How to Record Phone Calls on Android Devices

Many Android phones now include a built-in call recording option through the Google Phone app or the manufacturer's own dialer, though the feature is hidden or disabled in some countries and states because of consent laws. If your phone lacks a native option, you can still record calls using Google Voice, an external recording device, or a compatible third-party app. Because some states require all-party consent, telling the other person you are recording helps you avoid civil liability.

Android phones manufactured for the United States and Canadian markets historically shipped with call recording disabled, largely because some two-party consent states require every participant's consent before a call can be recorded. Google has since added a native Record button to the Phone app on qualifying devices, so the picture has changed since this article was first published. If your phone does not offer native recording through Google's Phone app, your manufacturer's own dialer may still carry the option.

Quick take:

• Google's Phone app now offers a native Record button on Pixel 6 and later phones (Android 14 and up) and on many other Android 9 and up phones, where the region permits it.
• If your phone does not have the Record button, a third-party app can "middle man" the call through a bridge number and record it.
• To record both sides of a call on a phone without native recording, use an external recording device, two phones, or the Screen Record method described below.
• Your manufacturer's own dialer is separate from Google's: Samsung's Phone app has a Record calls setting on Galaxy phones running One UI 7.0 or higher, and other makers' dialers, such as Xiaomi's, may carry one too, so check it before assuming your phone cannot record.
• On Android 11 and higher, you can use Screen Record with your phone on speaker to capture call audio.
• Rooting your phone to install a call recorder is a last resort. It carries real risk (a voided warranty and security exposure), and app compatibility changes with almost every Android update.

How to record calls on Android: long story

One key difference between Android phones sold in the US and Canadian markets and phones built for Asia, Africa, Europe, and most of the rest of the world is that many of those other models have long shipped with call recording built into the dialer. Manufacturers disabled the feature for the US and Canadian markets partly because some US states require every party to a call to consent before it can be recorded. The US and Canada both default to one-party consent, meaning only one person on the call needs to agree to the recording, but a minority of states require all-party consent instead. Recording a call in an all-party consent state without telling the other person can expose you to civil liability under that state's wiretapping statute, and in some states it is also a crime. It is safer to tell the other person you are recording, regardless of which type of state you are in.

Which phones have a call recording option?

Yes, several current Android phones can record calls without a third-party app. Google's Phone app has a native Record button on Pixel 6 and later phones running Android 14 or higher, and on other Android 9 and up phones where the manufacturer has built in the option, in countries where call recording is permitted. Availability is tied to your phone's country or region setting, not to where you physically bought the phone, so check Settings on your specific device rather than assuming a US-market phone can never record.

Your manufacturer's own dialer is worth checking separately, because it is a different app with different settings. Samsung's support documentation confirms call recording is available in the Samsung Phone dialer app on Galaxy phones updated to One UI 7.0 or higher: open the Phone app, tap More options, then Settings, then Record calls. Samsung's version plays an audio notification to the participants that the call is being recorded, the same disclosure approach Google uses. Some other manufacturers' dialers, such as Xiaomi's, may carry a similar Record calls entry, independent of Google's Phone app. This matters for a large share of readers, since many Galaxy owners never switch away from Samsung's default dialer and would never see Google's Record button either way. Whether the option appears depends on your model, your software version, and your region (Samsung notes certain regions and languages may not be supported), so open your Phone app, tap the menu, tap Settings, and look for a Record calls entry before concluding your phone cannot do it.

One caveat: Huawei phones released after 2019 do not ship with Google's Phone app or Google Play Services at all, because of US trade restrictions, so they are not a workaround for recording through Google's native feature even though older Huawei models did support it.

If your Android phone does not show a Record option in the Phone app or its settings, the next sections cover the alternatives: Google Voice, Screen Record, an external device, or a compatible third-party app.

Does call recording work in my country?

According to Google's Phone app support page, the Record button only appears in a country or region where call recording is permitted, and Google does not publish a complete list of every supported country. If you do not see a Record option during a call, check that your phone's language and region are set correctly in Settings, since the feature is tied to that setting rather than to where you bought the phone.

