How to record calls on Android for safe-keeping: 2 methods
Are you interviewing candidates for a job? Do you have a big test coming up and you need to study with a friend over the phone? Then you should learn how to record phone calls on Android and all of these conversations will stay with you even after you hang up.
Also, it is a great way for people to remember the numbers and addresses used during the call. Phone recordings are a great form of evidence when battling a lawsuit.
Here are the methods to record phone calls on your Android device.
Method 1: How to Record Calls on Android with Google Voice
If you are an Android user, you probably have the Google Voice app already installed on your phone. This app will help you record your calls for free, without the need of installing a third-party app for this.
Disclaimer: This app is not available everywhere yet. So if you don’t have access to this app yet, you should go to the next methods.
Before everything, you will need a Google Voice account. If you don’t already have one, you should go to the Google Voice website and create one.
If you don’t already have the app, you can download it by clicking the button below.
1. Go to Settings
Open the Google Voice homepage. Then click the three vertical dots located on the left of the page.
2. Turn on Incoming Calls
Scroll to the Calls section and click on the slider next to Incoming Calls options to turn on the feature.
And you’re all set! From now on, you can record your incoming calls just by hitting the 4 button on your keyboard. To stop the recording, just press 4 again.
You can do this with the app as well. Just click the menu on the top right and go to settings. From there, go to Advanced Settings and, once again, turn on Incoming Call Options.
Method 2: How to Record Calls on Android with Third-Party Apps
There are lots of third-party apps that are made for recording calls on Android. However, as usual, some are better than others. We’ve tested a few apps and, for the purpose of this guide, have decided to show you how to use two of them: Call Recorder – ACR and Automatic Call Recorder.
How to use Call Recorder – ACR
Call Recorder – ACR is a brilliant app available on the Google Play store that lets you record phone calls on your Android device. Used by thousands of Android users, this is one of the most reliable apps for recording calls. The great thing about the app is that it features a high-quality mp3 call recorder and even though the files are of high quality, the recording file sizes are really small. Due to storage issues, the app deletes old recordings automatically, however, you can mark certain old recordings as Important so they don’t get deleted automatically. Also, you can set a password so that others cannot access your recordings.
Download and install Call Recorder – ACR app on your Android device. You can get the app through the Google Play/ Amazon App Store button below.
1. Configure Settings
Open the app and click on the Settings icon. Now, tap on General. Here you can configure the settings on how you want to record calls and use those recordings. You can set a password, enable notification while the call is recording and group the recordings.
2. Configure Recording Settings
Open the Settings and click on Recording. Here, you can choose the recording directory, choose from 7 different recording file formats, enable auto-delete and choose whether you want to record the calls manually or automatically. Also, you can set a timer to start recording by tapping on Recording delay and entering the seconds that you want to delay before the recording starts. Also, you can record Bluetooth headset calls by checking the Record on Bluetooth option.
3. Enable Cloud Integration – Optional
The app also features Cloud integration for saving your phone recordings on Cloud. You can enable Cloud storage by going to the Settings menu and tapping on Cloud Services. You’ll need to log in with your account details for whichever Cloud service you want to use.
You can now make/receive calls and they will be recorded automatically. After installation, the app automatically enables call recording and runs in the background, recording all your phone calls. In order to play the recordings, open the Call Recorder app and tap on the recording that you want to listen to under the ALL tab. Tap on Play to start playing the recording. You can also send the recording, mark it as important and add a note to it.
How to Use Automatic Call Recorder
Automatic Call Recorder is another fantastic app available on the Google Play store that lets you record phone calls. Receiving over 10 million downloads, the app is definitely one of the most popular calls recording apps for Android. The app is extremely easy to use and it only takes a couple of seconds to configure the app after installing it. Automatic Call Recorder also features Google Drive and Dropbox integration for Cloud storage.
Download and install Automatic Call Recorder on your Android device. You can get it through the Google Play/ Amazon App Store button below.
1. Go to Settings
Open the app and press the Menu key on your device. Now, select Settings from the list of options.
2. Configure Settings
While under Settings, make sure that the Record Calls option is checked. You can also configure things like the directory for saving your recordings, the recording file type and your Dropbox account for Cloud integration.
