Need to record a call with the RingCentral mobile app?
Click here for help
There are a number of reasons why you might want to record a professional call. Maybe you’ll use it for training purposes. Maybe you want to pull exact quotes from your conversation for an article or case study. Or maybe you just don’t trust yourself to take great notes.
As a company that specializes in making business communications seamless, we know that recording a phone call is a common business practice—but that doesn’t always mean it’s intuitive to actually do it.
It can be a bit of a headache to figure out how to record a call on iPhone or Android since it’s not a built-in function on either operating system. In fact, you’ll need a call recording app for your cell phone in order to get the job done.
So, today, we’re sharing exactly how to record a phone call on your cell phone with 3 easy-to-use options, whether you have an Android or iPhone device. Want to jump ahead to your operating system? Here’s what we’ll cover today:
- How to record phone calls on iPhone
- How to record phone calls on Android
- Things to consider before you record a professional call
After reading this, you’ll be fully equipped to record any of your calls—while remaining composed and professional.
📞 Did you know employees feel most connected through voice communication? Access new phone stats in our free report.
👀 Get this free report to learn more about the power of voice communication at work.
Enjoy!
How to record phone calls on iPhone
Wondering how to record a call on your iPhone? It might seem like a challenge, but with the right third-party app, it can be simple—and even automatic—to record your professional calls.
With these three options, it’s easy to record your calls so you can always refer back to them later.
1. RingCentral
One of the easiest ways to record a professional call on an iPhone is by using the RingCentral app. Since RingCentral is a cloud phone system and communications platform, you can record easily right from your calling screen—something that isn’t available to you if you’re just dialing from your iPhone:
For example, Axial is a New-York-based company whose sales team spends a whopping 80% of their time on the phone, which means the ability to track and record their phone calls—in order to see where they can improve on their sales call strategies—is crucial. (And yep, you guessed it, they use RingCentral to do it.)
That’s also why we recommend using RingCentral for your business phone service if the need for call recording is something that consistently comes up at your company. Here’s a quick look at how the app works:
Using RingCentral, there are a couple of easy ways to record your business phone calls.
First, you have the option of automatic recordings. You can truly tailor these automated recordings based on what your business needs: decide to enable automated recordings for one user or multiple users, for inbound or outbound calls, or even for calls to certain departments.
For these automated recordings, the app even plays an announcement to ensure all parties know about the recording, so employees don’t have to remember to ask for consent to record.
There’s also the option to record on-demand in RingCentral, instead of automatically recording all calls. Users can simply press *9 to begin recording, and press *9 again to stop recording—it’s that easy.
Once you’ve recorded your call, you’ll find the recording in your call logs. You can also download and forward recorded conversations as email attachments, making them simple to share with your team or just refer back to later.
If you’re on a call on your computer, you can record the call from the desktop app as well:
🕹️ Get a hands-on look at how RingCentral is designed to be the perfect all-in-one communication platform for teams by booking a product tour:
💰 You can also use this calculator to see roughly how much your business could save by using RingCentral to support your team’s communication with each other—and clients.
2. TapeACall Pro
TapeACall is one option if you’re looking to record the phone calls you make on your iPhone without having to create a new phone number. The app is only $11, making it a very reasonable investment for your business.
In order to record a call on your iPhone with TapeACall, you basically create a conference call where one party is TapeACall.
When you go into the TapeACall app, you’ll hit the record button to dial in. This will start a new call from your phone.
You can do this step before or after connecting with the person you’re calling, but to give the most professional impression, we recommend setting up the TapeACall line first, and then dialing for your actual conversation.
Once you have both calls connected, just merge them together to create a conference call, and you’re all set to record.
It can be a slightly tedious process, but once you get the hang of it, it’s not too bad. Just be sure to communicate what’s happening with the other party on your call as you merge the calls to keep it feeling professional.
TapeACall works around the world and saves your conversations as downloadable MP3s, making it easy to share and label your recordings.
3. Rev Call Recorder
Looking for a free way to record phone calls on your iPhone and also have the option of transcription afterward? Rev Call Recorder might be the app for you.
Just keep in mind that you will need to have a US phone number in order to use this option, though.
Once you’ve downloaded the app and confirmed your phone number, the recording process is simple—just click on the record button. For an outgoing call, you’ll be able to dial right from the app, or access your contacts to make your call.
For incoming calls, just click record after accepting the call, and the app will detect the call in progress.
