How To Record A Call On IPhone

You might want to record a call on an iPhone for a variety of reasons. You could be interviewing someone, taking notes, or keeping a sweet call with a loved one for posterity. Whatever the reason, you need to consider a few important things beforehand. First, make sure the person on the other end is comfortable being recorded. Second, note the legalities of call recording in your state or location. Once you have these factors covered, you can record a call using the latest iPhones in a variety of ways.

Is it legal to record a phone call on an iPhone?

Before recording a call with someone, you must understand the legalities around such an action. First, you need to have the person’s consent. You should never record someone without their knowledge. Make sure to receive a verbal agreement by either asking for permission or stating you will record the call before the conversation actually starts. Aim to get the acknowledgment on the record to avoid future issues.

You should also be aware that each state has its own laws about recording phone calls. States such as Alabama, Indiana, and New York have one-party consent laws (only one participant has to agree to the recording to make it legal). However, states like California, Florida, and Montana are considered all-party consent states (all participants must agree to the recording).

No matter the law in your state or country, it’s always a good idea to obtain consent from the other party and make them aware you will record the call. Doing so will avoid any potential legal issues, and it’s the considerate thing to do.

Can you use Screen Recording on an iPhone to record a call?

Contrary to what other sources might indicate, you can’t record an active call using Apple’s Screen Recording feature. This is true for all models, from the older iPhones right up to the new iPhone 15 Pro Max. While you can turn on the microphone during a screen recording, it will not record voices during active calls for privacy reasons. The only way around this is to use an external recording device, such as a second phone or tablet, or to use a specialized app.

How to record a call using the Voice Memo app

The Voice Memo app is available on all iPhones, including those running on iOS 17. This program can handily record your thoughts, observations, and other notes to play back and listen to later. You can also use Voice Memo app to record calls, but only if you use a second device. Here’s how to properly use Voice Memo:

1. Set up a primary phone to make the call. If you have a solid Wi-Fi connection, you could alternatively use devices such as iPads and MacBooks to make the call via FaceTime Audio.
2. Open the Voice Memo app on a second iPhone before or during the call. You can find the app in the Utilities folder.
3. Tap the red Record button at the bottom of the screen.
4. Put the calling iPhone on speaker, turn the volume up, and place it near the recording device running Voice Memo.
5. Proceed with your conversation.
6. Once finished, tap the red Record button again to stop the recording. The audio file will be saved in the Voice Memos library.
7. You can change the name of the recording to find it later.

If you want to back up your recording, you can tap on the three dots to the right of the file to send it to your personal AirDrop or Google Drive cloud.

How to record a call using the Google Voice app

If you don’t have more than one iPhone, you can instead use apps that can make and record phone calls all at once. One such program is Google Voice. Here is how you can get it set up:

1. Visit the App Store on your iPhone.
2. Type Google Voice into the Search tab, then tap on the first result.
3. On the Google Voice store page, tap the Get button. Double-click the side button and use Face ID to install the app.
4. Once installed, Open Google Voicethen accept the Terms and Conditions.
5. Type in your city or area code and press the Search button, and Google Voice will provide a list of available numbers for you to use.
6. Pick the number you want, then press the Select button next to it. Then press Next on the next several pages.
7. To verify your number choice, type your active phone number into the text bar under Enter a number to link. Then press Send code. Please note that you need an existing US-based number for this to work (for now).
8. Google will text you a code. Enter it into the text bar, then press Verify. You are now ready to use Google Voice.

While Google Voice automatically transcribes your calls, if you want the app to record calls, you will need to activate the feature:

1. While in Google Voice, tap the Menu icon (the three horizontal lines), then tap Settings.
2. Under Callsactivate Incoming call options.
3. While on a call while using Google Voicetap the 4 key on your dial pad. Everyone on the call will hear a notification stating they are being recorded.
4. To stop recording, either tap the 4 key again or hang up.

Your recordings will be stored in the app’s Calls tab. You can also use the Menu to send or share these recordings.

How to record a call using third-party apps

You can also use various third-party apps to record calls on your iPhone. Some of the most popular examples include TapeACall, Rev Call Recorder, Call Recorder Lite, and NoNotes. While these programs require subscription fees, most offer free trials. For instance, I have been using NoNotes for years, and while the app includes a paid tier, you can record several minutes worth of phone calls for free each month. Here’s how to use these four apps.

TapeACall

TapeACall works without an internet connection and is easy to use. However, the program requires a three-way calling workaround. While you can start with a seven-day free trial, once time is up, you will have to sign up for either a monthly or annual subscription. Here’s how to start:

1. Download the TapeACall app from the App Store.
2. Go through the demo pages (or tap Skip at the top right).
3. Enter your e-mail address (you can skip this step and select Later from the top right). You’ll have to activate the free seven-day trial or choose an auto-renewing plan.
4. While in the app, tap the Record button and dial the person you want to call.
5. Select Merge Calland the recording will begin.

After you are done with the call and recording, you can play back the captured conversation and share it with other people or accounts.

Rev Call Recorder

Rev Call Recorder is super easy to use and also includes a transcription service option. Here’s how to record outgoing calls:

1. Download Rev Call Recorder from the App Store.
2. When you first open the app, you will have to create an account.
3. Before a call, tap the green Phone button.
4. Either enter a number from your contacts or dial the number.
5. Tap the button to call the recording line +1 (415) 738-2935.
6. The recording line will redirect you to your intended recipient and record the conversation.

You can also use Rev Call Recorder to record incoming calls:

1. Answer the call.
2. During the call, open Rev Call Recorder.
3. Merge the call with the recording line (+1 (415) 738-2935).
4. The recording line will record the call.

After you are finished with the call and recording, you can take the resulting audio file and share it with other people or send it to the storage of your choice. If the file is too big, you can edit it within the Rev Call Recorder app to only keep the important bits.

Call Recorder Lite

Call Recorder Lite is a very basic, user-friendly app that lets you record and save calls. Here’s how to use it:

1. Download the Call Recorder Lite app.
2. Select an access number based on your country and location.
3. Verify your phone number.
4. Open the Record screen, tap the Record button, and your call will be transferred to the appropriate servers.
5. Once connected, tap Merge Call to begin recording.

While you can use Call Recorder Lite without paying any money, you will be locked out of numerous features unless you spend $10 to upgrade to Call Recorder Pro.

NoNotes

I have been using NoNotes for years, and I have found it reliable and easy to use. You can record a few minutes worth of calls per month for free, so if you stay within that limit, you can use the app without spending anything on it. Otherwise, you have to pay a fee and upgrade to unlimited recordings. Follow these steps to record calls with NoNotes:

1. Download the NoNotes app.
2. Open NoNotes and tap on the red recording button.
3. Select Make & Record a Call, Record Active Callor Record & Transcribe. Please note there’s a fee for transcriptions.
4. Enter the phone number of the person you want to call or choose them from your list of contacts.
5. Your phone will ring. Answer it, and NoNotes will connect the call to the other person while the recording starts.

After you have a recording, it’s saved to the app, and you can play it back at any time. If you want to take advantage of NoNotes’ transcription service, you will have to send the file to the company and wait several days for a transcriptionist to deliver the results.

Bottom line

There are workarounds to record calls on an iPhone. However, you should only do so with both or all parties’ consent and be aware of your local laws. Once those details are ironed out, you can feel comfortable referring to your recorded call log for work, research, or education.