Recording a call on iPhone

What you need

• An iPhone on a US carrier plan that supports three-way calling — standard on the major networks.
• A cellular signal. The recording happens on the network, so no Wi-Fi or data is needed.
• Nothing else. No app, no account, no settings change.

Recording on an iPhone

1. 1Dial the recording number and wait for it to connect.
2. 2Tap "Add Call" on the call screen. Your first call goes on hold automatically.
3. 3Dial the person you want to speak to and wait for them to answer.
4. 4Tap "Merge Calls". The two calls become one, with the recording line silently in the middle.
5. 5Tell the other person the call is being recorded — the line does not announce itself.
6. 6Hang up when you are done. Your download code arrives by SMS.

iOS also has its own call recorder

Recent iPhone models running recent versions of iOS can record calls natively, playing an audible announcement to everyone on the call and saving the audio on the device. If your iPhone supports it, that is the simplest option available to you and it costs nothing.

Support depends on your model, your iOS version and your region, and it has changed between releases. A merged recording line is worth knowing about for the cases it does not cover — an older iPhone, an unsupported region, or a call you need to make from a phone that is not yours.

Availability changes between releases. Check Apple's own documentation for your model and iOS version rather than relying on this page.

When it does not work

"Merge Calls" is greyed out

The second call has to be fully connected before merging becomes available — if it is still ringing, the button stays inactive. If it stays greyed out after the call connects, your plan or your current network may not support three-way calling; try again on a stronger signal, or check with your carrier.

Only one call shows on the screen

The first call is on hold, not gone. Tap "Swap" to move between them, or "Merge Calls" to join them.

The call is on Wi-Fi Calling and merging behaves oddly

Wi-Fi Calling routes differently on some carriers. Turn it off in Settings › Phone and place the call over the cellular network instead.

No SMS arrived after hanging up

The code goes to the number you dialled from, so check that phone. If your phone number withholds caller ID, the message cannot be delivered.

The other person could not hear the recording start

That is expected — the line is silent throughout. You have to say it yourself, which is why every guide on this site tells you to.

Questions about recording on an iPhone

How do I record a phone call on an iPhone?

Dial the recording number, tap Add Call and dial the other person, then tap Merge Calls. The recording line joins as a silent third participant, and your download code arrives by SMS when you hang up. No app is installed on either phone.

Why can't an app just record my iPhone calls?

iOS does not expose live call audio to third-party apps. That restriction is why call recorders on iPhone use a three-way merge instead — there is no other route available to them.

Does this work on Wi-Fi Calling?

Usually, but merging behaves differently on some carriers over Wi-Fi Calling. If a merge misbehaves, turn Wi-Fi Calling off in Settings › Phone and use the cellular network.

Will the other person know the call is recorded?

Not unless you tell them — the line stays silent. Telling them is the safest practice everywhere, and in states that require every party to consent it is required.