Google does not publish a launch date for the Record button; its support page simply lists the current requirements. What changed recently is Pixel and country coverage. In September 2025, Google announced it was bringing Call Recording to Pixel 6 and newer, as the simpler option for devices that lack the AI-powered Call Notes feature, in every country where Pixel is supported. The wide rollout on Pixel phones followed in November 2025. As of 9to5Google's February 2026 reporting, the feature was widely available but not in every country, with availability spreading across European countries and Google saying it expected to reach all markets and languages by the end of February 2026. Coverage has been widening steadily, so a phone that lacked the option a year ago may have it now after a software update.

Can you record a phone call on Android?

Yes. As of 2026, the Google Phone app has a native Record button for many Android phones, which is the easiest and most reliable way to record a call on Android. On non-Pixel phones running Android 9 or higher, and on Pixel 6 and later phones running Android 14 or higher, open the Phone app, start or answer a call, and tap Record on the call screen. On Pixel phones the option is under Call Assist. Both callers hear an automatic announcement when recording starts and again when it stops, per Google's documentation, which satisfies the disclosure that all-party consent states require.

If your phone does not show the Record option, either your device or your region is not yet supported. Before 2022, some third-party apps recorded both sides of a call using Android's Accessibility API. Google narrowed that workaround starting with Android 9 Pie, which blocked non-root call recording apps, then closed it with a Play Store policy change effective May 11, 2022 that barred third-party apps from using the Accessibility API to record call audio, also reported by XDA Developers. That policy carved out an exception worth knowing: an app that is the phone's pre-loaded default dialer does not need the Accessibility API to reach the incoming audio stream, which is exactly why a built-in Phone app can record a call when a downloaded app cannot.

Keep the two events straight, because they run in opposite directions. May 2022 is when Google restricted third-party recording apps. September 2025 is when Google extended its own Record button, an existing Phone app feature, to Pixel phones and to more countries. Rooting a phone to install an app that bypasses these restrictions is possible but comes with real risk (a voided warranty, security exposure, and app compatibility that changes with every Android update), so treat it as a last resort rather than a first option.

What if I have Android 10 or higher and no native Record button?

You have three options: use an external recording device (covered below), use the Screen Record method on Android 11 and higher, or record through Google Voice or a third-party app that uses a bridge number. Staying on an old, unsupported Android version just to keep using a root-free recording app is not a good trade-off, since older versions stop receiving security updates.

Using Screen Record to Record a Phone Call With Android 11 and Higher

To easily access the screen recorder during a phone call, add Screen Record to your quick action tiles. Screen Record uses your phone's microphone to capture audio, so this method only works when the other party is on speakerphone.

To add the Screen Record tile:

• Swipe down to open the notification menu, then swipe again to show the quick action menu.
• Tap the pencil (edit) icon.
• Scroll through the shortcuts until you see Screen Record.
• Hold and drag it into your active quick action tiles.

Once the shortcut is in place, you can start a screen recording either before or during a phone call:

• Open the quick action menu by swiping down twice.
• Turn on Record Audio.
• Tap Start.
• Put the phone on speakerphone.
• When you are done, turn off Screen Record from the quick action menu.

Note: This method uses your phone's microphone, so it only works with the call on speakerphone. It will not work over a wired or Bluetooth headset, or with the phone held normally to your ear.

Which Android call recorder apps record both sides?

If your phone does not have Google's native Record button, most call recorder apps in the Play Store today can only capture your own side of the conversation, since Google's May 2022 policy change removed the Accessibility API technique that used to grab both sides. So how do you record the other person too?

The most reliable way is to skip the app entirely and record the call some other way.

How can I record a call on Android without an app?

Besides the native Record button and Screen Record, you can capture both sides of a call with an external recording device, two phones, a PC running call software, or Bluetooth speakers placed near both parties. See our companion guide, how to record a phone call on Android or iPhone without an app, for a device-by-device walkthrough.