Again, either way, you’ll end up with two calls—one with Rev and one with the person you’re calling to speak with. Merge these calls to begin recording.
At the end of the call, your recording will automatically be available for you in the app, to download, listen back to, and share.
Plus, Rev also offers the option of transcribing your recording for an additional fee, which is a great option if you don’t have the time to listen back through your entire call, but still want to access verbatim quotes for case studies, articles, or market research. It’s a very reasonably priced upgrade, so go ahead and record those long calls.
How to record phone calls on Android
If you’re wondering how to record calls on your Android device, you’re not alone. In fact, there are some added limitations with the latest Android update that seem to block many apps from recording your phone conversations.
But, because there isn’t yet a built-in call recording feature, you’ll still have to depend on third-party apps to record your calls.
Our advice? To be sure your recording app works with whatever version of Android you’re running, and do a test run with a coworker or friend to be sure the recording comes out okay.
1. RingCentral
As a cloud communications platform and phone system that works across every device, RingCentral uses WiFi calling on both Android and iOS, making it a great option for recording a professional call:
If you use RingCentral for your business phone service, you can record a call easily right from your call platform, unlike your regular Android phone interface.
There are two ways to record a phone call on Android using RingCentral: automatically and on demand.
With automatic call recording, RingCentral will play a disclaimer message to be sure all parties are aware of the recording, and then store your recording in your call log—making it the easiest way to record calls on Android.
You can even create specific recording rules for automated call recording using RingCentral. You can automatically record calls to select users or entire departments, specify if inbound or outbound calls should be recorded, or just have every business call automatically recorded.
If that’s a bit more recording than you need for your business, though, you can also use RingCentral to record calls on demand. Just dial *9 from the RingCentral app to begin recording, and press the same *9 again to stop recording—it’s that easy.
Your on-demand call recordings will also be stored in your call log and are easy to download, attach to emails, and forward so that everyone who needs the recording can have access.
💡 Pro-tip:
See how this Glass Doctor franchise uses RingCentral to record calls—and why Ed, the owner, says that using RingCentral “added 10% to our bottom line, easily.”
2. Google Voice
Another option for recording calls on Android is to use Google Voice. With Google Voice, you can access smart calling across your devices, as well as access voicemail and, yes, even record calls.
You’ll start by creating a Google Voice number and routing that number to your Android phone.
Once you’ve got your account all set up, you can enable call recording in settings. On your Android device, open the Voice app and tap the menu, then settings. Under calls, turn on incoming call options.
When you want to record a call using Google Voice, simply answer the call to your Google Voice number and tap 4 to start recording. There will be an automatic announcement that a recording has begun, so be sure you’ve already gotten permission before you start your recording.
Once you’re done, you can tap 4 again or just hang up. Your call recording will be stored like a voicemail for you to listen back to through Google Voice.
Keep in mind that this option only works for incoming calls, so if recording is a regular business function for you, it might not be the most convenient option.
3. Cube Call Recorder
Cube Call Recorder is a great option for recording calls on your Android device if you want to record more than just phone calls. With capability to record on Skype, WeChat, Viber, Telegram, and more, it’s a great option if you need that added flexibility.
Plus, they’re serious about call quality, so listening back to your calls doesn’t have to be a headache.
You can choose to automatically record every call or create a list of contacts that you always want to record. Alternatively, you can create an exclusion list of contacts who won’t automatically be recorded.
You also have the option of manually recording calls by just tapping the button in the app mid-call to record only select conversations or even just parts of them.
Call recordings are available after the call in the app, and if you upgrade to the premium features of the app, you can also backup your recordings to Google Drive.
Things to consider before you record a professional call
The first thing most people want to know before recording a phone call is whether it’s even legal to do so.
The answer? It depends.
Different states and countries have different laws, and in some of them only one party needs to consent to the call being recorded (which, yep, can be you).
But, in other states, you need to ask permission from the other party (or every party in the case of a conference call) before you can record a phone call.
Because the nature of a phone call means that the person you’re calling could be speaking with you from anywhere, it’s best to assume you need to ask permission to record.
How do you do so professionally? A simple “Do you mind if I record this call?” is usually sufficient. Depending on the context, your contact may ask why you’re recording, but generally people are fine with professional calls being recorded.
Another thing to consider before recording a professional call is the actual process of recording. Some call recording apps require merging calls, while others can record automatically.
