Can You Screen Record a Phone Call? What Gets Captured on iPhone and Android

Quick answer: You can start a screen recording during a phone call, but it will not record the call properly. On both iPhone and Android, phone call audio is protected, so a screen recording usually captures the call screen with silence, or only your own voice if the microphone is on. If you want to record a call, use the built-in call recording feature on your phone where it exists. It records both sides and tells everyone on the call.

Video: "How to record a call on iPhone and iPad" by Apple Support on YouTube.

Screen recording vs call recording: the difference

People use these words as if they mean the same thing. They do not.

How to record a phone call on iPhone (the right way)

Apple added Call Recording to the Phone app in iOS 18.1. On current versions it works like this:

1. Make or answer a call in the Phone app.
2. Tap the record control. On recent versions of iOS it sits under More, then Call Recording. On some versions it is a record button at the top left of the call screen.
3. Both people hear an audio notice that the call is being recorded.
4. Tap Stop or hang up to end the recording.
5. Open the Notes app. The recording is in the Call Recordings folder, with a transcript in supported languages.

Things to know:

• It is only available in some countries, regions and languages. If you do not see the option, it is not offered where you are, or your iOS needs updating.
• It also works on one-to-one FaceTime audio calls in supported regions. It does not work on FaceTime video calls.
• You cannot hide the notice. That is the point.

How to record a phone call on Android

Android is more fragmented. What you have depends on who made your phone and where you live.

• Google Pixel and phones using the Google Phone app: In countries where it is allowed, the Phone app offers call recording, and the other person hears an announcement that the call is being recorded. Look for a Record button on the call screen or in Phone > Settings > Call Recording.
• Samsung Galaxy: In many regions, the Samsung Phone app has Record call on the in-call screen and settings under Phone > Settings > Record calls. In some countries the feature is removed by law or carrier choice.
• Xiaomi, OnePlus, Oppo, Vivo and others: Many include call recording in their own dialer in regions that permit it. Check the in-call menu.

If your phone has no built-in option, there is usually a legal or regional reason. Third-party "call recorder" apps on modern Android are heavily restricted and most can only record your side through the microphone.

What happens if you screen record during a call anyway

It is still useful to know what you will get, because sometimes you do want the screen, not the conversation.

On iPhone: The video records normally. Call audio is not written into the file. With the microphone on and the call on speaker, the mic may pick up some of the other voice as room sound, but results are inconsistent and iOS can mute the mic during calls on some versions.

On Android: The video records. Internal call audio is blocked. If you choose "microphone" as the sound source, your own voice may be captured; the other person's voice usually is not, or only faintly from the speaker.

Good reasons to screen record during a call:

• Showing an automated phone menu flow for a support ticket.
• Recording a bug in a calling app.
• Capturing on-screen information that appeared during the call (with care for privacy).

Consent and the law

This is the part people skip, and it matters most.

• In the United States, federal law and many states allow recording if one person on the call (you) agrees. Other states, including California, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Washington, generally require everyone on the call to agree. If the people on the call are in different states, the stricter rule is the safer one.
• In the UK and EU, recording for personal use is treated differently from recording for business, and data protection law can apply to business calls.
• In India, Canada, Australia and elsewhere, the rules vary again.

We are not lawyers, and this is not legal advice. The practical rule is the same everywhere: tell people you are recording, get a clear yes, and do not share the recording without permission. Built-in recorders that announce themselves make this easier.

Legitimate options, ranked

1. Your phone's built-in call recording. Best quality, both sides, announced to everyone.
2. A speakerphone call recorded by a second device. Works anywhere, needs consent, sound is roomy.
3. A recorded conference line or meeting app. Zoom, Teams and Google Meet can record meetings with notice to participants. See how to record a Zoom meeting on your phone.
4. Notes instead of a recording. Sometimes the honest answer is to write things down and confirm by email.

Where a screen recorder and editor still help

If your goal is a tutorial or support video (how to use a calling feature, how to reach a setting, what an error looks like), a screen recording is exactly right, and it does not need anyone's voice.

