'ZDNET Recommends': What exactly does it mean?
ZDNET's recommendations are based on many hours of testing, research, and comparison shopping. We gather data from the best available sources, including vendor and retailer listings as well as other relevant and independent reviews sites. And we pore over customer reviews to find out what matters to real people who already own and use the products and services we’re assessing.
When you click through from our site to a retailer and buy a product or service, we may earn affiliate commissions. This helps support our work, but does not affect what we cover or how, and it does not affect the price you pay. Neither ZDNET nor the author are compensated for these independent reviews. Indeed, we follow strict guidelines that ensure our editorial content is never influenced by advertisers.
ZDNET's editorial team writes on behalf of you, our reader. Our goal is to deliver the most accurate information and the most knowledgeable advice possible in order to help you make smarter buying decisions on tech gear and a wide array of products and services. Our editors thoroughly review and fact-check every article to ensure that our content meets the highest standards. If we have made an error or published misleading information, we will correct or clarify the article. If you see inaccuracies in our content, please report the mistake via this form.
How to record a phone call on Android in 3 easy ways
The Pixel 6 Pro with Android 12's new weather and time widgets.
If you're an Android smartphone user, you're in good company.
It's estimated that Android makes up approximately 70% of global smartphone market share, with over 2.5 billion active users.
Google cracked down on third-party recording apps in the Google Play Store last year in the name of improved privacy, but it is still possible to record phone calls on Android phones -- and there's a workaround or two as well.
But before we dive into the "how," it's important to keep in mind the legality of recording phone conversations.
Also: The best Android phones
In the US, there are federal and state-specific laws surrounding the permissions needed to record a phone call.
In some states, you do not need the other party's permission to record the call as long as you are a consenting party on the call yourself. In others, all parties must consent to the recording. Check federal and state laws before recording any phone conversation.
You can check what laws your state has imposed here.
Also: How to record a phone call on your iPhone
Google's Phone app has built-in call recording and instructions on how to record a call. However, during testing, we found that the functionality did not appear, and so while you can try to initiate this method, we will be exploring alternatives.
So, how do you record a call? Here are a few different ways to record a phone call on your Android phone.
1. Recording a call on Android using Google Voice
Google Voice is a voice-over-internet protocol (VoIP) service that was created to allow users to make and receive phone calls from anywhere using the internet. It can also be used to record incoming calls.
Also: The best Google Pixel phones
To use Google Voice to record an incoming phone call, there are a couple of conditions, and, as is the case with its Phone app, Google makes sure all parties know they're being recorded:
- You must have a Google Voice account.
- You must have Voice calling options turned on.
- All participants must be on a call before you start recording.
How to record a call using Google Voice
Here's how to record an incoming call on your Android device using Google Voice:
- Answer the incoming call you intend to record.
- Press 4 to start recording.
- Press 4 to stop recording.
- Access recordings in the Google Voice voicemail tab.
When you're using Google Voice to record a phone call, you can begin the recording during the call and you can also switch phones during a recorded call.
2. Recording a call on Android using an external recorder
Using an external recorder might not be ideal option as it may require purchasing hardware. Still, if Google Voice won't work for your needs, an external recorder is an option -- whether this is a dictaphone or otherwise.
Modern-day recorders are often wireless, with Bluetooth capabilities, and might require pairing with the original smartphone used for making calls.
Also: How to simplify Bluetooth connectivity
The only steps required for recording with dedicated equipment are typically pairing over Bluetooth and pressing a button to start and stop the recording.
The recordings will be kept on the external device, as long as storage is available, until you decide to transfer the audio files.
Also: How to take a screenshot on Android
However, 'dumb' dictaphones without such connectivity might require an SD card or wired link to a PC for audio data transfer. You might also have to put your call on speaker to capture both sides of the audio properly.
3. Recording a call on Android using a third-party app
Using a voice-recorder app is a potential workaround. Now, while Android call-recording functionality is locked to Google's Phone app and Accessibility services, you might be able to circumvent this by enabling a voice recorder and putting the phone call on speaker.
This could be an app on your smartphone designed to capture voice and environmental noise, for example, or if the call is made on speaker, an app could be used on a different mobile device.
Also: How to set up a new Android phone
These apps might be able to record the environmental noise around you, including both sides of the call. Keep in mind, however, this can be risky as it is illegal in many places to record people without their consent.
How much does it cost to record a phone call using Google Voice?
Though rates may be applied if you're using Voice to make international phone calls or other calls and texts that don't use an internet connection, using Google Voice is otherwise free, including recording incoming phone calls.
Is it legal to record a phone conversation?
While it is not illegal to record a phone conversation, state laws determine whether or not the party being recorded must be notified that they are being recorded. Google's Phone app and Voice have built-in functionality that notifies all parties on the call that they are being recorded, giving everyone freedom to end the call if they do not wish to be recorded.
Are there alternatives to recording calls on an Android device?
If you want a record of a phone call or meeting, you could also opt for a Voice-over-IP (VoIP) platform instead. Zoom and Microsoft Teams, for example, offer meeting- and call-recording functionality. However, participants will be informed at the start of a session of the recording.