Now, you can make/receive a call and the app will automatically record every call. You will see a red icon in your status bar while the call is being recorded and you will get a notification once the call ends and the recording is saved. The Inbox tab is where all your recordings will be stored. These saved calls will be stored in the Saved tab.
3. Play Your Recodings
Now, go to the Inbox or Saved tab and click on the recording that you want to play and hit the Play button. You can also search for recordings in the recordings list by pressing your Menu key and tapping the Search button.
Record Calls on Android – Keep Track of Conversations
Recording phone calls is definitely one of the things that a lot of users want on their Android smartphones by default. There are many options for doing this. Some of these apps are extremely easy to use and you can easily record phone calls using one of the apps above. You can even try taking screenshots or recording the screen if someone sends you a message or text during the call that you want to record.
If you want to see more third-party apps, we suggest you read our article “Best Apps to Record Calls on Android”.
So what app worked for you? What was your experience? Let us know in the comments below!
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I am using ACR, but it doesn’t actually record anything when I’m on my bluetooth headset. Anyone else have luck with this?
I haven’t tried recording calls on Bluetooth. You can try automatic call recorder.
Neither of those can record over bluetooth. I need desperately to be able to record over bluetooth. I am about to divorce my cheating wife, and she is saying everything I need to support my case during my phone calls with her. The problem is that many of my calls are over bluetooth because I am working, or driving when she calls. She is rubbing my nose in her infidelities and if I can’t prove it I will lose everything. There has to be an app or ROM or combination of the two that can do this. I’m on Galaxy S5 (SM-G900V), android 5.0. Help me Obi-Wan. You’re my only hope.
Hi Collin,
So sad to hear about what you are going through and I hope it is all over soon. Apologies for not finding an app that records over bluetooth. Have you tried using Bluetooth Voice Recorder on Google Play? Or you can try automatic call recorder. Please let me know if that works out for you.
Hello my name is Kellie I believe some is using this app to tear my life apart and mess with my mind desperately need your help I have all old sims cards and are old devices when I’ve confront the two men I suspect I’m crazy they say and have mental illness and treated poorly also noticed I was receiving message and calls which I can tell are combined call at separate times I’ve went to the law and even so far as hiring someone please help
Hi Kellie, in situations like yours. It’s best to coordinate this with your local police station. Your safety should be your outmost priority. If proven that this can be life-threatening for you, the police can require your local carrier to provide more information about this for them to apprehend the culprits.
Automatic Call Recorder does not work well with bluetooth headset either. I have it now and have been actively looking for an app that works with bluetooth headsets.
Hi Green,
How is your search going? Have you tried this app? The paid version records for more than 30 minutes and records both sides of the conversation.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.boldbeast.recorder&hl=
Please let me know how if it works for you.
hi, thanks for the info, currently using total recall call recorder app.
Good one Mik 🙂
Hi everyone! I just downloaded ACR. Problem I am having is that it does not record the other party, well, it does but super faint. I use a wired headset for all my calls. It is OK on normal mic or speaker. My android is LG G2. Thanks, Malcolm
Hi Malcom,
What kind of headset do you use?
I think I have found the answer – I need to split the headset mike out to a separate external mike with this:
http://www.amazon.com/Headset-Buddy-Smartphone-Computer-Blackberry/dp/B002SK66OY
How can i move file from saved to inbox?
Hi There,
Where do you want to move them to?
Hi,
I have saved the call I have recorded to my gmail drive. How do I play it from there?
Hi Margaret,
CloudPlayer has been used by many to play audio files from Google Drive. Hope this helps. =-) Thanks for reading.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.doubleTwist.cloudPlayer
I have installed the ACR app on my galaxy S6 phone, I didn’t have DROIDRECORDER which worked great , but then when I went to open it it just keep a saying it’s stopped working.
