Here’s how to record phone calls on your Android phone

There might be times you need to record a call, like when you’re on an important work call with someone, and recording it is easier than trying to remember all the details later. Although Android devices don’t have the native ability to do so, there are a few apps in the Google Play Store that can do the job — but not all of them will give the best results.

It’s vital to remember that both the federal and state government have laws in place for recording phone calls, so always ensure you have consent before proceeding. Once you have the other party’s authorization to record your call, our handy guide will show you how to record a phone call in Android and help you figure out which apps are worth your time. Are you an iPhone user? Check out our guide on how to record phone calls with an iPhone.

Difficulty

Duration

Editor’s Note: There are federal and state laws pertaining to the recording of phone calls. As a general rule of thumb, though, you shouldn’t run into any legal trouble if you capture both parties verbally consenting to the recording. Some states require that only one party consent; however, check your state or local laws if you need further clarification.

How to record calls with Google Voice on the web

Many Android users have the Google Voice app installed on their phone, which makes it easy to record phone calls using a Google Voice account. Not only that, but the app allows you to record your calls for free. Well, at least some of the calls. If you opt for Google Voice, you can only record incoming calls.

First, you need a Google Voice account. If you don’t have one, head to the Google Voice website and follow the on-screen instructions. Then, once your account is set up, you need to enable recording on your account, which is relatively easy to do.

Step 1: Navigate to the Google Voice home page.

Step 2: Click the three vertical dots more menu located on the left and select Settings from the menu.

Step 3: Scroll to the Calls section and turn on Incoming call options by using the slider on the right.

Step 4: Once done, you will be able to record incoming calls by simply hitting the 4 button on your keypad.

Note:When you press 4, you and the person you’re talking with will hear a message saying that the recording is underway. Press “4 again, and the recording will stop and automatically save to your inbox. To access your recordings in the Voice app, head to the Menu and tap the Voicemail tab.

How to record calls with the Google voice app

You can also record calls using the Google Voice app. The process is similar.

Step 1: Open the Google Voice app and tap the hamburger menu on the upper-left side of the app.

Step 2: Tap Settings.

Step 3: Scroll down to Calls and toggle Incoming call options.

Recording calls with a third-party app

There are many apps out there designed for recording calls on your Android phone, though some of them work better than others. We tested a few of them to see how they worked, but before diving into our suggestions, there is something to keep in mind. Most of these apps rely solely on your microphone to record both incoming and outgoing audio, which means calls that aren’t recorded while on speakerphone will be a little quiet. Here is one of the better apps for recording that we’ve come across.

Call Recorder S9 – Automatic Call Recorder Pro

Perhaps the best call-recording app around is Automatic Call Recorder Pro, largely because of how well-made the interface is. Thankfully, it doesn’t just look good — it works pretty well, too. The app provides a host of customizable settings, allowing you to tweak the audio quality and set the app to record every call automatically. Another cool feature is “shake to record,” which does exactly what you might think. If you want to record a call, simply shake your phone. You can also set the app to save recordings to various cloud services, such as Google Drive and Dropbox.

Android

Recording calls with an external recorder

The last method to record a phone conversation can be overcomplicated and expensive. Rather than using an app, you can buy a separate phone recorder — some plug it into your phone’s 3.5mm headphone jack, but most use Bluetooth to connect to your phone.There are also call-recording headsets that connect via Bluetooth, like the Waytronic Mobile Call Recording Headset, which will set you back $49 on Amazon.We’d also recommend the RecorderGear PR200. This recorder is easy to use, connects to your phone via Bluetooth, and has a built-in speaker, so you can listen to recorded calls directly from the device. It’s available for $109 from Amazon. True, it’s more expensive than the apps we mentioned earlier, but overall, you are spending money for a more user-friendly and consistently more dependable option — great if you regularly record calls. At the end of the day, go for the method that matches up with the quality level you’re seeking from your phone recordings and the amount of money you’re OK with spending to acquire those results.

Editors' Recommendations

This sale is your excuse to buy a humidifier or air purifier

How Hawk-Eye cameras are making football fairer and faster than ever

Best Dyson deals for February 2022

Best Peloton alternatives for February 2022

This powerful Dell XPS 17 is $250 off for a limited time!

DC unveils new film footage of The Batman, The Flash, and others

Best smartwatch deals for February 2022

Dell’s best work-from-home laptop is over $500 off today

Best Apple Watch deals and sales for February 2022

Grab this HP Pavilion gaming PC deal while it’s just $550

This Dell XPS 15 laptop is $500 off for a limited time

A unified Call of Duty engine is exactly what the series needs

Grab a new 55-inch 4K TV while it’s discounted to $319 today