To record a phone call on an iPhone, open the Phone app, make a call, tap More, and tap Call Recording. On a Samsung Galaxy phone with One UI 7 or later, tap the Record icon on the call screen. On other Android phones, the Google Phone app has a Record button on the call screen, and on a Pixel you tap Call Assist and then Call Recording. All of them tell the other person that the call is being recorded and save the recording where you can play it back, and iPhone and Galaxy add a transcript. If your phone cannot record calls, or you want one tool that records every call and in-person conversation, a pocket recorder does the job.
If you want the steps first, jump to how to record a phone call on iPhone. If you want a call recorder that works on any phone and in person, skip to call recording with Comu AI.
How to record a phone call: methods at a glance
Record a phone call with the built-in option on your phone, or with a recorder such as Comu when your phone has none.
| Method | Best for | What you get | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comu recorder | Calls and in-person conversations on any phone | Recording, transcript, speaker labels, summary, action items, AI questions across recordings | Note Pro $109.69, Action Pro $169.99 |
| iPhone Call Recording | A supported iPhone and region | Recording saved in Notes, transcript in select languages, summary with Apple Intelligence | Included with the phone |
| Samsung Galaxy Record calls | A Galaxy phone on One UI 7 or later | Recording, transcript and summary with Transcript assist | Included with the phone |
| Google Phone app Call recording | An Android 9 or later phone, or a Pixel 6 or later, in a supported region | Recording with a notice to both sides, saved on the device | Included with the phone |
How to record a phone call on iPhone, step by step
To record a phone call on an iPhone, tap More during the call and tap Call Recording. Apple's Phone app records calls with one other person. Before you begin, check that call recording is available in your region, and make sure the other person is willing to be recorded.
- Open the Phone app and make a call.
- During the call, tap More, then tap Call Recording.
- Both people hear an audio notice that the call is being recorded.
- To stop, tap the stop button or hang up.
- iPhone saves the recording to the Call Recordings folder in the Notes app. Tap View Saved Call to open it.
To play it back, open the Notes app, tap a note in the Call Recordings folder, and tap play.
Where call recording works on iPhone
Call recording on iPhone is available in select countries and regions. It is unavailable in these 19 countries and regions: 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. Transcripts appear in select regions and languages, and Apple Intelligence summaries run on the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 16 and later. Call Recording is on by default. To turn it off, go to Settings, tap Apps, tap Phone, tap Audio Call Recording, and switch it off.
How do you record a phone call on a Samsung Galaxy phone
To record a phone call on a Samsung Galaxy phone, tap the Record icon during a call, and turn on Transcript assist first if you want a transcript and summary. Galaxy phones running Android 15 with One UI 7 or later record calls from the Samsung Phone app and tie recording to Transcript assist. Samsung account login and an internet connection are required.
Turn on Transcript assist first.
- Open the Phone app, tap More options, and tap Settings.
- Tap Record calls, then tap Transcript assist.
- Tap Summarize transcripts and switch it on. You can also switch on processing data only on the device.
- Switch on Auto detect language and Auto transcribe recorded calls.
- Choose the transcription language and download the language pack you need.
Then record a call.
- Make a call from the Phone app.
- Tap the Record icon. On some models you tap More first.
- The other person hears an audio notification that the call is being recorded. People added later to a group call are not notified, so tell them yourself.
- Tap the Record icon again to stop, or hang up.
Recorded calls show a small microphone icon in the Recents tab. Tap the call, then View recording and transcript, and tap Summarize for a summary. Call transcripts and summaries run on Galaxy phones other than the A56 5G, A36 5G, A26 5G and A17 5G.
How to record a phone call on Android with the Google Phone app
To record a phone call with the Google Phone app, tap Record on the call screen, or on a Pixel tap Call Assist and then Call Recording. Phones other than Galaxy, and Pixel phones, record calls from the Google Phone app. Non-Pixel phones need Android 9 or later. Pixel phones need to be a Pixel 6 or later running Android 14 or later. You need the latest Phone app and a country or region that supports call recording, because some devices and carriers do not support it. For Samsung Voice Recorder, Pixel Recorder and Gboard voice typing, read the Android guide.
Record one call.
- Open the Phone app and make or receive a call.
- On a non-Pixel phone, tap Record on the call screen. On a Pixel, tap Call Assist, then Call Recording.
- Both people hear a notice that the call is being recorded.
- To stop, tap Stop recording on a non-Pixel phone. On a Pixel, tap Call Assist, then Stop. Both people hear a notice that the recording stopped.
Record calls automatically.
- In the Phone app, tap More options, then Settings, then Call recording.
- Under Always record, switch on the option for numbers outside your contacts to record every caller who is not a saved contact. Or tap Selected numbers, turn on Always record selected numbers, tap Add and choose contacts.
- You can also open a contact, tap Edit contact, and tap Always record calls.
