To record a phone call on your iPhone or Android device, you can use the built-in call recording feature found on iOS 18.1+ iPhones, Google Pixel (6+), and Samsung Galaxy phones.
Before you record a phone call: know the law
Before you press record, understand that call recording laws vary by jurisdiction. In some regions, "one-party consent" laws allow you to record a conversation as long as you are an active participant. However, many places require "all-party consent," meaning everyone on the call must be informed and give explicit permission. Even where it's legal to record without telling the other person, it's ethical to inform them at the start of the call. Failure to comply with local laws can lead to serious legal consequences, so always check the regulations in your specific state or country before recording any conversation.
How to record a phone call on an iPhone (iOS 18.1+)
Here’s how to use it:
- Open the Phone app and make a call as you normally would.
- Once the call connects, on iOS 18, tap the call record icon in the top-left corner, which resembles a waveform.
- Both you and the other party will hear an automatic audio notice stating that the call is being recorded. This disclosure is mandatory and cannot be turned off.
- To stop the recording, tap the Stop button (a red square) or simply hang up the call. The recording will be saved automatically.
- iPhone automatically saves call recordings to a Call Recordings folder in the Notes app. Tap View Saved Call to play it.
In addition to audio, iOS 18.1 and later offer transcription of your calls in select regions and languages. If you have a compatible iPhone (iPhone 12 or later for transcription, or iPhone 15 Pro/Pro Max and iPhone 16 models for Apple Intelligence), you can also read a AI-generated summary of the call directly in the Notes app.
Important: This built-in feature is not available in all countries or regions. Call recording is not currently available in Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Egypt, the European Union, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. If you don't see the waveform icon, your carrier or region may not support it, and you'll need to use a third-party app instead.
To turn off Call Recording: Go to the Settings app on your iPhone. Tap Apps, then tap Phone. Tap Audio Call Recording, then turn it off.
How to record a phone call on a Google Pixel
Google Pixel phones (Pixel 6 and newer, running Android 14 or later) have a built-in call recording feature through the Phone app's Call Assist function. Follow these steps:
- Open the Phone app and make a call.
- During the call, tap Call Assist (a button with a sparkle or waveform icon).
- Tap Call recording to start recording. The other party will hear an automated voice announcement that the call is being recorded.
- To stop, tap Call Assist again, then tap Stop. You can also hang up to end and save the recording.
- Find your recordings in the Recents tab of the Phone app. Tap a call entry to play it, and use the options to share or delete the file. You can play back saved recordings and modify how long to keep recorded calls on Pixel.
To enable automatic recording for specific contacts or unknown numbers:
- Open the Phone app, tap the three-dot menu, and go to Settings.
- Select Call recording (or Call Assist).
- Choose Always record for unknown numbers or select specific contacts to auto-record.
Non-Pixel Android devices (running Android 9 and up) with the latest Phone app may also have a similar feature. Look for a Record button during a call, or check the Phone app settings for call recording options. On non-Pixel Android devices, to stop recording tap Stop recording.
How to record a phone call on a Samsung Galaxy
Samsung Galaxy phones offer robust call recording options through the native Phone app. Here’s how to use it:
- During the call, tap the Record button (a red dot) that appears on the screen. On some models, you may need to tap the three-dot icon (More options) in the upper-right corner, then select Record call.
- To stop, tap the Stop button. The recording will be saved automatically.
To enable auto-recording for all calls or specific numbers:
- Select Call recording (or Record calls).
- Choose Auto-record calls and select All calls or Specific numbers. To enable auto call recording you must read the terms and conditions and tap Confirm.
Recordings are stored in two places:
- Phone app: Go to Recents > tap the call entry > tap the recording icon to play.
- Voice Recorder app: Open the Voice Recorder app, and your call recordings will be listed there. You can play, rename, share, or delete them.
To delete old recordings on Samsung: From the Record calls screen, tap Delete old recordings. Select the recorded calls you want to delete.
On Galaxy phones running Android 15 with One UI 7 or higher, you also get Transcript Assist, which can translate and summarize your recorded calls directly in the Voice Recorder app.
Using a third-party app to record calls
If your device doesn't have a built-in call recording feature, or if you live in a region where it's unavailable, you can use a third-party app. Apps like Truecaller (premium), Cube ACR, or TapeACall are popular options for both Android and iOS. These apps often provide additional features like automatic recording, cloud backup, and AI transcription. The recording feature does not work with third-party calling apps.
Important: Before using any third-party app, check local laws in your jurisdiction. Many apps will play a beep or announcement to inform the other party, but this doesn't always satisfy all-party consent laws. Always verify that the app is legal to use in your region and that you have the necessary consent to record.
Frequently asked questions
Are call recordings announced? Yes, on iPhone (iOS 18.1+) and Google Pixel, the other party hears an automatic audio notice when a recording starts. On Samsung, there is no mandatory announcement, but you should always inform the other party yourself to stay ethical and legal.
Can I automatically record all calls? Yes. On Google Pixel, you can enable Always record for unknown numbers or specific contacts. On Samsung, go to Call recording settings and select Auto-record calls for all calls or specific numbers. On iPhone, automatic recording is not available; you must manually start each recording.
Where are my recordings saved? On iPhone, recordings go to the Notes app under Call Recordings. On Pixel, they are in the Recents tab of the Phone app. On Samsung, recordings are saved in the Phone app (under Recents) and the Voice Recorder app.
For the wider topic, see record a conversation on Android phone.