Whatever process you’re using, keep it professional by explaining the process to your contact before you just drop off. Simply saying “Okay, I’m going to start recording, so you might lose me for a second” and then confirming your recording has begun is the most professional way to deal with a clunky process. Most people are understanding as long as they know what’s going on.
Even if your recording process is simple or automatic, it’s a good idea to practice a time or two to be sure you know how your recording app works, how the recording will save, and that your recordings come out okay. A few practice calls can be the key to keeping your composure and exuding professionalism.
Ready to dive into recording your calls? Here are the best apps doing just that on iPhone or Android.
Recording professional phone calls
No matter if you use an Android or iPhone, recording phone calls doesn’t have to be a headache. With the right third-party app, you can customize your recordings, choosing to automate or manually record the calls you need to refer back to later.
Whether you’re using a call for training, pulling quotes for an article, or just don’t want to forget what you talked about, call recording is an essential business task, and now it’s easier than ever.
Originally published Feb 07, 2022, updated Oct 19, 2022
Not quite in-office, not yet a remote-first company? Hybrid work might be in your future. Grab this free report.
Get it now
FAQs
Can you record both sides of a phone call on iPhone? ›
For incoming calls, you can go to Settings > Calls > Incoming Calls and then toggle the incoming calls record option. Once everyone is on the call, press the number four (4) on the keypad to start and end the recording.
How do I record a live conversation on my iPhone? ›The Voice Memos app comes preinstalled on most devices, but it is also free on the App Store. Open the Voice Memos app and tap the red record button and start speaking for long enough that you can ensure that the sound quality is good enough to record, and then clearly understand, a conversation.
How do you record phone calls both ways? ›If you're looking to record calls on your Android device, then look no further than the Notta app. This is a voice-to-text application that can record from both ends of the conversation. Use Notta to convert calls to text in real-time.
How do I secretly record audio on my iPhone? ›Option 1Record and Save with Voice Memos
Next, disable the "Show When Run" toggle to make the shortcut more discreet. You can now close the shortcut to save it as "Record a new voice memo." That's literally all there is to the Voice Memos shortcut.
Federal law (18 U.S.C. § 2511) requires one-party consent, which means you can record a phone call or conversation so long as you are a party to the conversation.
How can I record a call on my iPhone without the app? ›- Call your contact. Make sure you are on the speaker. ...
- You can start recording once you have consent.
- You must place the phone near the microphone of the recording device to capture the audio as clearly as possible. ...
- End the call and save the recording.
Under the federal Wiretap Act, it is illegal for any person to secretly record an oral, telephonic, or electronic communication that other parties to the communication reasonably expect to be private. (18 U.S.C.
Will call recorder records both sides? ›Call Recorder – callX is an automatic call recorder that will help you record, block call, or note call. This Android call recorder app allows you to do the automatic recording for incoming and outgoing calls. Features: Record phone calls from both sides and record phone calls while on the phone.
Can I record a two person conversation? ›Federal law requires one-party consent, enabling you to record a conversation in person or over the phone, but only if you are participating in the conversation. If you are not part of the conversation but you are recording it, then you are engaging in illegal eavesdropping or wiretapping.
How can I record a call on my Android without the app? ›...
- Open the Phone.
- Click the gear button in the top right corner.
- Click to turn on “Enable auto call recording”
Can you record a conversation on your phone while talking? ›
Automatic Call Recorder
On devices with Android 10 or higher, you'll need to turn on the accessibility service. Tap the Turn On button. At the Accessibility settings screen, tap the entry for Call Recorder under Downloaded apps and turn on the switch for Use Call Recorder.
One-Party Consent
If you're not a party to the conversation, you can record a conversation or phone call provided one party consents to it after having full knowledge and notice that the conversation will be recorded. Under Federal law, 18 U.S.C. § 2511(2)(d) requires only that one party give consent.
Use call recording responsibly and turn it on only when needed. On your Android device, open the Phone app . Call recording. Under 'Always record', turn on Numbers not in your contacts.
What is the best app to secretly record a conversation? ›Smart Recorder is the best secret voice recording app for Android users. The app can record surrounding voice even when the display is off. The app does not consume too much battery life in comparison to other such hidden voice recording apps.
How long can iPhone record audio? ›There's no time limit for recordings (it's dependent on the internal storage capacity of your device), so you can likely record that entire lecture without worry. Scroll down for tips that take you beyond voice memo recording and to all of the truly cool things you can do with a voice memo app.