Find, share and delete recordings. Open the Phone app, tap Home, and tap the caller you recorded. For the latest call, play it from the player on Home. For earlier calls, tap History and select the recording. Tap Share to send a recording to email or messaging apps. Recordings stay on your device and are not backed up off the device. To set how long calls are kept, go to Settings, Call recording, Recordings, Delete recordings. Deleting a call from the call log deletes its recording.
Recording starts once the call is answered. You cannot record a call on hold or while you create a conference call.
What your phone needs to record a phone call
Call recording needs recent software: Android 9 or later on most Android phones, Android 15 with One UI 7 or later on a Galaxy, Android 14 or later on a Pixel 6 or later, and iOS 27 or later for iPhone call summaries.
| Phone | Software | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone | iOS 27 or later for Apple Intelligence summaries, on the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 16 and later | Call Recording is unavailable in 19 countries and regions |
| Samsung Galaxy | Android 15 with One UI 7 or later, a Samsung account and an internet connection | Transcripts and summaries are missing on the Galaxy A56 5G, A36 5G, A26 5G and A17 5G |
| Other Android phones | Android 9 or later and the latest Phone app | Some devices and carriers do not support call recording |
| Google Pixel | Pixel 6 or later with Android 14 or later and the latest Phone app | Recordings stay on the device and are not backed up |
How do I record a phone call in other languages
To record a phone call in another language, pick the transcription language on a Galaxy phone, or use a recorder that transcribes 113 languages. Samsung's transcription supports Arabic, Chinese (Simplified and Cantonese), English (US, Great Britain, India and Australia), French (France and Canada), German, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Spanish (US, Spain and Mexico), Thai, Vietnamese, Turkish, Romanian, Swedish and Dutch. Apple's call transcripts appear in select regions and languages.
Call recording: what to do before you press record
Before you press record, get consent, check the law where each of you is located, and find a quiet spot.
- Say it out loud. Tell the other person you are recording and why.
- Check the rules. Recording laws differ by state and country. Some places need only one person's consent and others need everyone's. Our guide to recording calls in the US by state covers the basics, and Is call recording legal goes deeper.
- Tell late joiners. On a Galaxy group call, people added after recording starts are not notified, so tell them yourself.
- Pick a quiet spot. Background noise lowers transcript quality.
- Keep the recording safe. Store it where only the people who need it can open it.
Phone call recording app or built-in: which should you use
Use built-in recording when your phone supports it and you only need the occasional call. A phone call recording app is software that you install on your phone. Built-in recording is free and records calls, with a transcript on iPhone and Galaxy, but it depends on your phone model, software version and region. A recorder with an app, such as Comu, also records in-person conversations, and its included plan adds unlimited transcription, speaker identification, summaries and action items.
Use a recorder for weekly calls and meetings, when your phone cannot record calls, or when you want the transcript, speaker labels and summary in one app.
Call recorder app limits worth checking
Check seven points before you rely on a call recorder app: platform, both sides of the call, consent notice, transcript, export, privacy and cost.
- Platform. Does it run on your phone and software version?
- Both sides of the call. Some tools capture only your side.
- Consent notice. Does it tell the other person?
- Transcript. Is it included, and how many minutes does the plan allow?
- Export. Can you save the audio and the text?
- Privacy. Where is the recording stored and who can open it?
- Cost. Compare the three-year total, not the monthly price.
How to record a phone call for an interview or a sales call
To record a phone call for an interview or a sales call, ask for consent at the start, keep the phone steady, check the audio when you hang up, and write down the decision, the next step and the owner within the hour.
- Before the call, open the Phone app, check that recording is switched on, and move to a quiet room.
- At the start, say that you are recording and why, and wait for the other person to agree.
- During the call, keep the phone steady and let each person finish a sentence, because the transcript labels speakers more cleanly when voices do not overlap.
- When you hang up, recording stops on its own. Open the saved call and check that the audio is complete.
- Within the hour, read the transcript, fix names and numbers against the audio, and write down the decision, the next step and the owner.
Fixes when you cannot record a phone call
To fix a phone call that will not record, check the call recording setting, your region and your software version.
- No Call Recording button on iPhone. Open Settings, tap Apps, tap Phone, and switch Audio Call Recording on.
- No Record icon on Galaxy or Android. Compare the phone with the software table above, update the Phone app, and look for Record calls in Phone settings.
- No transcript yet. On iPhone the transcript can take a moment to appear in the Notes app. On Galaxy, sign in to your Samsung account, connect to the internet and download the language pack.
- Wrong language in the transcript. On Galaxy, switch on Auto detect language or choose the language yourself.
- Calls with several people. Android blocks recording while you create a conference call, and the iPhone Phone app records calls with one other person. A recorder with an app labels each speaker in a room full of voices.
After the call: transcript, summary and action items
After a call, read the transcript against the audio, then use the summary and action items to write down what was decided. Apple's transcript labels the speaker of each statement, and you can play the audio from any sentence, search the transcript, copy it, save the audio, or share it. Samsung's transcript and summary sit under the call in the Recents tab.
