In this guide
With a supported iPhone and region, ask the other person to agree, then during a one-to-one phone call tap More → Call Recording. Both participants hear a recording notice. Stop or end the call, then find the recording in Notes → Call Recordings.
Using Android instead? See how to record a phone call on Android.
To record a phone call on iPhone, first make sure the other person agrees. On a supported iPhone in an eligible region, start a one-to-one call, tap More → Call Recording, and stop the recording when finished. Both participants hear an audio notice. Your iPhone saves the recording in the Call Recordings folder in Notes. Apple documents the process in its iPhone call-recording guide.
Recording availability depends on your region, language and software; a transcript has separate availability requirements. Check Apple's current guidance before a call. Obtain the other person's agreement and follow the rules that apply to everyone on the call. A recording announcement is not a substitute for understanding those requirements.
Record a phone call using the Phone app
- Check availability and agree beforehand. Apple's support article describes call recording on iPhone starting with iOS 18. The feature is not available everywhere. Tell the other person what you want to record and make sure they agree.
- Start a one-to-one phone call. Open Phone and make or answer the call. Apple's current instructions describe calls with one other person.
- Start recording. During the call, tap More, then Call Recording. Both participants hear a notice that recording has started. The controls may look different on other iOS versions.
- Stop or end the call. Tap Stop to finish recording, or end the call. Only the portion after recording begins is captured; do not assume earlier conversation was saved.
- Find and check the audio. Open Notes → Call Recordings, open the note and tap Play. Listen to the beginning and end to check that the intended discussion was captured.
Where are iPhone call recordings saved?
The iPhone saves the recording in a note in the Call Recordings folder of Notes, rather than as a normal Voice Memos recording. You can also tap View Saved Call after the recording when that control appears. The recording is saved on the device of the person who initiated recording; it is not automatically sent to the other caller.
To save a separate audio file or share it, open the recording in Notes, use its More menu and choose the available Save Audio Files or Share Audio option. Menu wording can vary. Confirm that the saved file plays before editing it, and share only with people authorized to receive the conversation. Apple documents these controls in its Notes playback and sharing instructions.
Find and review a transcript
In supported regions and languages, open the call's note and tap the transcript control. If transcription is still in progress, it may not be ready immediately. Availability depends on the device and detected language; a saved audio recording does not guarantee a transcript. Apple says phone and FaceTime audio call transcription in Notes requires iOS 18.1 or later.
Read the transcript while listening to the recording, especially names, numbers and overlapping speech. Speaker labels and automatic words can be wrong. Use the interview transcription checklist when accuracy matters. Apple says deleting the audio recording also deletes its transcript, so check any copies you need before deleting it.
Why can't I record a call on my iPhone?
| What you see | What to check |
|---|---|
| No Call Recording control | Check the iOS version, current region and language availability, and whether Call Recording is enabled in Settings → Apps → Phone. Apple notes regional restrictions in its guide. Controls can vary by version. |
| No transcript | Confirm the audio saved first. Allow time for processing and check the device and language requirements; transcription is not available for every recording. |
| The start is missing | The recording begins only after you start it. For a future call, obtain agreement and begin recording before the relevant discussion. |
| A voice is difficult to understand | Check the original audio and connection. An automatic transcript or noise reduction cannot reliably recover words that were never captured. |
What if built-in call recording isn't available?
Check Apple's current availability information and your installed software before making plans. A third-party service may work differently, charge fees or store the conversation elsewhere; review its recording notice, privacy terms and local requirements with all participants. Do not assume Voice Memos or screen recording will capture both sides of a phone call.
If everyone agrees, another option is to arrange separate local recordings for an interview or podcast and keep an agreed backup. Test the equipment and exchange method before the conversation. Our interview recording guide covers preparation and track checks.
Common questions
Can I record a call without the other person knowing?
Apple's built-in feature plays a recording notice to both participants. Ask for agreement before recording and follow applicable rules.
Can I record a FaceTime call?
Apple documents a separate FaceTime audio-call workflow in supported regions. Our FaceTime recording guide covers the controls and why video-call audio needs a separate test.
Does the transcript replace the audio?
No. Keep the recording if you need to verify exact wording, speaker identity or context. Review any transcript before relying on it.