How to record a call on iPhone

Summary

iPhone users with iOS 18 can now record phone calls mid-conversation for personal and professional use.
Recording calls is available in most regions except for specific countries. Requirements and instructions are provided.
iOS 18 can also transcribe recorded calls to easily find quotes and details, with options to play, search, copy, save, or delete transcripts.

For personal or professional reasons, we’ve all had a moment on the phone where we think: dang, I wish I could be recording this right now. It could be because you want to make sure you quote someone correctly or because you want your best friend to have a primary account of the spilled tea, but regardless, recording a call has almost always just been a wishful but ‘too-late’ thought in the moment.

Scratch that — it’s possible. If you have an iPhone with iOS 18, at least. Apple’s latest OS update lets you record the audio during a call right in the middle of your conversation. So how do you do it, and who has access to the feature?

Apple iPhone 16e

Brand: Apple
SoC: A18 (3nm)
Display: 6.1-inch 2352 x 1170 pixel resolution Super Retina XDR, 1,200 nits, 60Hz
RAM: 8GB
Storage: 128GB, 256GB, 512GB
Ports: USB-C

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Who can record calls with their iPhone?

Check off the requirements

In many countries, you can record a phone call using your iPhone. Right off the bat though, here is a list of the countries and regions where the feature is unavailable:

Azerbaijan
Bahrain
Egypt
The European Union
Iran
Iraq
Jordan
Kuwait
Morocco
Nigeria
Oman
Pakistan
Qatar
Russia
Saudi Arabia
South Africa
Turkey
United Arab Emirates
Yemen

If you live outside these countries and regions, chances are the feature is already on your iPhone. However, you must install or already be using iOS 18 to access call recording.

In addition, your iPhone can create a transcript of the call for you right there in the native Notes app. However, this particular feature is only available in select regions and languages, too, and you can see which ones are supported on Apple’s website here.

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How to record a call on iPhone

Easy as pie

If you checked off all the requirements above, you can record your next phone call conversation. Here’s how:

Open the Phone app on your iPhone.
Initiate a call.
During the call, tap the icon in the top left corner of the screen with different-sized lines and the dot overlaying them. This is the record button.
After you click this, both participants will receive an audio warning that the call is being recorded.
To stop the recording, tap the icon of the square inside the circle. This is the “stop recording” button. You can also hang up to end the recording, too.
Your recording will automatically be saved to a new ‘Call Recordings’ folder in your Notes app.
To go to the recording in your Notes app, tap ‘View Saved Call.’

Just to reiterate, both you and whoever you’re calling will be made aware that the recording is in progress. So, if the conversation is sensitive or secret, remember that hitting the record button
will
let them know that they’re on the record. Fair warning.

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How to view a transcript of your recording

Because reading is just simpler sometimes

Apple / Pocket-lint

iOS 18 will transcribe your recorded phone call and make it just that much easier to get those direct quotes you’re looking for. It might not be ready right when you hang up, but here’s how to access it:

Open your Notes app.
Pick your desired call from the ‘Call Recordings’ folder.
View your transcript.

While you’re viewing the transcript, you can do the following:

Play the call audio from a particular point by clicking the text you want to listen to.
Find something in the transcript by tapping the three-dot menu and selecting Find in Transcript.
Copy the transcript by tapping the three-dot menu and selecting Add Transcript to Note or Copy Transcript.
Save or delete the audio recording by tapping the three-dot menu and choosing either option. When you delete the recording, know that this action will also delete the transcript.
View the call in wavelength format by tapping the text bubble icon with the quotation mark inside.

Like any transcription tool, Apple might’ve missed a word or two, heard something wrong, or misinterpreted a sentence. Make sure you double-check and verify the transcription is accurate.