For both business and personal use, call recording is an important tool for efficient communication and record-keeping. It allows users to document their most important exchanges and ensures accuracy in verifying details or making meeting notes.
Since 2022, Google has taken steps to revise the data safety section in its Play Store, restricting third-party use of the accessibility API for call recording. This has made call recording on Android devices less straightforward but not impossible.
In this guide, we’ll go over the:
- Call-recording options that are still available to Android users
- Reasons you might consider call recording
- Legal implications of making phone recordings using your device
- Most frequently asked questions about how to record calls on Android.
Why record a phone call?
Recording a conversation for future reference has numerous use cases, from jotting down a family recipe to helping to train customer service agents.
Training and customer service
Recording phone calls can be valuable for training customer service agents and monitoring performance. New hires learn faster by listening to real customer service calls, which allows them to hone their skills thanks to constructive coaching and feedback based on their own customer service call recordings.
Supervisors can also review recordings and identify training requirements within their teams. This means that learning sessions can be highly tailored to meet the needs of agents and, therefore, produce higher-quality services.
Evidence gathering
Call recording is also a convenient way to gather evidence and resolve disputes. Provided you have the consent of all parties involved, it can be a useful way to capture information and retain key details. In fact, as long as you’re following the relevant state laws, call recordings can serve as legal documentation.
Accuracy and referral
For journalists, researchers, sales reps, and more, call recording helps with accuracy and referral. This means you can quote sources with precision and avoid mistakes and misunderstandings.
In recruitment as well, including blind recruitment, call recording can be used in telephone interviews for review and evaluation of candidates. Referring to previous candidate interviews can also ensure fairness in the process, making sure there’s consistency and that every prospective hire is asked the same questions.
Record keeping
Finally, it helps to create long-term archives of conversations and retain information that might otherwise have been lost.
Recording calls on Android can be used for a range of record-keeping scenarios, from enhancing your note-taking as a student to professional situations like dispute resolution and keeping records of business agreements.
Understanding the legality of phone call recording
Before you attempt to record a phone call on your Android device, it’s essential you understand the call recording compliance considerations in your local area. There are several legal issues to keep in mind, namely consent requirements and privacy rights.
Consent requirements
You should check state-specific laws to determine consent requirements in your jurisdiction when it comes to call recording solutions. For example, where states like Alabama, Texas, and New York require one-party consent prior to recording, two-party or all-party consent must be agreed upon in California, Washington, and Illinois.
Currently, 38 states, including the District of Columbia have one-party consent for recording conversations.
However, you should always check the laws in your state prior to making a recording. To ensure you’re abiding by consent requirements, it’s always best to receive consent from every participating party before recording a conversation.
Privacy rights and notification
Federal, state, and constitutional laws protect individuals and their rights to privacy. These laws extend to phone conversations in which there’s a reasonable expectation of privacy, for example a personal phone call that’s conducted in a private space. In public spaces, however, a lower level of privacy is expected and protected.
In two-party consent states, notification is required. This means informing the second party that you’re recording a phone call before you hit record. This can be done verbally, through automatic means, or prior to a phone call via written documentation.
5 ways to record calls on Android devices
Once you understand and ensure you’re abiding by the legal requirements of call recording, you can start the process. Follow the steps below and learn how to record a phone call with your Android device.
1.Enable built-in recording features
The first and most straightforward way to record a call on your Android phone is to enable call recording through your built-in device software.
However, not all Android phones include this feature due to privacy concerns. The Google Pixel is one such example. Other devices may only allow for the recording of unknown numbers, and, in certain regions, with required carriers.
To check if your phone and operating system support call recording via inbuilt features, follow these steps:
- Go to your Phone’s settings.
- Navigate to “Call recording” or a similarly titled option.
- Agree to legal reminders and enable recording. Here, you might be presented with options to record all calls, calls from unknown numbers, or calls from specific numbers.
2.Download third-party call-recording apps
If a built-in feature is unavailable on your device, you can try recording calls via a third-party app. However, once again, there are some limitations due to restrictions placed on downloadable apps by the Google Play Store.
To use a third-party recorder or video call app capable of recording calls, you may need to turn on accessibility services on your device, allowing the app access to your screen and microphone. Given this, it’s important to read all privacy policies and be aware of local regulations prior to downloading.
To download a third-party call recording app, navigate to the Google Play Store, search for the app by name or by typing “call recorder,” and then tap to install.
3.Use Google Voice for call recording
Google Voice provides an excellent solution for call recording if you’re only looking to record incoming phone calls. Via the standard plan, users can record incoming calls but not set automatic recording.
Workspace users, however, will be given more recording options provided they have a Google Voice license. You can check with your Workspace administrator to see which options your plan supports.
To use Google Voice, follow this guide:
- Download Google Voice from the Google Play Store and create an account if you haven’t already.
- At the top left of the screen, tap the three dots or wheel to access the menu.
- Select calls, and, under call options, enable the call recording feature.
- For manual recording, tap 4 on your keypad during a call to start recording.
- To stop recording, press 4 again.
- You can find, play, and download your recordings in the Recorded menu in the Google Voice app.
4. VoIP services
A dedicated VoIP service is a reliable and efficient way to record calls, especially for professional use. These will allow you to record both incoming and outgoing calls and may even offer additional features like call transcription, caller ID, and analytics.
You should review the plans and pricing of various providers to see which suits your personal or business needs most.
Get started with call recording today
Call recording with Android doesn’t have to be complicated. Once you’ve assessed your legal requirements and the capabilities of your device, you can get started through numerous options like built-in features, third-party apps, and VoIP phone services.
Be diligent when assessing terms and conditions for any downloaded software, and make sure to notify call recipients to comply with local privacy laws.
Frequently asked questions
What is phone call recording, and how does it work?
Phone call recording refers to the process of capturing a phone conversation for future reference. Depending on the device you’re using, it works via various methods. Typically, in-built features or third-party resources will use your device’s microphone and call management system to record audio. You can enable auto-recording or manually trigger a recording.
Can all Android devices record calls?
No, not all Android devices can record calls. This will depend on the operating system you’re running, the device manufacturer or model, and your region/carrier. Devices running Android 10 and later have more restrictions on call recording than older versions.
Is it legal to record calls on Android?
You should consult your local state laws to find out if call recording is legal in your area. States with two-party consent will only deem a recording legal when all participants have agreed to the recording. Even where one-party consent is the law, it’s widely considered best practice to inform all call participants when you’re making a recording.
Originally published Jun 11, 2025
