There are numerous reasons you might want to (legally) record a phone conversation on your iPhone, but only a few ways to actually do it.
While it is reassuring that Apple prioritizes customer privacy, the company’s commitment to it can make recording unnecessarily difficult.
Here we cover simple steps to cover record a phone conversation on an iPhone.
Overview
There are a few things to consider before recording a phone call on your iPhone:
- The laws governing the recording of phone calls vary by state.
- While the iPhone is actively on a call, it does not allow recording through the built-in microphone. Simply put, you cannot press the “record” button while on the phone.
- You’ll need either an external iOS device with audio recording and microphone capabilities or a third-party app that includes separate call software, such as Google Voice. Also, keep in mind that these third-party apps may charge a subscription fee.
- The method described below is thought to be the most accessible for most iPhone users who want to record a conversation, particularly if you want to be discrete about it.
How to Record a Phone Conversation on an iPhone
What you will require:
- 1 iPhone on speaker phone to participate in the call
- Another recording device (could be another iPhone, iPad, or even an Android device) recording the call with Voice Memos or a recording app.
Once these are in place, the following steps should help you record a phone conversation on your iPhone.
#1. Test your Voice Memos app
First, make sure you have both an iPhone and another iOS device with the Voice Memos app, such as an iPad or another iPhone. The Voice Memos app comes preinstalled on the majority of devices, but it is also available for free on the App Store.
Open the Voice Memos app, tap the red record button, and begin speaking for a long enough period of time to ensure that the sound quality is sufficient to record and then clearly understand a conversation. When you’re finished recording, press the red button again, and an audio file with the title “Voice Recording (the number corresponding to the number of voice recordings you have)” should appear.
#2. Adjust the audio file by playing it back
Play the file back to see if the audio is audible. Make any necessary adjustments before recording a phone call.
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If the sound quality is poor, you may need to speak louder, increase the microphone sensitivity, or move the speaker closer to your mouth.
#3. Begin Recording
Set up the second device so that Voice Memos can begin recording. Place the device close to the phone, making the call and press the red button again to record.
Starting the recording before the call may add a few seconds of silence to the file, but it will ensure that you do not miss any of the conversations. Make sure to start the phone call in Speakerphone mode on your iPhone.
The red lines on the Voice Memo app indicate how well the app detects sound. The greater the size of the red bars, the greater the volume detected. If the lines remain flat, you may need to increase the volume of the phone call or move the devices closer together.
The higher the red bars, the louder the sound; the lower the red bars, the quieter the sound,
Note: You may need to notify the other party that you are recording them. Check to see if the state you're recording and residing in is a one-party or two-party state when it comes to recording consent for legal reasons. One-party states only require one person on the call – you – to consent to be recorded. A two-party state requires consent from both the person recording and the person being recorded.
#4. Finish Recording and Save the File
When the conversation is finished or you have all of the information you require, end the recording by tapping the red button once more.
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Select the recording file from within the Voice Memos app, tap the ellipses button (three dots) to bring up share options, and send it directly to your iPhone via text message, mail, AirDrop, or even Google Drive.
Other Methods of Recording
The steps outlined above are the simplest, most efficient, and least obvious way to record a phone call. If you (or a trusted third party) do not have another iOS device available, here are a few options.
#1. Google Voice
The Google Voice app for iOS allows you to use Google Voice to make free and recorded calls over WiFi. The app allows you to select the device from which you want to make a call. In order to record incoming calls, go to Settings > Calls > Incoming Calls and then toggle the incoming calls record option. Once everyone is on the line, press four (4) on the keypad to begin and end the recording. After the call, the option to record will be available.
#2. Rev Voice Recorder
The Rev Voice Recorder app is also free, can record while you use your phone, and can transcribe your files after the conversation is finished. However, the transcription option does cost $1.50 per minute. When you download your file, it will appear on your device as an MP3 file. This is another excellent and simple option for recording phone calls and narrating screen recordings.
#3. Easy Voice Recorder
Easy Voice Recorder is another free app that lets you record high-quality voice memos or recordings to PCM, MP4, or ACC files, which can then be saved to your iCloud account.
As the name implies, this app is intended to allow users to quickly pull out their phones and begin recording whenever and wherever they want. Easy Voice Recorder also supports text-to-transcription. If you download the app and use it to record on an iPad, you can also drag and drop recordings into Files or other recording apps for additional transcriptions or simply to consolidate recordings.
#4. TapeACall
This $11 app may be worth the investment if you want to record important business phone calls, conference calls, or interviews. To use this app, you must first hold a “conference call” in which the TapeACall app is one of the participants. Then, open the app and press the record button to record while the app “dials in.” Because you must combine all “three” calls, this process is a little more time-consuming and less subtle.
Is it against the law to record phone calls?
Federal law requires at least one party’s consent, which means you must be present during the recording or have the consent of at least one person present during the recording. Otherwise, it could be interpreted as illegal eavesdropping or wiretapping. Some states have even stricter laws requiring the consent of all participants in the conversation.
Always check your state laws before recording a conversation.
Is there an app for recording phone calls on the iPhone?
There are several that perform this function in some way. Apple, on the other hand, is strict about allowing third-party apps to use the microphone during a phone call. As a result, most apps that allow you to record a phone call must employ clever mechanisms to overcome this barrier. People also use Google Voice, TapeACall, Easy Voice Recorder, and Rev Voice Recorder in addition to the method outlined above using the Voice Memos app.
Alternatively, you can record phone conversations on most mic-equipped computers or tablets as long as the phone is on speaker or the microphone is held close to the speaker next to your ear. There are numerous audio recording software options available for both iOS and Windows computers.
Is there an app from Apple that allows you to record iPhone calls?
Unfortunately, not at the moment. Apple does not have an app, but third-party apps are available on the App Store. In addition, Voice Memos is most likely already installed on your iOS device.
Hardware Alternatives
It appears irrational to purchase additional hardware to record from the iPhone—the most advanced hardware in your pocket if not your entire home. However, the option exists.
Beyond using a handheld voice recorder while blathering over the speakerphone, the most basic, low-tech option is a cable, such as the Olympus TP-8 Telephone Pick-up Microphone, which costs less than $20. It does not capture digitally from your iPhone. Instead, it incorporates a microphone into the earpiece. Connect the other end’s 3.5mm plug to a recorder. To talk normally, hold the iPhone up to your ear. While you can still hear the conversation, the TP-8 captures each side of the conversation from the iPhone’s ear speaker.
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