How to Record a Call on iPhone (2026 Guide)

Call recording is a basic but necessary tool if you want to keep proof of important conversations or revisit them if you forgot something. But iPhone users didn't have this option, as it was prohibited by law in some regions. However, call recording finally arrived on iPhones with iOS 18. So, if you also want to use this feature, check out this guide to learn how to record calls on an iPhone.

Do iPhones Have a Built-In Call Recording Feature?

Yes, Apple introduced the ability to record calls on iPhones built with the iOS 18.1 update. Users can start recording any normal call, and it plays an audio message, "This call will be recorded", to alert both parties. Once the call disconnects, the recording will be saved in the Notes app. However, this feature is not available in some countries due to regional laws.

Call Recording setting show on an iPhone screen against an orange background

Which iPhones Support Native Call Recording?

Native call recording is available on all iPhone models that received the iOS 18.1 update. This includes older models like the iPhone XS, iPhone 11, and iPhone 12, all the way to the latest iPhone 17. Here is a complete list of iPhones that support call recording.

iPhone XS
iPhone XS Max
iPhone 11
iPhone 11 Pro
iPhone 11 Pro Max
iPhone SE (2020)
iPhone 12
iPhone 12 Mini
iPhone 12 Pro
iPhone 12 Pro Max
iPhone 13
iPhone 13 Mini
iPhone 13 Pro
iPhone 13 Pro Max
iPhone SE (2022)
iPhone 14
iPhone 14 Plus
iPhone 14 Pro
iPhone 14 Pro Max
iPhone 15
iPhone 15 Plus
iPhone 15 Pro
iPhone 15 Pro Max
iPhone 16
iPhone 16 Plus
iPhone 16 Pro
iPhone 16 Pro Max
iPhone 16e
iPhone 17
iPhone 17 Pro
iPhone 17 Pro Max
iPhone Air
iPhone 17e

How to Turn On Call Recording on iPhone

Before you start recording calls on your iPhone, you need to enable the feature inside iOS settings.

Open the Settings app on your iPhone and go to Apps > Phone.

Open iPhone Settings and go to Phone option

Now, tap on Call Recording under "Calls".
Here, turn on the Call Recording toggle.

Turn on Call Recording from iPhone settings app

How to Record a Call on iPhone

Besides the native method, I looked for other workarounds to record calls on iPhone on Reddit threads and Apple Forums. This is to help out users with older iPhones that haven't received the iOS 18 update or didn't get the feature due to regional restrictions. Based on my findings, here are some common ways to get call recording on an iPhone.

Record a Call on iOS 26 and Newer Versions

Let's first start with the built-in method to record calls on iPhone. This is the method that works for iOS 26 eligible devices, ranging from iPhone 11 all the way up to the latest iPhone 17e.

Open the Phone app on your iPhone, make a call and tap on More once the call connects.
Here, select Call Recording from the list of options.

Start call recording on iOS 26 devices iPhone screenshots

It will play a 3-second timer and then announce, "This call will be recorded".
To stop recording the call, tap on the Stop icon.

Stop call recording on iOS 26 iPhone screenshot

Record Calls on iPhone Running iOS 18

For some reason, Apple changed the placement of the call recording option from iOS 18 to iOS 26. So, if your iPhone caps out on iOS 18, like the iPhone XS or the iPhone SE (1st Generation), then use this method instead.

Place a call on your iPhone.
When the call connects, tap on the call recording button in the top left corner.

How to record calls on iOS 18 devices iPhone screenshots

It will play a 30-second timer followed by the announcement.
Once you are done recording, tap the Record button to stop it.

How to stop recording calls on an iPhone

Record iPhone Calls Using Another Device

If you have an older iPhone that doesn't support iOS 18 or newer versions, you can use this workaround instead. It does not promise good audio quality, but at least it gets the job done. However, this is not a legitimate way to record a call, especially in regions where it requires two-party consent.

Start a call using the Phone app and tap on Speaker to output the voice.
Record the call with another device.
Stop recording when you are done.

Record a Call Using Voicemail

Another workaround for recording a phone call on an iPhone is to call your voicemail number, then call the person you want to talk to. Then, tap on Merge to combine the two calls, and the entire conversation will be recorded to your voicemail.

shot of a hand holding an iPhone showing a voicemail received

This workaround is not a legitimate method, and we recommend letting the other person know beforehand that you are recording the call.

How to Find Recorded Calls on iPhone

Every time you record a call on your iPhone, it is saved to the Notes app. To find your iPhone call recordings, simply follow these steps:

Open the Notes app on your iPhone and tap on Call Recordings.
Here, you will find a list of all your stored recordings.

Listen to stored call recordings on iPhone in the Notes app

You can listen to or manage each of your call recordings from here.

Is It Legal to Record Calls in India?

In India, call recording is generally legal if at least one person on the call is aware of the recording. This person can be you, and it falls under the idea of "one-person consent".

So, yes, it is legal to record a call on your iPhone or any other device in India. However, it is typically suggested to inform the other person that the call is being recorded.

List of Countries where Call Recording is Not Available on iPhone

Due to regional laws where both parties must provide their consent, the call-recording feature on iPhone is not available in the following countries.

Azerbaijan
Bahrain
Egypt
The European Union
Iran
Iraq
Jordan
Kuwait
Morocco
Nigeria
Oman
Pakistan
Qatar
Russia
Saudi Arabia
South Africa
Turkey
United Arab Emirates
Yemen

Unable to Record a Call on iPhone? Try These Fixes

If you are having issues recording calls on your iPhone or are unable to find the option altogether, then try out these troubleshooting fixes to sort out the issue.

Check if call recording is supported in your region: Call recording on iPhone is not supported in multiple regions, so make sure that the feature is available in your country or state.
Restart your iPhone: Attempt to restart your iPhone, as it can help with minor software bugs or issues with your device.
Check the More option: On iOS 26, the call recording option moved from the top left to within the More button.
Update iOS: Call recording is only available with iOS 18.1. So make sure that you are on the latest available version to get the feature. You can check that by going to Settings > General > Software Update.
Check storage space: Low storage may prevent you from recording any further calls to the local storage. Clear up your iPhone's storage and make space to record new conversations.
Reset all settings: It could also be an issue with settings on your iPhone that are interfering with the call recording feature. Attempt to reset iPhone settings, as it restores all iPhone settings to their factory configuration. However, it does erase any of your stored data.

This is everything you need to know on how to record a call on iPhone. I understand Apple's hesitation to launch it in limited regions with loose restrictions related to call recording consent so as not to get caught in any unwanted lawsuit. So, if the feature is available in your country, I hope this guide helped you learn how to use the feature.