepage).
Review your upcoming meetings. If you previously manually enabled OtterPilot for specific events, those settings might persist. You can manually toggle off OtterPilot for individual events here if needed.
Tip: Use this post as a starting point for exploration.
Sub-heading 2.2: Disconnect Your Calendar from Otter.ai
If you want a more drastic measure to prevent auto-joining, you can disconnect your calendar entirely. This means Otter.ai won't even see your upcoming meetings.
Log In to Otter.ai: Go to
otter.aiand sign in.Navigate to Account Settings: Click on your profile icon (top-left) and select "Account Settings".
Go to the Apps Section: In the left-hand menu, find and click on the "Apps" or "Integrations" tab.
Disconnect Your Calendar:
You'll see a list of connected applications, including your calendar (e.g., Google Calendar, Outlook Calendar).
Click on the "Remove" or "Disconnect" button next to your connected calendar.
Confirm the disconnection when prompted.
Step 3: Remove Otter.ai from a Live Zoom Meeting
Has Otter.ai already joined your ongoing Zoom call and you need it out now? You can remove it just like any other participant.
Sub-heading 3.1: As a Meeting Host or Co-Host (Recommended)
As the host or co-host, you have the power to manage participants.
QuickTip: Focus on one paragraph at a time.
Open the Participants Panel in Zoom: During your Zoom meeting, click on the "Participants" button at the bottom of the Zoom window. This will open a sidebar showing all attendees.
Locate Otter.ai Notetaker: In the participant list, look for "Otter.ai Notetaker" (or simply "Otter.ai"). It will appear as a regular participant.
Remove Otter.ai:
Hover over "Otter.ai Notetaker" in the participant list.
Click on the "More" button (usually three dots).
Select "Remove" from the options.
Confirm the removal when prompted. Otter.ai will immediately leave the meeting.
Sub-heading 3.2: Through the Otter.ai Homepage (If you initiated the recording)
If you manually added Otter.ai or it auto-joined via your calendar synced with Otter.ai, you can also stop it from within your Otter.ai account.
Log In to Otter.ai: Go to
otter.aiand sign in.Go to Your Home Page Calendar: On the Otter.ai homepage, look for the calendar section on the right side.
Find the Live Recording: The current live Notetaker recording will be prominently displayed.
Stop Recording: Click the "Stop recording" button associated with that live meeting.
Confirm Removal: Click "Yes, turn it off" to confirm. Otter.ai will be removed from your Zoom meeting momentarily.
Step 4: Block Otter.ai Domains within Zoom Settings (Administrator Control)
For organizations or accounts that want to prevent any Otter.ai bot from joining meetings, even if a participant tries to use it, this is a powerful setting at the Zoom account level. This usually requires administrator privileges for your Zoom account.
Sign in to the Zoom Web Portal: Go to
zoom.usand sign in with your administrator credentials.Navigate to Account Settings:
In the left-hand navigation menu, click on "Account Management" and then "Account Settings".
Access Meeting Settings: Select the "Meeting" tab.
Locate Security Settings: Scroll down or use the search bar to find the "Security" section within Meeting Settings.
Enable "Block users in specific domains from joining meetings and webinars":
Find this setting and enable the toggle switch next to it.
Click the pencil icon (edit) next to this option.
Add Otter.ai Domain:
In the pop-up window, manually type in
otter.ai.If you want to block other AI note-takers, you can add them here as well, separated by commas (e.g.,
otter.ai, read.ai, fireflies.ai).
Save Changes: Click "Save" to apply the changes.
Please note: While this is effective, some AI bots might find ways around domain blocking by using generic IP addresses. It's a good first line of defense but might not be foolproof in all scenarios.
QuickTip: Go back if you lost the thread.
Step 5: Uninstall the Otter.ai App from the Zoom App Marketplace
If you've previously installed Otter.ai through the Zoom App Marketplace for deeper integration, uninstalling it is a crucial step to sever the connection entirely.
