How to record a phone call on iPhone with and without an app

Is it legal to record telephone conversations?

Well, here is the key point. Depending on which jurisdiction you live in, recording a telephone conversation without the other person’s knowledge or consent is could be illegal.

In most U.S. states, one-party consent is required, meaning you do not need the other person’s permission to record a conversation. At least 15 US states have opted for a policy of bipartisan consentTherefore, recording a telephone conversation without the permission of all participants is illegal.

Regardless of local legislation, Transparency is always a good idea when recording a phone conversation. You probably don’t want someone to record you without your knowledge, so honesty is the best policy.

Can you record calls directly from your iPhone?

Unfortunately, You can’t record calls directly on an iPhone. Apple has decided against this feature due to legal reasons and privacy concerns.

However, where there is a will, there is always a way, and some third parties have Apps to enable call recording on an iPhoneThere is also the more traditional method of recording a phone conversation using another device.

Let’s take a look at Recording a phone call without an appand we’ll look at these third-party apps in more detail later.

How to record a phone call on your iPhone without an app

An easy way to record a phone call is to do so using another device – for example, another phone, a tablet, a computer or a voice recorder. Put your iPhone on speakerand press the record button on the other device.

Make sure your iPhone and your recording device are close to each other. We recommend doing a test run first to make sure the audio quality of the recording is adequate. Important: Remember to ask for permission from the person with whom you will have the recorded conversation.

If you use another iOS device – iPhone, iPad or iMac – You can also use voice memos (which is usually included by default with iOS) to record a phone call. On your iPhone, go to Utilities where you’ll find Voice Memos. On an iMac, you’ll find it under Applications.

Open Voice Memos and when you want to start recording, press the red button. At the end of the call, click Done to stop recording.
The recording of your phone call is saved automatically and if Voice Memos is enabled in your iCloud settings, the audio files are accessible on all devices where you use the same Apple ID. Now You can edit or trim the audio file as you wish.

If you are satisfied with the audio file, Sharing is easywith convenient options to choose from, including text message, AirDrop, email, or Google Drive.

How to record a phone call on iPhone with an app

We have already mentioned that There are third-party apps for recording phone calls on iPhonesThese include Google Voice, Rev Call Recorder and Easy Voice Recorder, all available on the App Store.

We are not ashamed to admit this “Free” is one of our favorite “F-words”and that’s exactly what these three phone call recording apps are – absolutely free.

The Easy Voice Recorder app is available for iPhone and Androidand it’s a good option if, for example, you’re recording a phone call using another phone. However, if you want to record a phone call using an app on the device you’re using to make the call, Google Voice or Rev Call Recorder are better choices.

Using Google Voice to record a phone call

Google Voice for iOS provides a phone number for free and recorded calls over Wi-Fi, text messages, and voicemail. If you’re in the US and have a personal Google account, Google Voice is a good option for recording incoming calls.

However, you cannot record outgoing calls. However, you can record outgoing calls if you have a Google Workspace account managed by your employer or school. All you need is the right Google Voice license.

To record a call using Google Voice, go to Settings and navigate to Calls. Then select Incoming Call Options and enable the Incoming Call Recording option. To start recording, press four on the keyboard and again to stop.

Google Voice is compatible with iOS 15.0 or later. The downside is that Google Voice only works for personal Google accounts in the US, while Google Workspace accounts work in select marketsIt is best to check in advance whether Google Voice is supported in your region.

Recording a phone call with Rev Call Recorder

Rev Call Recorder is another good option for iPhone users in the US. This app offers free and unlimited recording of phone calls (with the option to have audio files transcribed by Rev).

It is punted as a great recording app for journalistsWriters, podcasters, and content creators, mainly because of the transcription option, and Rev records both inbound and outbound calls.

The Rev Call Recorder is Easy to use. After downloading the app on your iPhone, create a Rev account (don’t panic, it’s free).

To record an outgoing call, navigate to the Rev app and press Call +1 (415) 738-2935. This will connect you to the Rev recording line. Then press Add Call and enter the phone number of the call you want to record. Once connected, Press “Merge Call” to start recording.

How to record an incoming phone callanswer the phone, navigate to the Rev app, and follow the same process as recording an outgoing call. Press “Call +1 (415) 738-2935” to connect to the Rev recording line, then press “Add Call” and then “Merge Call.”

As already mentioned, it is not only the ethical approachbut – depending on the jurisdiction in which you live – you may be legally required to do so.

In this sense, the Rev app automatically plays a two-page legal disclosure notice for complete transparency and to mitigate any legal problems.

Saved recordings can be easily shared or uploaded. The Rev Call Recorder app is compatible with iOS 11.0 or higher. Unfortunately, the app is only suitable for US phone numbers and – with the exception of Canada – not for international calls.

Final thoughts

Due to legal and privacy concerns, Apple doesn’t offer a call recording feature on the iPhone. However, with a little effort and perhaps a quick app download, you can record a phone call on your iPhone. We’ve found that the easiest solution is to turn on your iPhone’s speakerphone and record the call using another device.

This can result in poorer audio quality due to ambient noise and the proximity of the devices to each other. However, most apps that record phone calls are limited to use in certain regions of the world.

Depending on the laws of the country or state you are in, you may not be able to access an app to record a phone call on your iPhone. In the United States 15 states require the consent of both parties to record a telephone conversation. This means that you are breaking the law if you record a telephone conversation without the consent of the other party.

Apart from legislation, It is always ethical to tell the person on the other end of the line that the conversation is being recorded. This gives them the opportunity to refuse, although they are unlikely to do so if the recording is for legitimate reasons, such as a telephone interview.

Speaking of interviews and the like, Google Voice and Rev Call Recorder are good options for those in this area, depending on where you are based. They are free and easy to use.

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