# Remove Groupthink from a Meeting

> Keep the notetaker out of a meeting you do not want recorded.

Source: https://groupthink.com/docs/remove_groupthink_from_meeting/
Last updated: 2026-10-05

## Overview

Sometimes you may not want the Groupthink notetaker to join a specific meeting, or you may prefer to take notes privately on your desktop instead of having a visible notetaker in the call. Groupthink gives you several ways to remove the notetaker, whether you are planning ahead, already in the meeting, or working from your conferencing app. This guide covers each method.

## Remove the Notetaker Ahead of Time

You can stop the notetaker from joining a meeting before it starts.

1. Click **Today** in the Groupthink navigation sidebar. A meeting happening today is under **Prep for today**. For a meeting on a later day, use the **›** arrow to step forward to that day
2. Find the meeting you want to change
3. Click the **⋮** (three-dot) button on the meeting
4. Select **Remove Groupthink**

The notetaker will no longer join that meeting when it occurs. A meeting that has ended has no **⋮** button.

### Add the Notetaker Back

If you decide you want the notetaker after all, find the same meeting again. When no notetaker is attached, the control is a button labeled **Add Notetaker**. Click it and choose how the notetaker should attend. See [Add Groupthink to Specific Meetings](/docs/add_groupthink_to_specific_meetings) for the choices.

## Remove the Notetaker During a Meeting

If a meeting is already underway, the meeting's host can stop the notetaker from inside Groupthink.

1. Open the agenda for the meeting. You can reach it from **Today**, or from the link shared in your Zoom, Google Meet, or Microsoft Teams chat
2. In the meeting box on the agenda, click **Stop Taking Notes**
3. The notetaker stops taking notes

Only the host sees **Stop Taking Notes**. The meeting's **⋮** button is unavailable while a meeting is being recorded, so **Remove Groupthink** is for meetings that have not started yet.

### Remove from Your Conferencing App

You can also remove the notetaker directly from your video conferencing software by removing it like any other participant. Refer to your conferencing app documentation for the exact steps. This works the same as removing any guest from the call.

## Take Notes Privately Instead

If you want to keep meeting notes and a transcript without a visible notetaker in the call, you can take notes privately on your desktop instead. This uses Private Desktop Recording, where you capture the meeting yourself rather than having a notetaker join.

1. Click **Today** in the Groupthink navigation sidebar. A meeting happening today is under **Prep for today**. For a meeting on a later day, use the **›** arrow to step forward to that day
2. Find the meeting you want to change
3. Click **Add Notetaker** on the meeting, or the **⋮** (three-dot) button if a notetaker is already attached
4. Select **Add Invisible Note Taker**. If a notetaker is already attached to the meeting, this option reads **Swap to Invisible Note Taker** instead. The subtext reads **Privately take notes on desktop (Windows or macOS)**

When the meeting occurs, use the Groupthink Desktop App to capture it privately. Other participants will not see a notetaker in the call. For setup and details, see our [Private Desktop Recording](/docs/private_desktop_recording) guide.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### Will removing the notetaker delete my notes?

No. Removing the notetaker stops it from capturing the rest of the meeting going forward. Any notes and transcripts already captured before you removed it remain available.

### How do I add the notetaker back?

Click **Today** and find the meeting. For a meeting on a later day, step forward to that day with the **›** arrow. Click **Add Notetaker** on the meeting and choose how the notetaker should attend. See [Add Groupthink to Specific Meetings](/docs/add_groupthink_to_specific_meetings).

### Can I keep meeting notes without a visible notetaker?

Yes. Choose **Add Invisible Note Taker** from **Add Notetaker** on the meeting (or **Swap to Invisible Note Taker** from the **⋮** button if a notetaker is already attached), then capture the meeting with the Groupthink Desktop App. See [Private Desktop Recording](/docs/private_desktop_recording) for the full walkthrough.

### Can I remove the notetaker in the middle of a meeting?

Yes. If you are the host, click **Stop Taking Notes** in the meeting box on the agenda. Anyone with the rights to do so in your conferencing app can also remove the notetaker there like any other participant.

## Getting Help

Questions about removing Groupthink from a meeting? Email [support@groupthink.com](mailto:support@groupthink.com)