There are many reasons why you might want to (legally) record a phone call on your iPhone, and there are very few ways to do it. While it can be reassuring that Apple prioritizes customer privacy, the company’s dedication to that can make times when recording is difficult and unnecessary.
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Before you record a phone call from your iPhone, there are a few practical things to keep in mind:
- States have different laws regarding the recording of phone calls. Click This to find out your state’s policy.
- iPhone does not allow recording through the built-in microphone while the phone is actively making a call through its own software. Simply put, you can’t hit “record” while talking on the phone.
- You need an external iOS device with voice recording and microphone, or a third-party app with its own calling software, such as Google voice. Also, note that these third-party apps may require a subscription fee.
- The method below is considered the most accessible method for most iPhone users who want to record a conversation, especially if you want to be subtle about it.
How to record phone calls on iPhone
what do you need:
- 1 iPhone uses speakerphone to join calls
- Another recording device (be it an iPhone, iPad, or even another Android device) uses Voice Memos or a voice recorder app to record the call.
First, make sure you have both an iPhone and another iOS device, such as an iPad or another iPhone, including the Voice Memos app. The Voice Recorder app comes pre-installed on most devices, but it’s also free on App Store.
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Open the Voice Memos app and tap the red record button and start speaking long enough so you can make sure the sound quality is good enough to record and then get the hang of the conversation. When you’re done recording, tap the red button again and the audio file will appear saying “Voice Recording (the number corresponds to the voice recording you have).”
Now play back the file and see if the sound is clear. Make the adjustments you need before you record a phone call.
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For example, if the sound is too low quality, you may need to speak louder, increase the sensitivity of the microphone, or place the speaker closer to your mouth.
Set up the second device so Voice Memos is ready to record. Place the device close to the phone making the call and press the red button again to record.
Starting a recording before you start the call can add a few seconds of silence to the file, but will make sure you don’t miss any conversations. On your iPhone, make sure to initiate a phone call in Speakerphone mode.
Pro tip: The red lines on the Voice Recorder app indicate how well the app is capturing audio. The larger the red bars, the higher the detected volume. If the lines stay the same, you may need to increase the volume of phone calls or move the devices closer together.
Higher red bars indicate louder sound than lower bars mean low sound and you may have to move closer to your phone for Voice Memos to receive the sound more accurately. Screenshots of Christina Darby/ZDNET
For legal reasons, check if the state in which you are recording and residing is a one- or two-party state when it comes to recording consent.
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One-party states require only one person on the call — counted as a friend — to consent to the recording. Bilateral status requires both the recorder and the person being recorded to agree.
When the conversation is over or you have received the information you need, end the recording by tapping the red button again.
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From within the Voice Memos app, select the recording file, tap the ellipse (three dots) button to bring up sharing options, and send it directly to your iPhone via text message, mail, AirDrop, or even is Google Drive.
Other ways of writing
The above steps are the easiest, most effective and least obvious way to record phone calls. If you (or a trusted second party) don’t have another iOS device to spare, here are a few alternatives.
Google Voice app for iOS allows you to make free and recorded calls using Wifi via Google Voice. You can select the device you want to make calls through the app. For incoming calls, you can go to Settings > Calls > Incoming calls and then enable the option to record incoming calls. After everyone joins the call, press four (4) on the keypad to start and end recording. The call will end in the recording menu option after it ends.
The Application Recording Rev It’s also free, can record while you’re on the phone, and can record your files after the conversation is over. However, please note that the transcription option costs $1.5 per minute. Once you download your file, it will appear as an MP3 file right on your device. This is also another great and easy option for recording phone calls and narrating screen recordings.
Easy voice recorder is another free app that lets you record high-quality voice memos or audio recordings into PCM, MP4, or ACC files — all of which can then be saved to your iCloud account your.
As the name suggests, this app is designed so that users can easily take out their phones and start recording anytime, anywhere. In addition, Easy Voice Recorder has the ability to convert text into transcription. If you download the app and use it on your iPad to record, you can also drag and drop recordings using Files or other recording apps for additional recording or simply to merge recordings.
If you want to record business phone calls, conference calls, or important interviews, this $11 app might be worth the investment. For this application to record, you make a “conference call” where the TapeACall application is one of the parties. Then go into the app and press the record button to record simultaneously and let the app “dial up”. You have to merge all the “three” calls together, so be aware that the process is a bit more tedious and a lot less refined.
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Frequently asked questions
Is it illegal to record phone calls?
Federal law requires at least one party’s consent, which means you need to either participate in the conversation you’re recording or have at least one person in it agree. On the other hand, it can be understood as wiretapping or illegal eavesdropping. Some states have even stricter laws that require the consent of everyone involved in the conversation.
Before recording a conversation, it’s always best check your state law.
Is there a call recording app on iPhone?
There are several that implement this function in one way or another. However, Apple is restrictive about allowing third-party apps to use the microphone during phone calls. For that reason, most apps that help you record calls on your phone have to use clever mechanisms to get around this barrier. In addition to the method outlined above using the Voice Recorder app, people also use Google Voice, TapeACall, Easy Voice Recorder, and Rev Voice Recorder.
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Alternatively, you can use most computers or tablets equipped with a microphone to record phone conversations as long as the phone is on the speaker or the microphone is kept near the speaker next to your ear. . Both iOS And Windows computer has many recording software options available.
Does Apple have a call recording app on iPhone?
Unfortunately, no — at least not yet. Apple doesn’t have the app itself, but there are third-party apps available on App Store. Also, Voice Memos is most likely automatically installed on your iOS device.
Does screen recording on iPhone record my calls?
Screen recording during an audio call or FaceTime does that — only records your screen and screen — doesn’t include audio.
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Do iPhone voice memos have a time limit?
The Voice Recorder app can record for an unlimited amount of time as long as you have storage space left. To check your device’s storage, go to your iPhone Settings > General > Device > Storage. You can also buy more iPhone storage.
