NoteCubeQuick answer
To record a conversation in person on iPhone, open Voice Memos and tap the red button. To record a phone or FaceTime audio call with one other person, use iOS 18.1 or later and tap More (…) → Call Recording during the call. Both people hear that the call is being recorded, and the recording is saved in Notes.
How it works
Ask first
Tell the other person you want to record and why. Apple asks you to make sure the other call participant is willing to be recorded, and some places require everyone’s consent (see below).
In the same room: Voice Memos
Open Voice Memos (in the Utilities folder) and tap the red button. Put the phone between the speakers, screen up. For a noisy room, open Control Center and choose Voice Isolation.
On a call: Call Recording
During a phone or FaceTime audio call, tap More (…) → Call Recording. On iOS 18, tap the record button on the call screen. Tap Stop or hang up to end it.
Find the recording
Voice Memos recordings stay in Voice Memos, named New Recording or your location. Call recordings go to the Call Recordings folder in Notes, with a transcript where available.
How do I record a conversation in person on iPhone?
Voice Memos is already on your iPhone. Tap the red button to start and tap it again to stop. To pause and continue the same recording, swipe up from the top of the waveform, stop, then tap Resume, and tap Done when you are finished. While the microphone is in use, an orange dot appears at the top of your screen.
Two things catch people out. If another app starts playing audio, Voice Memos stops recording, so don’t play a video or voice message mid-conversation. And sound level depends on distance: Apple’s advice is to move the microphone closer to or farther from what you are recording.
How do I record a phone call on iPhone?
Since iOS 18.1 the Phone app can record calls. During a call, tap More (…) → Call Recording; on iOS 18 there is a dedicated record button on the call screen. It works for phone calls and FaceTime audio calls when you are talking to one other person. Recordings save automatically to the Call Recordings folder in Notes; tap View Saved Call to jump there.
If you don’t see the option, check your iOS version and region. Call recording isn’t available in some countries and regions, including the European Union. It is on by default and can be turned off in Settings → Apps → Phone → Audio Call Recording. For the full walkthrough, including Samsung Galaxy, see our call recording guide.
Can I record a conversation without the other person knowing?
With built-in call recording, no: both people hear an audio notice when recording starts. Voice Memos plays no notice to the other people in the room, so whether they know is up to you.
Whether it is legal depends on where you are. US federal law allows recording when you are a party to the conversation or one party has consented (18 U.S.C. §2511(2)(d)), but some states are stricter: California penalizes recording a confidential communication without the consent of all parties (Penal Code §632). Rules also differ by country. The simple rule that works everywhere is to ask first. This is general information, not legal advice.
How do I turn a recorded conversation into text?
Voice Memos shows a transcript live or after recording on iPhone 12 or later with iOS 18 or later, in English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, German, Japanese, Korean and Chinese (not in every country or region). Call recordings get a speaker-labeled transcript in Notes in select regions and languages. Apple says to check the transcript before you rely on it.
If you want more than a transcript, such as a summary, decisions and action items, or a conversation that switches between Korean and English, record in NoteCube or import the file into it. In Voice Memos, tap the recording → Share → NoteCube.
Recording long conversations with NoteCube
NoteCube records with your phone’s microphone, with no meeting bot. Recording has no time limit and keeps going with the screen off; on iPhone the recording shows on the Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island. You see a live Korean and English transcript with speakers and times, and tapping a sentence plays the audio from that point.
What it does not do: NoteCube does not record phone calls itself. Record the call with the Phone app, then use Save Audio Files in Notes and import the file. Your first 60 cumulative transcription minutes are free (once, not monthly); after that, recording continues but live transcription stops until you add minutes.
Which iPhone method for which conversation (Apple Support, checked 2026-10-25)
| Conversation | What to use | Does the other person get a notice? | Where it is saved | Transcript |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Face to face, interview, meeting in a room | Voice Memos | No built-in announcement; tell them yourself | Voice Memos list | Yes, on iOS 18+ and iPhone 12 or later, in 10 languages |
| Phone call with one other person | Phone app → More (…) → Call Recording (iOS 18.1+) | Yes, both people hear an audio notice | Notes → Call Recordings folder | In select regions and languages |
| FaceTime audio call with one other person | Same Call Recording button | Yes, both people hear an audio notice | Notes → Call Recordings folder | In select regions and languages |
| Group call, or a call in the EU and some other regions | Built-in recording not available | — | — | — |
| Long conversation you want summarized | Voice Memos or a recording app such as NoteCube | Tell them yourself | The app you used | NoteCube: live transcript in Korean and English, then summary and action items |
Frequently asked questions
Does the iPhone tell the other person a call is being recorded?
Yes. With the built-in Call Recording, both people on the call hear an audio notice that the call is being recorded.
Can I record a FaceTime or group call?
You can record a FaceTime audio call with one other person using the same Call Recording button. Apple’s guide describes recording only when you are talking to one other person, so group calls are not covered.
Where are recorded conversations saved on iPhone?
Voice Memos recordings stay in the Voice Memos app. Call recordings are saved in the Call Recordings folder in the Notes app. To use either elsewhere, share it or save it to the Files app.
Is there a time limit on Voice Memos?
Apple’s Voice Memos guide does not state one. Recording stops if another app starts playing audio, so keep other apps quiet during long recordings.
Is it legal to record a conversation I am part of?
It depends on where you are. US federal law allows it when you are a party or one party consents, but states such as California require all parties’ consent for confidential conversations. Ask before you record. This is not legal advice.
Sources
- Apple Support — Record and transcribe a call on iPhone (checked 2026-10-25)
- Apple Support — Make a recording in Voice Memos on iPhone (checked 2026-10-25)
- Apple Support — View a transcription in Voice Memos (checked 2026-10-03)
- Apple Support — Share a recording in Voice Memos (checked 2026-10-03)
- Apple — About iOS 18 Updates (iOS 18.1 call recording) (checked 2026-10-03)
- Apple — Security releases (latest iOS version) (checked 2026-10-25)
- 18 U.S.C. §2511 (govinfo.gov) (checked 2026-10-03)
- California Penal Code §632 (checked 2026-10-03)
Try it with your next recording
Your first 60 cumulative minutes of transcription are free. Available on iPhone and Android.
Last reviewed October 25, 2026