How to Record a Phone Call on iPhone

Updated November 11, 2026. Checked against Apple's iPhone User Guide for iOS 27.

Quick answer: On iPhone with iOS 18.1 or later, open the Phone app, make or answer a call, tap More, then Call Recording. Both people hear a notice that the call is being recorded. Tap Stop or hang up, and the recording and transcript are saved in Notes, in the Call Recordings folder. Below: what to check first, fixes, and other methods.

We make VoxNote, a call note taker. It is 1 option in this guide, flagged where it appears. Most of this page covers the recorder already on your iPhone.

In this guide

• Before you start: 3 things to check
• How to record a call with the built-in recorder
• Where to find recorded calls on iPhone
• How to get a transcript and a summary
• Does the other person know you're recording?
• Can you record without the announcement?
• Why can't I record calls on my iPhone?
• 4 other ways to record a call on iPhone
• Which method should you use?
• FAQ

Before you start: 3 things to check

1. Your iOS version and the Call Recording setting

Call recording arrived with iOS 18.1. Apple released it on October 28, 2024, and said call participants "are automatically notified" (Apple Newsroom). If your iPhone runs an older version, go to Settings > General > Software Update.

The feature is on by default. If someone turned it off, go to Settings > Apps > Phone > Audio Call Recording and turn it back on (Apple Support).

2. Your country and language

Apple says call recording isn't currently available in Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Egypt, the European Union, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

Recording works in 32 languages, including English, French and Spanish. Transcripts cover fewer: English (United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Australia, India, New Zealand, Singapore), Spanish (United States, Mexico), Cantonese, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese and Brazilian Portuguese (iOS feature availability). So a call in French can be recorded, but Apple does not list French for call transcripts.

3. Tell the other person

Apple's steps start with a reminder: make sure the other person is willing to be recorded. The law depends on where each person is.

In general terms, US federal law allows a recording when 1 person on the call consents, and most states follow that rule, while a minority of states (11 in the Digital Media Law Project's count) require everyone's consent (Digital Media Law Project). In Canada, the Criminal Code offence of intercepting a private communication does not apply when 1 party to it consents (Criminal Code, section 184). Professional rules and privacy laws can add duties. This is general information, not legal advice.

Call transcription rules vary from place to place, and you're responsible for following the ones that apply to you and your profession.

How to record a call with the iPhone's built-in recorder

Record a call you make

1. Open the Phone app.
2. Make the call.
3. During the call, tap More, then tap Call Recording.
4. Both of you hear an audio notice that the call is being recorded.
5. To stop, tap Stop, or just hang up.
6. Tap View Saved Call to open the recording in Notes.

These are Apple's steps for iOS 27 (Apple Support).

Record a call you receive

Answer as usual, then tap More and Call Recording on the same in-call screen. No app needed. Only the person who starts the recording needs the feature, so the caller can be on Android or a landline (Apple Personal Safety Guide).

Stop the recording without hanging up

Tap Stop during the call. A message plays to say the recording has ended, and the call goes on. What was recorded until then is saved in the Notes app of the person who started it (Apple Personal Safety Guide).

Where to find recorded calls on iPhone

Open the Notes app and look for the Call Recordings folder. Each call is a note. Tap the note, then tap Play to listen.

While you view the transcript, you can:

• Select a passage to play the audio from that point.
• Use Find in Transcript to search for a name, a number or a date.
• Choose Copy Transcript, or Add Transcript to Note.
• Choose Save Audio Files to keep the audio in Files, or Share Audio to send it.
• Delete the recording. Deleting the audio also deletes the transcript.

These options come from Apple's guide (Apple Support). If the call matters, save the audio to Files right away, so 1 deleted note doesn't take everything.

How to get a transcript and a summary of the call

In supported regions and languages, the transcript appears in the same note, with each speaker identified. It may take a moment to be ready. If no transcript shows up, Apple says your iPhone either doesn't meet the minimum requirements or didn't detect a supported language.

A summary needs Apple Intelligence, which runs on iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 16 or later. Apple notes that usage limits may apply. When it is available, tap Summary in the note. Summaries cover English, Spanish (Mexico, United States), Japanese, Korean and Traditional Chinese (iOS feature availability).

Apple also asks you to verify a transcript before you rely on it, because it "might not be a perfect representation of the conversation." Check names, amounts and dates against the audio.

The built-in recorder stops at the transcript and the summary. If you need a follow-up email, you copy the transcript and write it yourself.

Does the other person know you're recording?

Yes. With the built-in recorder, both people hear an audio notice when the recording starts, and Apple says the notice "replays periodically during the call." A message also plays when the recording stops.

Apple's safety guide adds 2 points. Turning off Audio Call Recording on your own iPhone stops you from recording, but it doesn't stop someone else from recording a call with you. And third-party apps that record calls "may not provide a warning" (Apple Personal Safety Guide).

Can you record a call on iPhone without the announcement?

Not with the built-in recorder. There is no setting to turn the notice off, and it replays during the call.

Other methods play different things, listed in the comparison table below. What a tool plays doesn't change the rules about telling people: those depend on where you both are and on your profession.

Why can't I record calls on my iPhone?

Go through this list in order.

1. iOS is older than 18.1. Update in Settings > General > Software Update.
2. Audio Call Recording is turned off. Turn it on in Settings > Apps > Phone > Audio Call Recording.
3. Apple doesn't offer it in your region. The EU and the other countries listed above have no Call Recording option.
4. More than 1 other person is on the call. Apple says you can record when you're talking to 1 other person, so a conference or merged call won't show the option.
5. It isn't a regular phone call. Apple's guide covers audio-only calls in the Phone app, not FaceTime video or WhatsApp calls.
6. No transcript. The language isn't supported for transcripts, or your iPhone doesn't meet the requirements. French calls, for example, get no transcript.
7. No summary. Summaries need Apple Intelligence on an iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max or iPhone 16 or later.

