With iOS 26, Apple has expanded its native call recording feature with transcripts, Live Translation, summaries and tighter integration with Notes. It’s a more polished and useful tool than before, especially if you rely on your iPhone for interviews, meetings or important conversations.
Call recording itself first arrived with iOS 18.1 in October 2024. The feature has always been region- and language-dependent, and that hasn’t changed. If it’s available where you live, you can capture calls directly from the Phone app without third-party apps or hardware. If it’s not, there are still alternative methods worth knowing about. Here’s how it works, plus what to do if the option isn’t available in your country.
How to check if call recording is available
First, confirm that the feature is supported in your region. Apple maintains a feature availability page that lists countries where call recording isn’t offered, including the European Union, Saudi Arabia and South Africa. If your country is on that list, you won’t see the option in the Phone app.
Before recording your phone call, you’ll need the consent of the person on the other end of the line. When you start recording, both parties hear an audio notice stating that the call is being recorded.
How to record a call on iPhone
Recording a call is straightforward:
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During the call, tap the More button.
The call continues as normal, but the iPhone automatically saves the audio once you hang up or tap Stop. You’ll find all recordings in iOS’ native Notes app, inside a folder called Call Recordings.
How to play back, manage and delete recordings
To listen back, open Notes, go to the Call Recordings folder, and tap the file you want. Tap Play to hear it.
From here, you can:
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Search: Tap the More button and select Find in Transcript.
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Copy: Tap the More button and select Add Transcript to Note or Copy Transcript.
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Save: Tap the More button and select Save Audio Files, then select where you want to save recording (another folder or app).
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Share: Tap the More button and select Share Audio, then select how you want to share the recording
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Delete: Tap the More button and select Delete. This deletes the recording and any related transcript.
How to transcribe your calls
If your region and language are supported, iOS 26 also transcribes calls. Open a recording in Notes, then tap Show Transcript and Summary. Processing might take a few moments, but once it’s ready, you’ll see the conversation broken down by speaker….