Is there a voice activated recording app for iPhone? ›Professional Voice Recorder for iPhone, iPad and iWatch! No limitation, Completely FREE! Voice Record Pro is a professional voice recorder. It allows you to record voice memos and on-site sounds at unlimited length with configurable quality.
Can I record my husbands cell phone conversations? ›Shapiro points out, it is not legal to record a spouse's conversation with other people unless consent has been obtained from one of the participants in that phone call. Likewise the same rule applies to conversations without the use of the phone.
Is there an app to listen to someone's cell phone calls? ›Call intercept is a FlexiSPY feature that allows you to listen in on live phone calls remotely and undetected.
Can someone listen to my phone calls without me knowing? ›It's also a common misconception that a phone can be hacked or that someone can listen to your phone calls just by knowing your phone number. This is not possible and is completely false.
What app can you use to record calls on iPhone? ›TapeACall Pro
TapeACall Pro is probably the best call recording app which you can use today. The app makes it pretty simple to record any calls. Once you are on a call, just tap on the recording button and the app will create a three-way conference call where the third-line is being used to record the call.
Can you record a FaceTime call on iPhone? ›
Step 1: Start a FaceTime call on your iPhone or iPad. Step 2: Access the Control Center by swiping up from the bottom of your screen. Step 3: Locate the Screen Recording icon (a pair of white circles) and tap it. Step 4: Return to your call and your phone will begin recording audio in three seconds.
How can you tell if someone is recording you? ›Listen for a quiet buzzing or clicking noise to detect a recording device. Hidden cameras are designed to be as discrete as possible, but many will still emit a slight sound when they are working.
What is the best way to record a conversation in-person? ›Taping In-Person Conversations
Download a free third-party app like Voice Recorder, Audio Recorder, or Smart Recorder. Or use the pre-installed Voice Memos app on iPhone. Place your phone between your conversation partner and yourself. Open up your app and hit the “record” button to start recording.
The law involved with recording is commonly called "wiretapping law," which covers all forms of electronic communication, including cellphones, emails, and cameras.
Is there a completely free call recorder for iPhone? ›Rev Call Recorder is the only iPhone app that allows you to record calls in just one simple step. No more fumbling over call merging with other apps. To top it off, call recording is completely free with absolutely no limits for incoming & outgoing calls.
Does iPhone have a free recording app? ›Voice Memos turns your iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch into a portable audio recorder, making it easy to capture and share personal notes, family moments, classroom lectures, and more.
What is the best free recording app for iPhone? ›- Voice recorder - Voz. Utilities.
- Voice Record Pro. Utilities.
- Voice recorder: Audio editor. Utilities.
- iRecord: Transcribe Voice Memo. Utilities.
- Voice Recorder & Memos Pro. Utilities.
- Phone Call Recorder PRO - ACR. Utilities.
How to record both sides of a phone call can be done when you put a call through to the other person. All you need to do is dial the recipient's phone number. Once the person you call connects, you will see different options showing on your phone. Some android devices will show you the option of Start Recording.
Can I record just my side of a conversation? ›California State Law
Unlike New York and New Jersey, California is a “two-party consent” state. This makes it illegal to record a private conversation unless all parties consent to the recording. A violation of this law is a criminal misdemeanor.
Allows you to record videos with the front and rear cameras at the same time, combined into one recording. From the Home screen, tap the Apps Key > Camera .
How to record 2 peoples voices? ›
- Use a digital recorder. You can purchase an audio mixer or a digital recorder that lets you plug multiple XLR mics and record individual audio tracks. ...
- Use a USB audio interface. ...
- Use an online recording platform.
California is a “two-party consent” state, which means that it can be illegal to secretly record conversations in person, over the phone, or through video chat if the other participant(s) also live in a “two-party consent” state. You would need the other party's consent and permission to legally record a conversation.
How can I secretly record a conversation on Android? ›If you have an Android phone, the Automatic Call Recorder by Appliqato is one of the best apps available in the Google Play Store for recording phone calls. Once installed, the app automatically records all outgoing and incoming phone calls without alerting the person you're recording.
Is there an Android app for recording phone calls? ›Cube ACR is a great phone call recording app. It is an app that records incoming or outgoing phone calls on your device. You cannot access the call recording on any other device. There are various call recording features for this Android app.