How to record calls in Android 10 using an external device

A dedicated Bluetooth call recorder is a good example of an external recording device that works with both iOS and Android. Unlike an app, this kind of device does not need access to your phone's internal microphone. It pairs with your phone over Bluetooth the same way a Bluetooth headset would, so it works with almost any phone including basic feature phones, and needs no cable or extra software on the phone itself. You retrieve the recorded audio later by connecting the device to a computer's USB port.

Use a zoom recorder

Handheld digital recorders such as the Zoom H6essential are popular with podcasters and journalists and work well for recording calls. You will also need headphones and an external microphone to capture both sides of the conversation clearly. Your phone sends audio through the device, so the device does not rely on your phone's internal microphone.

The analog method: Use two phones

If you have two phones, you can turn one into a recording device. Put the call on speaker on one phone, and use a lavalier or clip-on microphone plugged into the second phone (via its headphone jack or a USB-C adapter) to record the call as audio. The microphone boosts the pickup enough to capture both sides clearly, since the recording phone is not connected to the call itself.

A plug-and-play external microphone made for phones is a simpler alternative to a standalone microphone-and-adapter combination.

Tips:

• Keep the microphone close to the speakerphone and your own mouth to capture both sides of the conversation.
• Record in a quiet room.
• Turn on the loudspeaker and close windows or doors to reduce outside noise.

How to use Google Voice to record a call on Android

Google Voice can record incoming calls, but the feature is off by default, and on a personal Google account outgoing calls cannot be recorded. Recording an outgoing call through Google Voice requires an account managed through a paid Google Workspace plan, where an administrator can turn on call recording. Google Voice is a free service, available to US phone numbers, that lets you make and receive calls from a separate number tied to your Google Account.

To set it up, go to voice.google.com, sign in with your Google Account, and follow the prompts to choose an available number. You do not need a second device. Google Voice can forward calls to your existing phone and link up to six numbers to one account.

To turn on recording, open Settings, go to Calls, and turn on incoming call options. According to Google's support documentation, once recording is enabled, answer an incoming call and press 4 to start recording. All participants hear an automatic announcement that the recording has begun. Press 4 again to stop; participants hear an announcement that recording has ended. Recordings appear in the Calls tab in your Google Voice account. On a Google Voice account managed by a Google Workspace administrator, the administrator can instead set all calls to be recorded automatically, and Voice plays an announcement to all participants that recording has begun at the start of the call.

Use the Phone Link App on Windows

If you have a PC, you can link your Android phone to it using Microsoft's Phone Link app (formerly called Your Phone), which lets you make and receive calls from your computer. Phone Link works with Windows 10 and Windows 11 PCs with Bluetooth, and supported device requirements vary by phone manufacturer.

Phone Link itself does not have a call recording option. To capture a call routed through your PC, you need a separate app that records your computer's microphone and speaker output, such as the Windows Sound Recorder app, listed in earlier Windows versions as Windows Voice Recorder. Start the recorder before you answer or place the call through Phone Link.

Call recording apps that work with the latest versions of Android

Some call recording apps in the Play Store still work today, though most of them route the call through a bridge number rather than recording it directly, since Google's 2022 policy change removed apps that misused the Accessibility API. Examples that continue to operate this way include TapeACall and Truecaller's call recording feature, both of which require your carrier to support three-way calling.

These apps will not work in regions where call recording is restricted, and most require a subscription once you exceed a free trial's limits. Test any app with a low-stakes call before relying on it for something important.

Summary

Google's native Record button is now the simplest option if your phone and region support it: open the Phone app, start a call, and tap Record. Check your Phone app settings first before trying anything more complicated.

If native recording is not available on your phone, you have several reliable alternatives:

• Google Voice, for incoming calls on a personal account. Recording outgoing calls requires a Workspace-managed account.
• The Phone Link app on Windows, paired with a separate voice recorder.
• A dedicated Bluetooth or handheld recorder, such as a Zoom recorder.
• Two phones and an external microphone.
• A call recording app such as TapeACall or Truecaller, which dial through a bridge number.

