Recording a call on an iPhone has always required a clunky workaround, but not anymore with the iOS 18.1 release. Apple has made call recording easy and, best of all, free. I’ll show you how to use it.
Both federal and state wiretapping laws apply to those trying to record phone calls in the US. Some states require consent from both parties in the call, so checkwhether it’s legal to record phone callswhere you live first.
How Call Recording Helps You
Simply put, a verbatim recording of an important phone call with your boss, co-worker, client, or, if you’re a journalist, a source is invaluable. Unless you’re good at shorthand, taking live notes of a call pulls you out of the conversation, which can lead to other important details being missed while you’re writing or typing. Additionally, having a transcript you may refer to later is just as important and useful.
Apple has created a one-stop shop for both with no extra apps needed. You can now simply start recording a call right from your call screen, and your iPhone will take care of the rest.
How to Use Call Recording on Your iPhone
When you’re on a call, you’ll see a smallsound waveicon in the top-left corner of your screen, just above the profile photo of whoever you’re calling. Tap the icon, and you’ll see a three-second countdown, after which Siri will announce to both parties that the call will be recorded. This announcement saves you from legal issues down the road.
Once the recording starts, you’ll see the recording running at the center of your screen. You can either press the redstopbutton at any point to end the recording or simply hang up. The recording automatically goes to the built-in Notes app under the “Call Recordings” folder. You can tap the note in the folder to listen to recording to view the transcript that’s automatically generated.
That’s all there is to it. No more third-party apps, pricey subscriptions, or having to pull out a recording device to capture your phone calls. Apple has made it easy, and you don’t have to worry about running into legal issues since both parties are made aware of the recording.