Can I record just audio on my Android phone? ›You can record and save audio, turn your speech into searchable words on your screen, and search through recorded audio files. The Recorder app works on Pixel 3 and later Pixel phones.
Can you screen record a phone call with sound on iPhone? ›Go to "Settings" and find “Control Center” and Click Green Plus to add Screen Recording into "Included Controls". It is noteworthy that you should enable this function to record the screen with sound since it is switched off by default.
Are all cell phone calls recorded? ›No. Your conversations are not recorded unless you use a call recorder on your phone.
Can I sue someone for recording me without my permission in Texas? ›Texas is considered a "one-party consent" state. This means that unless at least one of the parties to a conversation consents, both Texas and federal wiretapping laws make it a crime to record an audio conversation, either in person or over the phone, if the parties have a "reasonable expectation of privacy."
Which states have one party consent to record? ›- Alabama.
- Alaska.
- Arizona.
- Arkansas.
- Colorado.
- Connecticut (for in-person conversations or phone calls recorded by a participant of the conversation)
- Delaware.
- District of Columbia.
- Launch the Voice Memos app.
- Start by locating the Voice Memos app on your iPhone. ...
- Record a Voice.
- Tap the “Record” button (round red) to start audio recording. ...
- When you've finished recording with the file, hit the “Done” icon.
- Save it to the Voice Memos page and assign a name.
Can I use a voice recording as evidence in family court? ›
Ultimately, each case will need to be considered on its facts. Parties can apply for covert recordings to be admitted as evidence but there is no presumption this should be allowed.
How do I record a live conversation on my Samsung phone? ›- Open the Phone app and make a call.
- Once in an active conversation, tap the three-dot menu at the top. 2 Images. ...
- Select Record call. ...
- Disconnect the call or open the same menu at the top to stop the call recording.
- On your Android device, open the Phone app .
- At the top right, tap More options Settings. ...
- Under “Always record,” tap Selected numbers.
- Turn on Always record selected numbers.
- At the top right, tap Add .
- Choose a contact.
- Tap Always record.
If while talking on a call, you are hearing the sound of beep constantly it could be a sign that your call is being recorded. It is illegal in many countries to record someone's call without their knowledge, which is why most mobile phone makers include a beep sound in their devices.
Can you talk on an iPhone and record the conversation? ›With the Voice Memos app (located in the Utilities folder), you can use iPhone as a portable recording device to record personal notes, classroom lectures, musical ideas, and more.
Can I record my side of a phone call? ›California State Law
Unlike New York and New Jersey, California is a “two-party consent” state. This makes it illegal to record a private conversation unless all parties consent to the recording. A violation of this law is a criminal misdemeanor.
- Go to Settings > Control Center, then tap. next to Screen Recording.
- Open Control Center, tap. , then wait for the three-second countdown.
- To stop recording, open Control Center, tap. or the red status bar at the top of the screen, then tap Stop.
Invoke the Control Center by swiping down diagonally from the top-right corner of the screen. Long press the Screen Recording button in Control Center (if it isn't there, you can add the function via Settings -> Control Center). Tap the Microphone button so that it turns red and reads "Microphone On."
How long can I record a conversation on my iPhone? ›How Long Can a Voice Memo Record? The app itself can record for an unlimited amount of time. The only limit is the capacity of your iPhone's internal storage. However, your phone will notify you if your storage space is low.
How do I record both screens and audio? ›- Get set up: Open Microsoft Stream and select Create > Record screen.
- Allow permissions: Select “Allow Microsoft Stream” to use your camera and microphone.
- Select your screen: Select the Record button to start recording. ...
- Enable audio and start recording: Select the checkbox Share audio.
Does iPhone have Screen Recording options? ›
Go to Settings > Control Center, then tap the Add button next to Screen Recording. Open Control Center on your iPhone, or on your iPad. , then wait for the three-second countown. Exit Control Center to record your screen.
Does iPhone have Screen Recording option? ›How to record your screen. Go to Settings > Control Centre, then tap the Add button next to Screen Recording. Open Control Centre on your iPhone, or on your iPad. , then wait for the 3-second countdown.
Can you screen recording a call and hear the conversation? ›When you screen record a FaceTime call on an iPhone, the screen recording will show what was happening on your screen — but you won't be able to hear what was said during the call. If you want the audio to record as well, tap the Microphone icon.