How To Record Calls On An iPhone

There are many reasons you might want to record a call on your smartphone: an interview for work, a customer service call, or a conversation with a loved one.

- Eric Griffith

Android devices have few recording limitations (and many of the tips below also apply), but things get tricky when you want to record a call on an iPhone.

You would think there’d be an app for that, but Apple doesn’t allow third-party applications to access the microphone and the integrated Phone app directly. But there are tricks within some apps and services to get around that limitation that can make you a mobile wire-tapping master.

Before you push Record, be sure to tell the person on the other end of the line you’re recording; depending on your location, you may be breaking a law if you don’t. Some US states —such as New York— require only one-party consent, which means you can record without telling the other person. In California, however, all parties must know they’re being recorded — even when the recorder is out of state. Under federal law, one-party consent is okay, but only if you’re part of the convo; otherwise it’s considered eavesdropping.

None of these laws are as cut-and-dried as they seem (Nevada’s one-party consent has been viewed by the courts as an all-party consent), so play it safe: Get permission on any recorded call. “Forgiveness” could get litigious and costly and even lead to criminal charges. If you’re unsure, don’t record at all.

EMPLOY GOOGLE VOICE

If you haven’t used that free Google Voice account in a while, check it out. It provides free voice mail, a free phone number, call-around service (it’ll ring as many IRL phones as you want it to until you answer), and yes, even conversation recording on incoming calls. While it’s possible to make an outbound call using the Google Voice app on your iPhone, you can’t record them with Google Voice.