Before you start
- An Android phone whose Phone app supports recording (Samsung, Google Pixel and many others)
- Permission from the other person where the law requires it
Method 1 Record calls on a Samsung Galaxy phone
Call recording is available on Galaxy phones in most regions. If you don’t see it, your carrier or country may have disabled it.
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Step 1: Start or answer a call
Make or answer a call with Samsung’s Phone app.
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Step 2: Tap Record call
Tap the three dots (⋮) on the call screen and choose Record call. The first time, accept the terms. A timer shows the call is being recorded.
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Step 3: Stop recording
Tap Stop recording or simply hang up.
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Step 4: Optional: record automatically
To record every call, or only calls with certain numbers, open Phone > ⋮ > Settings > Record calls and turn on Auto record calls.
Method 2 Record calls with the Google Phone app (Pixel and others)
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Step 1: Check it’s available
Open the Phone by Google app, tap ⋮ > Settings and look for Call recording. If it’s there, recording is supported in your country and on your device.
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Step 2: Tap Record during a call
On the call screen, tap Record. Both people hear an announcement that the call is being recorded. Tap Stop recording to stop.
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Step 3: Set automatic rules
In Settings > Call recording you can choose to always record calls from numbers not in your contacts or from selected numbers.
Where to find your recordings
- Samsung: open the Phone app, go to Recents, tap the call and then the recording. In My Files, look in Internal storage > Recordings > Call.
- Google Phone app: open Recents, tap the call and press play. Recordings stay on your phone and aren’t backed up automatically.
You can share a recording from the same screen, for example to send it to yourself by email.
Why third-party recording apps rarely work
Since Android 10, apps from the Play Store can’t access the audio of phone calls, and Google stopped allowing the accessibility workaround in 2022. Most “call recorder” apps now only capture your side, or rely on speakerphone. The built-in Phone app is the most reliable option.
For calls on WhatsApp, Zoom, Teams or Google Meet, use those apps’ own recording features, which notify participants.
Troubleshooting
I don’t see a Record option
Update the Phone app in the Play Store. If it’s still missing, call recording is not allowed by your carrier or in your country, or your phone uses a different dialler. Check your manufacturer’s Phone app settings.
The recording only has my voice
That’s typical of third-party apps. Use the built-in Phone app instead, or for important calls ask the other person to agree to a speakerphone recording with a separate device.
I can’t find a recording
Search for “Call” in the My Files app (Samsung) or open the call in Recents in the Phone app. Recordings made with auto-record appear next to each call.
Frequently asked questions
Can I record a call without the other person knowing?
The Google Phone app always announces recordings. Samsung doesn’t announce them, but recording someone secretly can be illegal where all-party consent is required. Always tell people when the law requires it.
Is call recording free on Android?
Yes. The built-in recorder on Samsung and Google phones is free and works on normal calls with no extra charge.
How much storage do call recordings use?
Roughly 0.5–1 MB per minute, so an hour of recordings uses around 30–60 MB.
Can I record WhatsApp calls?
WhatsApp has no built-in call recording, and Android blocks most apps from capturing VoIP audio. For recorded meetings, use an app with official recording, such as Zoom or Teams.
Summary
Use your phone’s own Phone app to record calls: ⋮ > Record call on Samsung, or Record in the Google Phone app where available. Find recordings in Recents, and always follow your local consent rules by telling people you’re recording.
