iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini. Jason Cipriani / ZDNet
There are many reasons to record a phone call on your iPhone and a few ways to do so. But because Apple prioritizes customer privacy, this process is not simple – on purpose. Also, keep in mind that different states have different laws regarding when you can legally record a conversation.
That said, to record a phone call on your iPhone, you need two devices for the most common method of recording calls. This is because iPhones do not allow recording through the built-in microphone while the specific iPhone is making a phone call.
There are apps available that can help work around this, but the method below is often considered to be the most accessible for those who want to record their iPhone conversations.
Also: To record a phone call on your Android phone
Record a phone call on your iPhone
Materials and tools:
- An iPhone
- Another iOS device with microphone and app functionality
Time required:
- A few minutes of setup plus the duration of the conversation. If you plan to edit or transcribe the call recording, these steps will add more time.
An image of the Voice Memos app page in the Apple App Store. Joshua Cox-Steib
1. Test your Voice Memo app
First, make sure you have both an iPhone and another iOS device that includes a microphone. The other device may also be an iPhone. The important part is that it can load the Voice Memos app and work with a built-in or connected microphone (either should be fine). The Apple Voice Memos app is free from the App Store and comes pre-installed on some devices.
Before proceeding, make sure the app is installed and working. Open the Voice Memos app, press the record button, and start speaking into the microphone. You only need to do this long enough to generate an audio file. Now play the file and see if the sound can be distinguished. If the sound is too low quality, you may need to speak louder, increase the microphone sensitivity or place the speaker closer to your mouth. Once you have had a good test drive, proceed to step two.
2. Start recording
In the Voice Memos app on your other device, press the record button again. Once recording has started on your other device, start the phone call on your iPhone and set it to speakerphone mode. Starting the recording before you start the call may add a few seconds of silence to the file, but will ensure that you do not miss any of the conversation. The iPhone sound must be detectable from the microphone on your other iOS device. In addition to turning on the speakerphone, this may involve turning up the volume and arranging the microphone on the other device near the speaker on your iPhone.
An image of the Voice Memos app that shows both the record button and the sound waveform display. Joshua Cox-Steib
To some extent, you can see how well the Voice Memos app picks up the sound by looking at the red lines that appear above the record button. These are known as a sound waveform display. When the red bars are larger, more volume is detected. If the line of red bars remains flat, the app or microphone does not detect enough sound for a viable recording. If the app seems to pick up sound properly, you can continue with your conversation.
3. Inform the other party you are recording
Before entering the conversation, inform the other party that you are recording the call, as many states require the consent of two parties for this to be legal.
Suppose you know your state laws and live in one of the states that only requires the consent of one party (and so do the other people in the conversation). In that case, you can technically keep quiet about this, even though it may be considered rude or unethical.
Now you can have the conversation as usual. However, make sure that the phone in use is in speakerphone mode and that the other device is actively recording and close enough to pick up the sound from your phone’s speaker. If you move during the conversation, it is important to make sure that these devices stay close to each other.
4. Transfer the file
You can end the call on your iPhone and end the recording on your other device when the call is completed.
From the Voice Memos app, select the file for the recording, press the ellipse button to view sharing settings and send it directly to your iPhone via text. Alternatively, you can share it with yourself via email or other media.
Is it illegal to record phone calls?
Federal law requires the consent of at least one party, which means that you must be part of the conversation you record or have the consent of at least one person in the conversation. Otherwise, it can be perceived as eavesdropping or illegal eavesdropping. Some states have even stricter laws that require the consent of everyone involved in the conversation.
Before recording a conversation, it is always best to check your state legislation – and everyone else’s in the conversation. While recording calls may be a less extreme invasion of privacy than other iPhone espionage instances, it can still be very disruptive to people.
Is there an app to record calls on iPhone?
There are several that perform this function in one way or another. However, Apple is restrictive in allowing third-party apps to use the microphone during a phone call. For this reason, most apps that help you record a call on your phone need smart mechanisms to work around this barrier. In addition to the method outlined above using the Voice Memos app, people also use Google Voice, TapeACall and Otter.
Alternatively, you can use most computers and a microphone to record phone calls as long as the phone is on the speaker or the microphone is held close to the speaker next to your ear. Both iOS and Windows computers have several options for audio recording software.
Also: How to stop spam messages on your iPhone