Your phone manufacturer may also build call recording into its own dialer, separate from Google's Phone app. Samsung documents the feature on Galaxy phones updated to One UI 7.0 or higher, and other makers, such as Xiaomi, may offer it on some models. Availability varies by model, software version, and region, so check your Phone app's own Settings for a Record calls entry before assuming a US-market phone does not have one.

If you use a recording app, test it on a low-stakes call first and read recent reviews, since app compatibility changes with almost every Android update.

Overall, privacy concerns have led Android device makers and Google to restrict call recording in the US and other countries with strict consent laws. Google tightened that further in May 2022, when its Play Store policy barred third-party apps from using the Accessibility API to capture call audio. The picture has been easing in the other direction more recently: Samsung built call recording into its Phone app on Galaxy phones updated to One UI 7.0 or higher, and in September 2025 Google committed to bringing its native Record button to Pixel 6 and newer in every country where Pixel is supported, a rollout that widened through late 2025 and into 2026. Check your Phone app settings before assuming you need a workaround, and always confirm you are complying with your state's consent law before you record.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I legally record a phone call on my Android without telling the other person?

It depends on your state. One-party consent states allow you to record as long as you are a party to the call, but two-party consent states require every participant to agree before you record. Recording without required consent can expose you to civil liability, and in some states criminal charges, under that state's wiretapping law.

Does the Google Phone app record calls automatically?

No. You must tap Record on the call screen (or Call Assist on Pixel phones) each time you want to record. The Phone app plays an announcement to both callers when recording starts and stops, so the other party always knows.

Why doesn't my Android phone show a Record button during calls?

Either your device is not yet supported (non-Pixel phones need Android 9 or higher, Pixel phones need a Pixel 6 or later on Android 14 or higher) or your phone's country or region setting is somewhere Google has not enabled the feature. Check Settings to confirm your region, and make sure the Phone app is updated to its latest version.

When did Google add call recording to the Phone app?

Google has never published a launch date, and the Record button is not new: Google's support page documents it on non-Pixel phones running Android 9 or higher, where the manufacturer builds it in. The recent change is coverage. In September 2025 Google announced it was extending Call Recording to Pixel 6 and newer, for devices that lack the AI-powered Call Notes feature, in every country where Pixel is supported, and it rolled out widely on Pixel phones in November 2025, with availability continuing to expand into 2026. This is a separate and later event from Google's May 2022 Play Store policy change, which went the other way by barring third-party apps from using the Accessibility API to record calls.

Can a Samsung Galaxy phone record calls without an app?

Yes, on recent software. Samsung's support documentation confirms call recording is available in the Samsung Phone dialer app on Galaxy phones updated to One UI 7.0 or higher: open the Phone app, tap More options, then Settings, then Record calls. Participants hear an audio notification that the call is being recorded. Samsung's feature is separate from Google's Phone app, so a phone that shows no Record button in one app may still offer the option in the other, though Samsung notes certain regions and languages may not be supported.

Can Google Voice record outgoing calls?

Not on a personal Google account, which can record incoming calls only, by pressing 4 on the dialpad. On a Google Voice account managed by a Google Workspace administrator, the administrator can set all calls, including outgoing ones, to be recorded, with an announcement played to all participants. To record an outgoing call from a personal account, use the Phone app's native Record button if your device supports it, or one of the workarounds described above, such as an external recorder or a call recording app that dials through a bridge number.

Are call recording apps from the Play Store still reliable in 2026?

Some, like TapeACall and Truecaller, still work by routing your call through a bridge number, since Google's policy change effective May 11, 2022 barred apps from using the Accessibility API to record both sides directly. Reliability depends on your carrier supporting three-way calling, so test any app on a low-stakes call before relying on it.

Is it safe to root my Android phone just to record calls?

It is possible but not recommended as a first option. Rooting can void your warranty, create security vulnerabilities, and requires ongoing maintenance since app compatibility changes with nearly every Android update. Try the native Record button, Google Voice, Screen Record, or an external recording device first.