4 other ways to record a phone call on iPhone

1. Google Voice

Google Voice can record calls that come in to your Google Voice number. With a personal account, turn on Incoming call recording in the Voice app settings, answer the call, then press 4. Press 4 again to stop, or hang up. All participants hear an announcement when the recording starts and when it ends. Recordings appear in the Calls tab, and you can download them from a computer (Google Voice Help).

Personal accounts record incoming calls only, on your Google Voice number, not your carrier number. Workspace accounts can record on demand or automatically.

2. 3-way merge call recorder apps

Most App Store call recorders add a recording line to your call and merge it in as a 3-way call (ZDNet). TapeACall, for example, says it needs your carrier to support 3-way calling, and its premium features are a subscription (App Store).

Expect an extra step on every call and a monthly fee. One well-known option is gone: Rev discontinued its Call Recorder app, and Rev says support ended on October 31, 2025.

3. Speakerphone and a second device

Put the call on speaker and record it with another device: Voice Memos on an iPad or a second iPhone, or a recording app on a Mac. Voice Memos can't capture a call on the same iPhone, but it works fine as the second device (ZDNet).

Pick a quiet room, put the recorder close to the speaker, and make a 10-second test first. If you'd rather use a dedicated recorder, our list of Plaud alternatives compares the hardware options.

4. A call note taker on your own number (VoxNote)

This one is ours. VoxNote is an iPhone app that takes notes on your phone calls on your existing number. Calls you receive reach it through call forwarding, which you set up once with your carrier. Calls you make are dialed from the VoxNote app, and the person you call still sees your number.

After each call, you get a summary, the full transcript and a follow-up email draft. VoxNote connects to ChatGPT, Claude, Grok and Meta Muse, so you can ask your AI about your calls.

It is built for people on client calls all day, such as brokers, advisors and agents. For an occasional call, the built-in recorder is enough. Plans start at US$16.99 a month, or US$159.99 a year (about US$13.33 a month). Try VoxNote free for 7 days.

The methods side by side

Call transcription rules vary from place to place, and you're responsible for following the ones that apply to you and your profession.

Which method should you use?

• An occasional personal call: use the built-in recorder. It is free and already on your iPhone.
• You already use a Google Voice number: Google Voice records the incoming calls on that number at no cost.
• You're on client calls all day and want notes and a follow-up email: a call note taker saves you from replaying audio. Our iPhone call recording alternative page compares VoxNote with the built-in recorder in detail.

For a wider view of the market, see our call recording app alternatives.

FAQ

How do I record a phone call on my iPhone?

On iOS 18.1 or later, open the Phone app and make or answer a call. Tap More, then Call Recording. Both people hear a notice. Tap Stop or hang up to end the recording. It is saved in the Notes app, in the Call Recordings folder, with a transcript in supported languages.

Can I record a call on my iPhone without an announcement?

Not with the built-in recorder. Apple plays an audio notice to both people when the recording starts and replays it during the call, and there is no setting to turn it off. Other methods play different things, but the rules about telling people depend on where you are, not on the app.

Does the other person know when I record a call on iPhone?

Yes, with the built-in recorder. Both people hear an audio notice when recording starts, the notice replays periodically, and a message plays when it stops. Apple warns that some third-party apps may record without a warning, and that turning the feature off on your iPhone doesn't stop others from recording you.

Why can't I record calls on my iPhone?

The usual causes are an iOS version older than 18.1, Audio Call Recording turned off in Settings > Apps > Phone, or a region where Apple doesn't offer it, such as the EU. The option also doesn't appear when more than 1 other person is on the call, as in a conference or merged call.

Where are recorded calls saved on iPhone?

In the Notes app, in a folder called Call Recordings. Each call is its own note with the audio and, in supported languages, the transcript. From the note you can play, search, copy the transcript, save the audio to Files, share it or delete it. Deleting the audio also deletes the transcript.

Can I record a call on iPhone without an app?

Yes. Since iOS 18.1, recording is built into the Phone app, and it is free. Open the Phone app, make or answer a call, tap More, then Call Recording. You can also put the call on speaker and record it with Voice Memos on a second device, such as an iPad.

How do I get a transcript of a phone call on iPhone?

Record the call with the built-in recorder, then open the note in the Call Recordings folder of the Notes app. In supported languages and regions, the transcript appears there with each speaker identified. It may take a moment. Apple suggests checking the transcript for accuracy before you rely on it.

Is there an app that records and transcribes iPhone calls automatically?

Yes. VoxNote, which we make, writes a transcript, a summary and a follow-up email draft for calls forwarded to it from your number and for calls you dial in its app, with no tap per call. Call transcription rules vary from place to place, and you're responsible for following the ones that apply to you and your profession.

Can I record a conference call or a merged call on iPhone?

Not with the built-in recorder. Apple says you can record a call when you're talking to 1 other person, so the option isn't offered on a conference or merged call. For group calls, use speakerphone and a second device.

Can I record a FaceTime or WhatsApp call on iPhone?

Apple's call recording guide covers audio-only calls in the Phone app. It does not describe recording FaceTime video calls or calls inside apps like WhatsApp, so don't count on the Call Recording button there. The speakerphone and second device method works with any call you can hear out loud.