How to Remove Otter.ai (and Choose a Better, More Secure Option)

Otter.ai has been a popular choice for transcribing meetings, but with a recent class action lawsuit emerging and raising concerns about how their user data is being handled, many people are reconsidering their choice and looking to remove it. If you’re ready to move on, this guide will walk you through how to remove Otter.ai from your computer, and why choose a safer, more powerful alternative.

First Things First: How to Remove Otter.ai From Your Video Call Platforms

Before you uninstall Otter.ai from your computer, the first step is removing Otter.ai from your video conferencing platforms. This first step is most important because Otter connects directly to tools like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet through integrations. This means that even if you delete the app from your computer, Otter may still be able to record or transcribe your meetings through these integrations. By disconnecting Otter from your video call platforms first, you ensure that it no longer has permission to join meetings or capture audio in the background.

How to Remove Otter.ai from Microsoft Teams

1. Open Microsoft Teams and click on the Apps section in the left-hand sidebar.
   
   
2. Search for Otter.ai in the list of installed apps.
   
   
3. Click on the Otter.ai app, and then select Uninstall.
   
   
4. If Otter was pinned to any channels or chats, right-click it and choose Remove.
   
   
5. To double-check, go to More Apps, and then Manage Your Apps and confirm Otter no longer appears.
   

How to Remove Otter.ai from Zoom

1. Sign into your Zoom web portal at zoom.us.
   
   
2. In the left sidebar, go to Advanced, and then App Marketplace.
   
   
3. Click Manage in the top-right corner, then click on Installed Apps.
   
   
4. Locate Otter.ai in your list of installed apps.
   
   
5. Click Remove and follow the prompts to disconnect Otter from Zoom.
   

How to Remove Otter.ai from Google Meet

Otter.ai often joins Google Meet calls through its Chrome extension or calendar integration. To fully remove it:

1. Open Google Calendar in your browser.
   
   
2. Go to Settings, and click Settings for my calendars.
   
   
3. Under Integrations, look for Otter.ai or connected apps. Remove or revoke access.
   
   
4. Next, open Google Account, go to Security, and then click on Third-party apps with account access.
   
   
5. Find Otter.ai in the list and click Remove Access.
   

Next Step: Remove Otter.ai From Your Computer

Once Otter has been disconnected from Teams, Zoom, and Google Meet, you’re ready to uninstall it from your computer itself. This ensures no cached files, leftover settings, or local app data remain behind. Whether you’re on Mac or Windows, follow the step-by-step instructions below to fully remove Otter.ai from your computer system.

How to Remove Otter.ai From Your Mac

1. Open Finder

Finder is your Mac’s file manager (the blue-and-white smiley face icon in your Dock). Click it to open.

2. Go to Applications

In your Finder’s left sidebar, click Applications. Find Otter.ai in the list, then drag it to the Trash (or right-click, then select Move to Trash).

3. Empty the Trash

Right-click the Trash icon in your Dock, and then select Empty Trash to delete the main Otter.ai app.

4. Remove leftover files (optional but recommended)

Even after uninstalling, apps like Otter.ai leave behind small support files (preferences, caches, and helper data). These don’t contain your meeting recordings, but clearing them ensures a “clean uninstall.” To find them:

1. In the Finder menu bar at the top of your screen, click Go, and then Go to Folder
   
   
2. Type ~/Library/ and press Enter.
   
   
3. Look in these folders:
   
   
   • In Application Support, delete any “Otter” folder.
     
     
   • In Preferences, delete files named like com.otter.ai.plist.
     
     
   • In Caches, delete any Otter-related files.
     
     
4. Drag them all to the Trash.
   

5. Final cleanup

Empty your Trash again to complete the removal.

Important: your Otter recordings and transcripts aren’t stored on your Mac, they’re in Otter’s cloud. To fully clear your data, you’ll also need to log into your Otter.ai account in a browser and delete them there.

How to Remove Otter.ai From Your PC

1. Open Settings

Click the Start Menu, then select the gear icon (Settings).

2. Go to Installed Apps

In Settings, click Apps > Installed Apps (or Apps & Features on older versions of Windows).

3. Uninstall Otter.ai

Scroll to find Otter.ai, click it, and select Uninstall. Next, follow the on-screen instructions to remove the program.

4. Restart your computer

This ensures Windows clears any processes still running in the background.

