Need to record an important phone call? With the right app, you can capture both incoming and outgoing calls on your Android gadget. Recording calls on Android can be challenging. While Google’s Phone app offers a recording feature, its functionality depends on your carrier, region, and other factors. You can use an external recorder, but several on-device options exist, including Google’s Phone app, Google Voice, and various third-party apps.
Recording Limitations on Android
Google has historically been wary of third-party call-recording apps for Android. With Android 9, the company imposed restrictions, making it difficult for many apps to record conversations effectively. While these apps still functioned, playback often only revealed your side of the conversation or silence.
Android 10 introduced even more stringent measures, such as blocking call recording via the microphone. Developers began utilizing Android’s Accessibility Service to bypass this, but in April 2022, Google updated its developer policy to prohibit apps from using this service for call recording on the Play Store, effective May 11, 2022.
Google has even classified call recording as a potential form of spyware. According to its developer policy, “Behaviors that can be considered as spying on the customers can also be flagged as spyware,” which includes recording calls or audio.
Smartphone
Previously, users found workarounds to these restrictions, such as altering audio sources, maximizing speaker volume, recording manually, or rooting their devices. Some have resorted to sideloading call-recording apps via APK files instead of downloading them from Google Play.
The Android version on your device also influences app functionality. Apps on Android 9 or earlier can still record calls without encountering Google’s latest restrictions. However, apps on Android 10 or higher that use the Accessibility Service may face challenges under Google’s new policy.
Legal Considerations
If you find a functional call-recording app, can you legally record calls without the other person’s consent? In the United States, federal and most state laws permit recording if at least one party consents, which can be you. However, 11 states—California, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Washington—require consent from both parties. Rev, a transcription app, provides further details on this topic.
Each country has its own regulations. To ensure legal compliance, it’s best to obtain the other person’s consent before recording. With these limitations in mind, here are some apps that might help you record conversations on your Android phone.
Legal considerations
Phone by Google
This phone app offers built-in call recording, but it is subject to several conditions. First, the app must be preinstalled with the latest update on your phone, which should run Android 9 or higher. Additionally, your region, carrier, and device must all support the feature, excluding many phones and locations.
Ensure your phone uses Google’s Phone app, not Samsung’s, for example. If you have the correct app, open it, tap the three-dot icon in the upper right corner, and select Settings. Tap Call Recording to configure which types of calls you wish to record. If the Call Recording option is absent, your phone cannot record calls through the app.
Should you have the Call Recording option, press the Record button during a call to start recording. When finished, tap Stop Recording. Access your recordings in the Recents section of the Phone app. Tap the caller’s name, select the recording, and tap Play.
Google Voice
With Google Voice, you prefer a dedicated phone number that routes incoming calls to your phone. After setting up your number and Google Voice account, tap the app’s menu icon in the upper-left corner. Go to Settings and enable Incoming call options to allow call recording.
The main limitation is that you can only record incoming calls. When you answer, press four on the keypad to record, with an announcement alerting the other party. Obtain permission before recording. Press four again to stop recording.
Your recording is saved to your email, where you can listen to it or download it to your computer.
Google Voice
Automatic Call Recorder
Automatic Call Recorder is an effective and simple app. Upon opening, grant permissions to record audio, access contacts, make/manage calls, and access media. The app warns that future versions of Google Play may not record calls due to new restrictions.
For devices with Android 10 or higher, activate the accessibility service. Tap Turn On, navigate to Accessibility settings, select Call Recorder, and toggle Use Call Recorder. This grants the app full control, including screen viewing and certain actions.
Return to the app and open Settings. Here, you can enable or disable automatic recording for calls, record specific contacts, increase loudness, and adjust recording volume. An option allows recording by shaking your phone.
With automatic recording on, it initiates whenever a call is made or received. Open the app to access recordings, where you can save, add notes, delete, or share them via email or social media.
The free version contains ads, but the $8.49 Pro version removes them and adds features. In testing, Automatic Call Recorder worked seamlessly on an Android 9 device. On Android 12, the accessibility service was needed to record calls.
Automatic Call Recorder Pro
Automatic Call Recorder Pro offers a robust set of features. Initially, it guides you through setup, including enabling accessibility settings. Access Settings to select automatic or manual recording, change audio source/format, adjust quality, increase volume, or activate shake-to-record.
If set to automatic, it records entire incoming and outgoing calls. Tap the recording when it appears to listen in the app. From the recording screen, you can play, save, share, or delete files.
The free version is ad-supported, with a $3.49 option to remove ads. Testing showed successful call recording on both Android 9 and Android 12 devices using the accessibility service. The app hasn’t mentioned Google’s latest policy changes, but future versions might face restrictions.
Girl with a phone
Cube ACR
Cube ACR stands out with more premium features than other apps. The basic version is free, though it includes ads and lacks cloud-based backup for recordings. For additional features, a subscription costs $6.99 for six months or $9.99 for a year after a free one-week trial. However, the free version is adequate for basic needs. Like other call-recording apps, Cube ACR requires permission to use the accessibility service on Android 10 or higher. In the app’s settings, you can toggle automatic recording, exclude calls from unknown numbers, adjust call clarity and volume, and enable recording from VoIP apps (if your phone supports it). You can even geotag recordings to identify the caller’s location.
To record an outgoing call, dial as usual. If you enable autostart recording, incoming calls are automatically recorded in the background. After the call ends, open the app to view and play the recordings. You can mark recordings as important, delete them, check the caller’s location on a map, and share them via email or social media.
During testing, Cube ACR couldn’t record calls on any Android device by default due to a known issue. Fortunately, the developer offers a workaround. A notification prompts you to install and configure the Cube ACR Helper app. After doing so, I successfully recorded calls on both an Android 9 and an Android 13 device.