How to prevent video from being cropped in a Teams recording?

There isn't a universal way to completely prevent automatic cropping in recordings across all platforms, but here are some steps you can take to minimize the chances of it happening and potentially recover the full recording:

Prevent Automatic Cropping:

* Meeting Platform Settings: Double-check the meeting platform settings on the recording device. Ensure "Fit to frame" or a similar option is selected instead of "Fill frame." This should display the entire meeting view as intended.
* Camera Settings (if applicable): Some cameras have their own zoom and cropping settings. Verify the camera is set to capture the entire desired view before initiating the recording.

Recover the Cropped Recording (if possible):

* Video Editing Software: If the platform doesn't offer options to restore the original view, you might be able to recover some of the lost content using video editing software. Some software allows for zooming out or adjusting the frame size, potentially revealing more of the cropped area.
* Meeting Platform Recording Features: Check if the meeting platform offers options to download the recording with different layout options. Some platforms may capture multiple video streams, allowing you to download a version that includes the full view of the presenters.

Additional Tips:

* Test Recording: Before starting a critical meeting, record a short test session with all presenters in view. Review the recording to ensure everyone is captured as intended.
* Multiple Cameras (Advanced): For highly important meetings, consider using a dedicated camera setup that captures the desired wide shot consistently.

Here's what likely happened:

While the user verified "Fit to frame" before recording, a setting change might have occurred inadvertently, or the platform might have defaulted to "Fill frame" for some reason.

By following these steps and exploring your specific recording platform's features, you should be able to prevent automatic cropping in future recordings and hopefully recover some of the missing content from your current recording (if possible).