5. Remove leftover files

Like Mac, uninstalling on Windows often leaves behind support folders (cached data, preferences, and temp files). While they don’t contain your actual recordings, they may store things like login tokens or small app data. It’s best to get rid of these if you want to fully remove the program from your computer. To remove the leftover files:

1. Open File Explorer.
   
   
2. In the address bar, type the following (feel free to copy and paste):
   
   
   • C:\Users\[YourName]\AppData\Local\
     
     
   • C:\Users\[YourName]\AppData\Roaming\
     
     
3. Look for any folders named Otter or Otter.ai and delete them.
   
   
4. You can also check C:\Program Files for any leftover Otter folders.

How to Remove Otter.ai From Your Browser

If you’ve been using Otter.ai as a Chrome or Edge extension, you can remove it in three easy steps. Simply open your browser, then go to Extensions, locate Otter.ai, and click Remove.

Why People Are Removing Otter.ai

The recent class action lawsuit against Otter.ai has raised major red flags about privacy and security, and this has sparked conversations around what happens to your meeting data after the meeting is over. Here are some of the concerns in question:

User data is being used to train AI without explicit consent. 

People don’t want their private conversations to be used to improve the AI tools they use, especially not without explicit consent, and for good reason; Because of the private nature of meetings, people want to be in control and in the know about exactly what happens to their meeting data. This is one of the biggest issues surrounding data protection policies when it comes to AI, and, frankly, improving LLMs is the job of the developer, not the customer. 

Lack of transparency around how meeting recordings are stored and shared.

Echoing the sentiment above, because conversations can be sensitive, people care about where their meeting recordings are being stored and shared, ensuring that they go to the right place and the right people. But when an AI note taker makes it hard for people to understand where their recordings are going, how they get there, and who is on the receiving end of them, that’s where problems start to arise. This is why the transparency issue is coming up so often in light of the class action lawsuit.

Limited admin controls for organizations that need compliance-grade security.

If you’re recording personal meetings where sensitive information can come up, having control around when and how they get recorded is already enough of a cause for concern. But if you’re part of an organization that runs multiple meetings a day, every day, with sensitive information, a data leak could lead to catastrophe. Teams like legal, HR, finance, even Customer Success when it comes to private customer data, all need to have compliance grade security. For these teams, the risks are simply too high.

Why Fellow Is the More Secure, Better Alternative

If you’re looking for a trustworthy Otter.ai replacement, Fellow is the only AI meeting note taker built from the ground up with security, compliance, and organizational control in mind. Here’s why:

No training on your data

One of the biggest reasons teams are removing Otter is because of uncertainty around data privacy. Fellow is completely transparent about their policy, and never uses your meeting data to train large language models. Every recording, transcript, and summary remains private to you and your organization. This is a critical difference: while Otter’s practices have raised questions about how meeting recordings might be leveraged, Fellow takes a zero-compromise approach. Your conversations stay yours, full stop.

Granular recording controls

Fellow gives organizations the ability to define exactly how recording and transcription should work based on each org’s specific needs. Admins can block recordings from happening in specific types of meetings, for example, anything flagged with keywords like “legal” or “HR.” They can also set permissions around who can and cannot record meetings within the organization. This level of granular control ensures that sensitive discussions are never accidentally captured.

Built in privacy features

Fellow also bakes privacy features directly into the meeting experience. If a sensitive discussion comes up, recordings can be paused or resumed with one click, and all attendees can clearly see when the status changes. After the meeting, sensitive content can be permanently redacted from transcripts, and once it’s gone, it’s truly gone. To keep everything transparent, Fellow can also automatically send meeting recording disclosure emails to attendees before each call, so no one is caught off guard. 

Enterprise-grade security

Finally, Fellow is built with the needs of security-conscious organizations in mind. It’s SOC 2 Type II certified, meeting rigorous standards for data protection, availability, and confidentiality. All data is encrypted both in transit and at rest, ensuring sensitive conversations can’t be intercepted or exposed. Not to mention the fact that they are GDPR ready and HIPAA compliant, with regular third-party audits, strong data residency policies, Fellow gives organizations peace of mind that their meeting data is handled responsibly and securely.

Final Thoughts

Removing Otter.ai is simple, but replacing it with a tool that keeps your data safe is critical. With Fellow, you get all the benefits of AI-powered transcription, summaries, and action items, without compromising on security or compliance.