I was told this ACR was a good one , so I installed it , I set the audio source to voice_Call and Audio Formats to mp4 as most of my calls from Agency and Centrelink are audio /mp4 and would not record under Droidrecorder, the recorder worked when my son rang , I tested it from him and another friend, but this morning I got calls from some agency and it did not recall, what should I be using for these companies please
Hi Sharon,
Have you tried clearing the phone´s and app´s cache? That helps sometimes when apps won´t work. =-)
I can record the calls just fine. But sometimes it doesn’t start at the very beginning. You will already be into the conversation before it starts recording. I really need this to start recording from saying ‘Hello’. I play these back for interviews I am doing for a job I am working on. Why do some recordings start at the very beginning and others in the middle of conversation?
Hi Victoria,
I think it’s probably a bug in the app. Have you tried using another app to see if that´s the issue? =-)
Hi, is someone find the app which records from Bluetooth headset?
Hi Nick,
I haven’t tried it myself but many have used the following app. Hope it works for you. =-)
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kasitskyi.voicerecorder
Hi When I use ACR calls all my calls appear within the ACR app. However, they don’t all appear in the acr calls folder under filemanager.
Now I cut and pasted all files out of the folder when I connected the phone to my computer. Unfortunately the 3 files I wanted did not copy over. I then copied the files back onto the phone thinking they would all magically reappear. No they didn’t. I am really desperate as these files were really important. Could someone please give advice on retrieval or have they been lost forever.
Eliza
Hi Eliza,
Unless you accidentally clicked on erase, they should still be there. Maybe they were moved to another location? =-)
How do I transfer the recorded calls to a jump drive? I have emailed the calls to myself, pulled up recordings on the laptop and no sound. I’ve even stored them on cloud, no sound. I need to get recordings from phone to memory stick is my goal. Any suggestions would be great! Thanks.
Hi,
First, connect your phone to your computer with the USB cable and hopefully your computer will recognize your phone and show you a small window that tells you that you can see the device’s content by clicking on it.
After that select the files you want to transfer over to your PC and once you are done, connect you USB and just transfer the files over. Please let me know if there is anything I can help you with. =-)
I installed this app to record my interviews through it. I tried to listen to the recording, but I couldn’t hear the other party. I just heard my voice. I didn’t use a headset or anything. What can I do to hear the whole conversation?
Help! Having the same problem!
I installed pro call recorder but the person i was talking to knew and I dont know what happened but her phone calls cant be registered anymore. What happened ? has she protected ? the folder is empty anytime I try to register the conversation; moreover it says as a message that another service is using microphone in the background; is it possible to have a software to erase conversations or not to be registered ?
If she managed to figure out that she was being recorded, I am certain that she found a way to protect herself and prevent that from happening. I can’t think of a specific app or software off the top of my head, but I am sure that there are software’s or apps that will either erase conversations or prevent their future conversations from being recorded.
Is there any way to maintain the correct date on the files once transferred to a computer?
What date are you referring to?
How can I play a recording conversation while talking on the phone?
You want to play a recording? I am not sure you can. This is more about accessing the microphones to record the calls.
One of the problems I had with ACR was that the volume levels of the 2 parties differed so much. My voice was clearly audible but the other party was very faint. By trial and error I discovered that changing the recording format to FLAC-HQ solved this completely.
Richard
Good tip! thank you.
I don’t want to record all calls so I disable ACR except for the call I want to record.
It doesn’t seem possible to start recording in the middle of an ongoing conversation. It seems to work only when it is enabled before the outgoing or incoming call. Is there any way to start recording in the middle of the call?
not that I am aware of. but each phone is different in how the app works with it, if at all. have you tried any other recording apps to see if they work more to your liking?
I rcvd a call that showed resticted. In ACR if i hit call a phone # shows up but it is missing the area code. Is there anyway to get the whole #? If i hit call will the call go thru?
This is a serious & urgent matter.
Hi Annette. You can place the call, but your phone will assume the missing area code is the same as yours, so you may or may not actually be calling the restricted caller back. Good luck and let me know if there’s anything else you need!
The ACR app asks me if I would like to grant necessary permissions, but the window to do so immediately closes and will not let me access it. What’s up with THAT????
Hi, Naomi. Go to ACR within your application settings and grant the permissions there.
Good job in presenting the correct content with a clear explanation. The content looks real with valid information. Good Work and thank you for sharing the information with us.
I noticed about Motorola smartphones doesn’t work any phone call recorders. I don’t know why but only record my voice…