tl;dv tutorial

How to Use tl;dv: Setup, Recording, and Meeting Clips

Set up tl;dv in 3 minutes: install the extension, connect your calendar, and get unlimited free recordings with EU data storage and video clip creation.

By Miriam Alonso · Updated April 2026 · 5 steps · ~15 min · Intermediate

3 min

setup time

Free

unlimited recordings

30+ languages

multilingual support

EU storage

GDPR friendly

tl;dv stands for "too long; did not view" - and that describes its main strength: turning long meeting recordings into shareable clips. It records, transcribes, and lets you create video highlights from specific moments.

tl;dv is free and unlimited for recordings and transcripts. EU data storage is the default, making it the best option for European teams and GDPR-sensitive use cases. The Chrome extension integrates directly into Google Meet.

Chrome extension for Meet, bot for Zoom/Teams

tl;dv works via a Chrome extension for Google Meet (native integration) and as a bot for Zoom and Teams. For Google Meet users, the Chrome extension is recommended - it integrates more tightly and does not appear as a separate participant.

1

Install the tl;dv Chrome Extension

Go to tldv.io and click "Get started free". You will be directed to install the Chrome extension. Click "Add to Chrome" and authorize the requested permissions (access to Google Meet, microphone).

After installation, go to meet.google.com. You will see the tl;dv panel appear on the right side of Meet calls. The panel shows the live transcript and recording controls.

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2

Connect Your Calendar for Auto-Join

Go to tldv.io and sign in. Go to Settings > Calendar integrations. Connect your Google Calendar or Outlook calendar. Once connected, tl;dv automatically joins all future video meetings based on your calendar events.

For Zoom and Teams meetings (where the Chrome extension does not apply), tl;dv sends a bot participant. The bot appears in the attendee list as "tl;dv".

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3

During the Meeting: Mark Timestamps and Highlights

The tl;dv panel in Google Meet shows a live transcript. To mark a key moment: click the bookmark icon or press Ctrl+M (configurable). These bookmarks appear in the recording timeline and make it easy to create clips later.

For Zoom and Teams: access the tl;dv web interface during the meeting to see the live transcript and add bookmarks.

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4

Create and Share Video Clips

After the meeting, go to tldv.io and open the meeting. You will see the full video with transcript and your bookmarked moments highlighted. To create a clip: click a bookmark, adjust the start and end times, and click "Create clip". The clip is a short video segment with transcript overlay.

To share: click "Share clip" and copy the link. tl;dv clips are shareable via link without requiring recipients to have a tl;dv account. This is useful for sharing key moments with stakeholders who were not in the meeting.

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5

Set Up Integrations

Go to Settings > Integrations. tl;dv connects to: Slack (send summaries to a channel), Notion (push transcripts to a database), HubSpot and Salesforce (log to CRM), and Zapier.

The free plan includes basic integrations. The Pro plan ($18/user/month) unlocks advanced CRM sync and team collaboration features.

tl;dv is the best free option for teams that need EU data storage and for anyone who regularly needs to share specific meeting moments rather than full recordings. The clip feature is uniquely useful for async teams.

Where to start

If you use Google Meet and Chrome, start with the extension install - it gives the tightest integration. For Zoom and Teams, use the calendar-based auto-join.

If you need to compare costs before committing, the pricing comparison page shows all tools and plans side by side.

Tools Used in This Guide

Frequently Asked Questions

Is tl;dv really free?

Yes. The free plan includes unlimited recordings, unlimited transcription in 30+ languages, and basic sharing features. The Pro plan ($18/user/month) adds advanced CRM integrations, team management features, and priority support. For individual use, the free plan is fully featured.

Does tl;dv store data in the EU?

Yes. EU data storage is the default for all tl;dv accounts. tl;dv is GDPR compliant and stores recordings on EU servers. This makes it the default recommendation for European teams handling sensitive meeting content. You can switch to US storage in settings if preferred.

What languages does tl;dv support?

tl;dv supports 30+ languages including English, French, German, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Polish, and others. This is significantly better than Otter.ai (3 languages) and comparable to Fireflies.ai (100+ languages, more comprehensive for Asian and rare languages).

Can I use tl;dv on Zoom?

Yes. tl;dv works on Zoom, Google Meet, and Teams. For Zoom, tl;dv joins as a bot participant (visible in the attendee list). For Google Meet, the Chrome extension integrates natively (no bot). The output quality is similar on all platforms.

What is the tl;dv clip feature?

After recording a meeting, you can select any segment of the transcript and create a short video clip from that moment. Clips include the video with the transcript overlay. You can share clips via link without requiring recipients to have tl;dv. This is useful for sharing specific decisions or moments from long meetings.

Miriam Alonso

Miriam Alonso

CSM - 3 months testing

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