Set-CsTeamsMeetingPolicy -Identity Global -AllowTranscription $true -MeetingRecordingExpirationDays -1
This command targets a specific policy named "Executives". Only users assigned this policy will retain transcripts indefinitely.
Security and compliance frameworks like NIST and ISO 27001 recommend data lifecycle management, not indefinite retention. Therefore, a wise administrator uses -1 sparingly, if at all. The superior approach is to set a reasonable expiration (e.g., 365 or 730 days) and complement it with Microsoft 365 retention labels for content that truly needs permanent preservation. For example: Therefore, a wise administrator uses -1 sparingly, if at all
Set-CsTeamsMeetingPolicy -Identity "Global" -NewMeetingRecordingExpirationDays -1 Use code with caution. Copied to clipboard Key Details
To disable this auto-deletion and set your policy to you must use the Microsoft Teams PowerShell module. The PowerShell Cmdlet Copied to clipboard Key Details To disable this
they are instructing the system to . A value of -1 is not a typo or a placeholder; it explicitly overrides the default retention logic. Instead of counting down to deletion, the system preserves the recording or transcript indefinitely—or until another policy (such as a Microsoft 365 retention label) supersedes it. This action is irreversible for existing recordings unless manually deleted by owners or compliance officers.
Running this command ensures that new meeting recordings and their associated transcripts in the specified policy will never auto-expire: powershell Instead of counting down to deletion
The Set-CsTeamsMeetingPolicy cmdlet is part of the Skype for Business Online PowerShell module, which manages Teams settings. Among its many parameters—controlling everything from live captions to lobby behavior— -RecordingsAndTranscriptsExpirationDays stands out for its impact on data lifecycle management. By default, Teams recordings and transcripts are stored in OneDrive and SharePoint, where they are subject to automatic deletion after a set period (typically 120 days). This default aligns with data minimization principles, reducing storage costs and legal exposure from stale information.
Organizations opt for -1 for several compelling reasons:
Set-CsTeamsMeetingPolicy -Identity "Global" -RecordingsAndTranscriptsExpirationDays -1