A tool that produces a summary and action items writes the first draft of the decision, the next step and the owner.
Call recording with Comu AI: record, transcribe, summarize
Comu is a pocket recorder with an app that records phone calls and in-person conversations. Comu has a bone-conduction microphone, and attaching the device to your phone is all it takes to record a call. Comu Note Pro is $109.69 and Comu Action Pro is $169.99 (Nov 4, 2026). The free plan that comes with the device includes unlimited transcription, unlimited real-time transcription, speaker identification, summaries, action items, templates, and Comu AI for questions across your recordings.
- Transcripts without a minute cap. A call of any length converts to text.
- Speaker identification. Speakers are labeled, so you can see who said what.
- Summaries and action items. The summary and the list of next steps come from the transcript.
- Questions across recordings. Comu AI answers questions across your recordings.
- Templates. 30+ built-in templates and unlimited custom templates shape the output.
- 113 languages.
- Exports. TXT, Markdown, Word and PDF for text, and MP3 and WAV for audio.
- Imports. The app imports external audio files.
- Compliance. GDPR, HIPAA and SOC 2.
For a longer look, read our guide to the features that come with Comu, or look at Comu Note Pro and Comu Action Pro.
| What you get | Comu (included with the device) | iPhone Call Recording | Samsung Galaxy Record calls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Note Pro $109.69, Action Pro $169.99 | Included with the phone | Included with the phone |
| Phone calls | Yes | Calls with one other person, in supported regions | Yes, on One UI 7 or later |
| In-person conversations | Yes | Use another app | Use another app |
| Transcription | Unlimited, 113 languages | Select regions and languages | Supported languages, Samsung account required |
| Summary | Included | Apple Intelligence phones | Summarize in Transcript assist |
| Export | TXT, Markdown, Word and PDF for text; MP3 and WAV for audio | Save or share the audio, copy the transcript | Share recordings, transcripts and summaries |
Which way to record a phone call is right for you
Use the built-in option on your phone for the occasional call, and use a recorder such as Comu for weekly calls and meetings.
| If you | Choose |
|---|---|
| Have a supported iPhone and want a quick, free recording | iPhone Call Recording |
| Have a Galaxy phone on One UI 7 or later | Record calls with Transcript assist |
| Have another Android phone or a Pixel | Call recording in the Google Phone app |
| Record calls and meetings every week | A recorder, such as Comu |
| Live in a region where iPhone call recording is not offered | A recorder |
| Need speaker labels, a summary and action items | A recorder with an app, such as Comu |
| Take notes in person as well as on the phone | A recorder, such as Comu |
Common questions about how to record a phone call
How do I record a phone call on my iPhone?
Tap More, then Call Recording. The recording saves to the Call Recordings folder in Notes.
How do I record a phone call on a Samsung phone?
Tap Record during the call. Samsung's call recording works on Galaxy phones with One UI 7 or later.
How do I record a phone call on an Android phone?
Tap Record in the Google Phone app. On a Pixel, tap Call Assist, then Call Recording.
How do you record a phone call without the other person knowing?
Built-in call recording on iPhone, Galaxy and the Google Phone app plays an audio notice to the other person when recording starts. Recording laws in many places need the other person's consent, so tell the other person that you are recording and check the rules where you and they are located.
Can I get a transcript of a recorded call?
Yes. iPhone shows the transcript in the Notes app in select regions and languages. Samsung's Transcript assist shows it under the call in Recents. A recorder such as Comu includes transcription with every recording.
Why can't I record calls on my iPhone?
Your region may be excluded, because Call Recording is unavailable in the European Union and 18 other countries and regions. The Phone app also records calls with only one other person, and the setting is under Settings, Apps, Phone, Audio Call Recording.
What is the best call recorder app?
Built-in recording is free where it is available and records calls, with a transcript on iPhone and Galaxy. A recorder with an app, such as Comu, records calls and in-person meetings and includes unlimited transcription, speaker identification and summaries.
Does a recorder work for in-person meetings too?
Yes. A pocket recorder records the room as well as the call, so one device covers interviews, meetings, lectures and calls.
Is it legal to record a phone call?
Some places need only one person's consent and others need everyone's. Our guide to recording calls in the US by state has the details.
Related reading
- Recording Calls in the US: State-by-State Consent Laws and Privacy Guidelines
- Is Call Recording Legal? Understanding Rules, Privacy Policies and Compliance
- How to Transcribe Voice Memos on iPhone and Mac (2026 Guide)
- Best Free Phone Recording App
- How to Record a Phone Call on Android and Samsung (2026): Phone App, Voice Recorder and Speech to Text
- How to Record Google Meet and Microsoft Teams Meetings (2026): Steps, Requirements and AI Notetakers
Sources
Pages were checked on Nov 4, 2026.
- Apple Support, Record and transcribe a call on iPhone
- Samsung, How to record phone calls on Galaxy phones
- Google, Use the Phone app to record calls
- Comu, Comu Action Pro, Comu Note Pro, and app downloads