Sign in to the Zoom App Marketplace: Go to
marketplace.zoom.usand sign in.Manage Your Installed Apps:
In the top-right corner, click on "Manage".
From the dropdown, select "Installed Apps".
Locate Otter.ai: Find "Otter.ai Live Notes for Zoom" or a similar Otter.ai listing in your list of installed apps.
Uninstall the App:
Click on the Otter.ai app.
You should see an option to "Uninstall" or "Remove". Click on it.
Follow any on-screen prompts to confirm the uninstallation. You might be asked for a reason for uninstalling.
Step 6: Consider Deleting Your Otter.ai Account (If No Longer Needed)
If you no longer wish to use Otter.ai at all, deleting your account is the most complete way to remove all associated data and connections. Be aware that this is a permanent and irreversible action.
Log In to Otter.ai: Go to
otter.aiand sign in.Navigate to Account Settings: Click on your profile icon (top-left) and select "Account Settings".
Go to the General Tab: In the left-hand menu, click on the "General" tab.
Locate "Delete Account": Scroll to the very bottom of the General settings page. You'll find a clear option to "Delete account".
Verify Credentials and Confirm:
You'll likely be asked to enter your Otter.ai password to verify your identity. If you used Google, Microsoft, or Apple sign-in, you might need to verify through those platforms.
Carefully read any pop-up warnings about data deletion.
Click "Delete account" to proceed with the permanent deletion.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are 10 common questions related to managing Otter.ai with Zoom, with quick answers:
How to stop Otter.ai from showing up in Zoom meetings I'm not hosting?
As a participant, you can't directly control the host's settings. However, you can sign in to your Otter.ai account and disable the "Auto-join all meetings" option in your Account Settings > Meetings to prevent your OtterPilot from joining. If it's joining through someone else's account, kindly ask the host to remove it or adjust their settings.
How to remove Otter.ai from a Zoom meeting that's currently in progress?
If you are the host or co-host, open the "Participants" panel in Zoom, find "Otter.ai Notetaker," click "More," and then "Remove."
How to prevent Otter.ai from getting my Zoom meeting invites?
Disconnect your calendar from Otter.ai in your Otter.ai Account Settings > Apps/Integrations. This prevents Otter.ai from scanning your calendar for meeting links.
How to turn off Otter.ai's chat messages during Zoom meetings?
Within Otter.ai's Account Settings > Meetings, look for settings related to "Chat messages" or "Meeting Agent settings" and disable them.
How to ensure Otter.ai doesn't share my meeting notes automatically?
In your Otter.ai Account Settings > Meetings, you can manage "Auto-share settings" for conversations and meetings. Turn off options to automatically share notes with calendar event guests or groups.
How to check if Otter.ai is connected to my Zoom account?
Sign in to your Otter.ai account, go to Account Settings > Apps/Integrations, and check for a connected Zoom integration. Also, check the Zoom App Marketplace for installed apps under "Manage" > "Installed Apps."
How to re-enable Otter.ai after disabling it for Zoom?
You can re-enable auto-join in Otter.ai's Account Settings > Meetings. If you uninstalled the app from Zoom Marketplace, you'll need to reinstall it. If you disconnected your calendar, you'll need to reconnect it.
How to block all third-party AI bots like Otter.ai from my Zoom account as an administrator?
As a Zoom administrator, go to Account Settings > Meeting > Security, enable "Block users in specific domains from joining meetings and webinars," and add the domains (e.g.,
otter.ai,read.ai).
How to see if Otter.ai is recording my meeting?
Otter.ai will appear as a participant in your Zoom meeting (usually named "Otter.ai Notetaker"). Additionally, a notification in the meeting chat or a small icon might indicate its presence and recording status.
How to delete my entire Otter.ai account and all its data?
Sign in to your Otter.ai account, go to Account Settings > General, scroll down to "Delete account," and follow the prompts. Be aware this is permanent.
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