Zoom API Limitation: No Option to Set Transcription Language (2025)

API and Webhooks Meetings
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1

I am using the Zoom API to retrieve the transcript of a cloud-recorded meeting.
https://us06web.zoom.us/rec/download/{{download_url}}
However, the transcript is automatically generated in English, which is the system default.
The issue? The meeting was conducted in Portuguese.

I would like to know if there is a way to change or pre-configure the transcription language via API.
Yes, I know it’s possible to go to the dashboard and manually re-transcribe the recording in the correct language.
But here’s the core of the issue: I’m developing an automated application, and this process must be handled via API.

This is not a new issue

While researching the topic, I found posts from over a year ago, such as this one:

  • Setting Default Language for Zoom Cloud Recording Transcriptions via API

And even more surprising: there are reports of this limitation dating back to 2020.

My question is simple:

Has Zoom really not managed to implement something as basic as language selection via API after 4 years?

If the web dashboard allows this change manually, why isn’t it available in the API?
The rule is clear: anything that can be done manually should be available via API, especially considering Zoom’s emphasis on automation and integrations.

3

Hi @alvarodamin , at this time there is still no option to set the transcription language via API. However, my team is working closely with product teams to facilitate API parity across the board and advocate for developer customer experiences.

At this time, you may want to try RTMP to livestream the meeting to a 3rd party transcription API that supports the languages you need or download the audio file from the cloud recording API and pass the audio through a 3rd party transcription API.

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