How to record phone calls on an iPhone

When Steve Jobs revealed the Apple iPhone at the Macworld Conference and Expo in 2007, people were amazed. What appeared at first to be an inanimate black object came to life at the touch of the screen, revealing virtual buttons and controls that nullified the physical keypad.

As well as being able to make and receive phone calls, text messages and emails, the iPhone has since been developed to act as a camera, video recorder, Sat Nav, television and more. Its operating system allows you to multitask and swap between multiple open apps — making it more like a handheld computer than a mobile phone.

Considering its extensive array of features, you’d be forgiven for thinking you can easily record a phone call on an iPhone (especially since it is relatively easy to do this on its Android competitor). But you’d be wrong.

Apple prevents third-party apps from having direct access to the microphone and Phone app, which means recording phone calls on an iPhone isn’t a straightforward task. But it can be done. In this article, we’ll show you how.

Apple won’t let third-party apps access the microphone because it is serious about protecting the privacy of its customers. So, if you want to record a phone call on an iPhone, you will need to get creative.

You can record calls on an iPhone by using Apple's built-in recording feature, downloading a call recording app, using a call recorder service, using an external device or calling your voicemail.

Keep reading to find out exactly how to record phone calls on an iPhone.

It is not uncommon for a phone call to be recorded in a professional environment. The police, for example, may record phone calls to gather evidence, while businesses often record calls for training purposes or to resolve customer disputes.

Plus, there are many instances where you personally might want to record a phone call. Here are some examples:

• You’ve got a telephone job interview and want to evaluate how you come across to see whether you can make improvements next time
• You’re speaking to a health professional about an important medical issue and want to be able to refer back to the conversation later
• You’re negotiating with a client and want proof of everything that is discussed
• You’re conducting a work interview that needs to be transcribed for reference
• You want to keep a conversation with a loved one as a memory to listen to again

The reason why iPhones don’t have a built-in recording function is that in some countries, it is illegal to record phone conversations.

In the UK, it is legal to record phone calls, but before you do so, there are some restrictions you need to be aware of.

If you are recording a phone call in the UK, the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 (RIPA) states that the recording must be for your own use only. To further enforce this, a set of privacy and security laws known as the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) came into effect in 2018 to regulate how data is collected and shared.

While it is not illegal to record a call or collect data in the UK, it is illegal to share the details of a phone call with a third party without consent.

As mentioned, Apple makes it difficult to record phone calls on an iPhone because it restricts third-party access to the microphone. However, you may be able to get around this by using one of the five methods listed earlier. In this section, we’ll take you through each of these so you can try them out and see which works best for you (note that some of the steps given may vary depending on your iPhone model and the iOS version you are using).

1. Apple’s built-in recording feature

This is the easiest way to record a call on an iPhone, but you will need to make the phone call from another device, such as a laptop or tablet.

Here’s how to do it:

1. Open the Voice Memos app on your iPhone.
2. Tap the red record button to start recording.
3. Make a phone call on a device other than your iPhone.
4. While you are on the call, tap on the Speaker icon option so both sides of the conversation can be recorded.
5. For the best quality, keep your iPhone’s microphone close to the device you’re using to make the call.
6. End the phone call.
7. Save your recording.

Note that if you want to make the phone call from your iPhone, you can follow the above steps to record it using an iPad, iPod Touch or Mac computer instead.

Pros of this method:

• It’s free
• It’s quick and easy to do

Cons of this method:

• You need a second device that can either make calls or record audio
• The sound quality can be low

2. Call recording app

You can also record iPhone calls by downloading an app like TapeACall: Call Recorder or Call Recorder App.

Each app works in a slightly different way, but they all utilise three-way conference calling, whereby a recording line — provided by the app developer — acts as the third caller.

Pros of this method:

• The sound quality is usually good
• The recording can be activated during a normal call

Cons of this method:

• These apps cost money to download and use
• Not all carriers support conference calling

3. Call recorder service

Another way to record iPhone phone calls is to pay for a call-recording service such as Cleartone. They will record your calls for you and then automatically email you the recordings after each call. Alternatively, you can access your recordings in your online account dashboard. You will also have the option for all your calls to be recorded or only to use the call recording feature as and when you need it.

Pros of this method:

• Calls are automatically recorded for you
• You can also record calls on Android phones and landlines

Cons of this method:

• You usually have to pay for this service
• Most services are for business customers only

4. External device

One of the most basic ways to record phone calls on an iPhone is to buy a portable recording device like a dictaphone, which you set to record and then hold next to the iPhone while you are making the call.

A slightly more high-tech option is to attach the dictaphone to a recording cable like the Olympus TP-8 Telephone Pick-up Microphone, which you can pick up for about £25. Here’s how to use it:

1. Plug the cable’s jack into a recording device like a dictaphone and press record.
2. Insert the earphone end of the cable into your ear.
3. Make the call, hold the iPhone up to your ear and talk normally.
4. The recording device will capture each side of the conversation.

An even better option is the RecorderGear PR200, which records your phone conversation via Bluetooth — meaning there’s no need for cables or software. Once connected, you use it as though it is your phone by answering calls using the button in the middle of the device and holding it up to your head to have a conversation.

Pros of this method:

• It can be cheap to buy, depending on the device
• It also works with Android phones and landlines

Cons of this method:

• You need extra equipment
• It can be fiddly to set up

5. Voicemail

In some cases, you may be able to record iPhone calls using your own voicemail. Whether or not you can do this depends on your carrier. If your carrier supports three-way calling, you can follow these steps to record a phone call using your voicemail:

1. While you are on a call, press the Add Call button to start a three-way conversation.
2. Call yourself and listen to your voicemail greeting.
3. When you hear the tone that indicates the recording has begun, tap Merge Calls.
4. End the call, and you will find the recording in your voicemail inbox.
5. You may be able to download the recording by going to your Phone app and tapping on Voicemail in the bottom-right corner. If you see a list of voicemail messages, you can download your recording to your iPhone. If not, you will need to call your voicemail whenever you want to listen to the recording.

Pros of this method:

• It doesn’t cost any money
• The sound quality is good

Cons of this method:

• Voicemail recordings have a time limit
• You may not be able to download your recording

If you want to record a call on an iPhone, you will need to get creative. iPhones don’t have a built-in recording function because, in some countries, it is illegal to record phone conversations. Apple also prevents third-party apps from having direct access to the microphone and Phone app because it is serious about protecting the privacy of its customers.

Nonetheless, if this is something you want to do, there are several workarounds you can try. Before you record a phone call in the UK, though, it is important to be aware of certain legal restrictions: While it is not illegal to record a call or collect data in the UK, it is illegal to share the details of a phone call with a third party without consent.