How to Record Calls on iPhone in iOS 18

Starting with iOS 18.1, Apple introduced a built-in call recording feature for iPhones, eliminating the need for third-party apps or workarounds. This guide walks you through the exact steps to record calls on supported iPhone models and in supported countries, what you need before you start, and how to troubleshoot common issues.

What You’ll Need

An iPhone that supports Apple Intelligence (iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, or any iPhone 16 model).
iOS 18.1 or later installed (go to Settings > General > Software Update to check).
Your device region and language set to a supported country and language (see below).
Carrier support for the feature – most major carriers in supported regions work, but some may restrict it.
Sufficient storage space for recordings (they are saved as audio files in the Notes app).

Step-by-Step

Check your iPhone model and iOS version. Go to Settings > General > About. Look for “Model Name” – it must be iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max, or any iPhone 16 series. Then go to Settings > General > Software Update and ensure you have iOS 18.1 or later.
Verify your region and language. The feature is only available in specific countries and when the device language is set to English (US, UK, Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa) or a few other supported languages. Go to Settings > General > Language & Region. If your region isn’t in the supported list, you may need to change it temporarily (though this can affect other features).
Make a call as you normally would. Open the Phone app, dial a number, or select a contact and tap the call button. The call must be active (the person must answer) before you can start recording.
Tap the “Record” button. Once the call is connected, look at the top-left corner of the call screen – you should see a small waveform icon with a dot inside (the record button). Tap it.
Confirm the recording. A pop-up will appear explaining that the call will be recorded and that the other party will be notified. Tap “Start Recording” to proceed. An audio waveform will appear on the screen, and a timer will start counting.
Continue your call normally. The recording runs in the background. Both you and the other party will hear a short beep at the start to indicate recording is active.
Stop the recording. When you’re done, tap the red “Stop” button (the square icon) in the top-left corner. The recording will be saved automatically.
Access your recording. The recording is saved in the Notes app. Open Notes, find the note titled “Call Recording” (or the contact name if you were on a call with a saved contact). The audio file will be attached to that note. You can tap it to play, share, or edit.

Common Mistakes

Not checking model support: The record button only appears on iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max, and all iPhone 16 models. Older iPhones, even with iOS 18, won’t have it.
Recording before the call connects: The record button is greyed out until the call is actually answered. If you tap it too early, nothing happens.
Changing region or language after the call: The feature is determined at the time of the call. If you change your region after setting up, it may stop working.
Forgetting that the other party is notified: This is not a stealth feature. The other person will hear a beep and see a message on their screen (if they have a compatible phone). Using it without consent may be illegal in some jurisdictions.
Assuming the recording is in the Voice Memos app: It’s not. It’s in Notes. Many users look in the wrong place.

Tips

Before an important call, test the feature with a friend to ensure it works on your carrier and device.
If you need to record a call and your iPhone isn’t supported, consider using a second device (like an iPad or another phone) to record the speakerphone audio, but be aware of consent laws.
Keep your iPhone storage tidy – long recordings can take up space. Check the size of the audio file in Notes before keeping it.
Use the share sheet in Notes to export the recording to Files or a cloud service for backup.
If you’re in a two-party consent state or country, inform the other person before recording, even though the phone does it automatically.

Troubleshooting

No record button appears during a call: This is the most common issue. First, verify your iPhone model – only iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max, and iPhone 16 series support it. Next, check your iOS version (must be 18.1 or later). Then confirm your region is set to a supported country. If you’re in a supported country but the button still doesn’t appear, try restarting your iPhone or toggling Airplane Mode on and off. Finally, contact your carrier – some carriers may not support the feature even in supported countries.

Record button is greyed out: The call hasn’t connected yet. Wait for the other party to answer. If it remains greyed out after connection, hang up and try again.

Recording stops automatically: This can happen if the call drops or if you switch to a different app that interrupts the call. It may also stop if your iPhone runs low on storage. Check your available storage in Settings > General > iPhone Storage.

Recording is not saved: If you end the call without tapping the stop button, the recording should still save, but if it doesn’t appear in Notes, check if your Notes are synced with iCloud. If you have multiple Notes accounts, the recording may be saved to a different account. Search for “Call Recording” in Notes to find it.

Other party says they didn’t get a notification: The notification is only shown on iPhones with iOS 18.1 or later. On other phones, they will hear a beep. If they don’t hear a beep, the recording may not have started – check the timer on your screen.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is call recording available on all iPhones with iOS 18? No, only on iPhone 15 Pro, 15 Pro Max, and all iPhone 16 models. Older iPhones don’t have the required hardware for on-device processing.

Which countries are supported? Apple has stated that the feature is available in the US, UK, Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, South Africa, and a few other regions. The exact list may expand with future iOS updates. If your region isn’t listed, the feature won’t appear.

Do I need to inform the other person? Yes, the iPhone automatically plays a beep and shows a notification on their screen (if compatible). In many places, recording without consent is illegal, so always ensure you have permission.

Can I record WhatsApp or FaceTime calls? No, the built-in feature only works with the standard Phone app (cellular calls). VoIP calls like WhatsApp, Skype, or FaceTime are not supported.

How long can I record? There’s no set time limit, but the recording will stop if the call ends or if your iPhone runs out of storage. Long calls may produce large files that take up significant space.

Can I edit or transcribe the recording? You can trim the audio in Notes using the edit tool. Transcription is available in the Notes app if your device supports Apple Intelligence, but only for recordings made after updating to iOS 18.1.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

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