MobileStudio is built for that kind of video. Record your screen on Android, trim the start and end, crop to the important part, add zoom effects on the button you want people to tap, and export it in a device frame with a clean background. It is on Google Play now, with an iPhone version coming. It does not and cannot bypass call audio protections, and we would not recommend any app that claims it can.

Get MobileStudio

• Free version (Android): Download MobileStudio free
• MobileStudio Pro: Unlock Pro in the app
• iPhone: Join the iOS waitlist

Troubleshooting

I do not see Call Recording on my iPhone. Update to the latest iOS. Check that your region and language are supported. Some carriers and managed work phones disable it.

My Android recording only has my voice. That is expected for screen recordings and many third-party apps. Use the Phone app's own recorder if your region supports it.

The recording is silent. On iPhone, a screen recording during a regular phone call commonly has no call audio. Use Call Recording.

I need it for court or HR. Talk to a lawyer before recording. Evidence rules and consent rules matter here.

How to ask for consent without making it awkward

Most people are fine with being recorded if you tell them why. A natural line at the start of the call is enough, and having their answer on the recording protects both of you.

For a personal call: "Hey, do you mind if I record this? I want to keep it so I don't forget the details."

For a customer service call: "Before we start, I'm recording this call for my records. Is that OK?" Many companies already record their side, and agents are used to this.

For an interview or business call: "I'd like to record our conversation so I can quote you accurately. I won't share the recording itself. Are you comfortable with that?"

If they say no: thank them, do not record, and take notes instead. You can send a short email afterwards summarising what was agreed, which gives you a written record without a recording.

What to do with the recording afterwards

A recording of someone's voice is personal data. Treat it with care:

• Name it clearly. In Notes or your files app, rename it with the date and topic so you can find it later.
• Store it privately. Keep it on your device or a private cloud folder, not a shared family album or a group chat.
• Share only with permission. Playing someone's voice to others, or posting it, can break the trust they gave you and, in some places, the law.
• Delete what you no longer need. Old recordings are a risk if your phone or account is ever compromised.
• Use the transcript. On iPhone, Call Recording gives you a transcript in supported languages. Copy the parts you need into your notes and you may not need to keep the audio at all.

Business calls have extra rules

If you are recording calls as part of work (sales, support, recruiting), the rules are usually stricter than for personal calls:

• Your company may need to tell callers at the start of every call, often with an automated message.
• Data protection laws such as GDPR in Europe can require a lawful reason to record, a retention period, and a way for people to request a copy or deletion.
• Some industries, like finance and healthcare, have their own recording requirements.

For business use, a proper call recording system with built-in announcements and storage controls is the right tool, not a personal phone. Check with your employer before recording any work calls on your own device.

Quick decision guide

• I want a record of what was said: built-in Call Recording, with consent.
• I want to show the screen of a calling app: screen recording, no call audio needed.
• I want both voices and my phone has no call recorder: speakerphone plus a second device, with consent.
• I am not sure it is legal: do not record. Take notes and confirm by email.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does screen recording record phone calls on iPhone?

It records the screen, but not the call audio. Use the Phone app's Call Recording feature to record the conversation.

Does the other person know if I record a call on iPhone?

With Apple's Call Recording, yes. An audio notice plays to everyone. A screen recording does not notify them, but it also does not capture their voice.

Can I record a phone call on Android without an app?

Often yes, through the Phone app's Record button, depending on your phone brand and country.

Why is call recording missing on my phone?

It is usually restricted by local law, your carrier, or your phone's region settings.

Is it legal to record a phone call?

It depends on where you and the other person are. Many places require everyone's consent. Always ask first.

Can I screen record a FaceTime call instead?

Yes, but the same audio limits apply. See can you screen record FaceTime.

Related guides

• Can you screen record FaceTime?
• How to record FaceTime with audio
• How to record a WhatsApp video call
• Does screen recording record audio?