How to record a phone conversation on Android?

First of all, some legal considerations must be taken into account: in France, article 226-1 of the Penal Code purely and simply prohibits the recording of a telephone conversation if the person being called has not given their consent. To better understand this legal aspect, Google has also removed a whole bunch of third-party telephone recording applications then accessible on the Google Play Store. In other words, even if it is still possible to perform this task, it is important to specify that the person with whom we are having the recorded telephone conversation is aware and has given consent for the recording.

Useful clarification on the sanction incurred: article 226-1 of the Penal Code provides for up to one year of imprisonment and a fine of 45,000 euros for the capture or recording of private words without consent. Note also that in professional matters (employer-employee exchange), the case law of the Court of Cassation is more nuanced and a clandestine recording can, since a judgment of December 22, 2023, be admissible as evidence before the industrial tribunal. However, this does not prevent parallel criminal proceedings.

Now that all this is clear, note that there are several methods to record a phone conversation on an Android smartphone. Here, we will come back to the three easiest to set up.

On Google Pixel, recording is now native

Important note before going into detail: since the Pixel Feature Drop of November 2025, supplemented by a European deployment finalized in February 2026, call recording has been natively integrated into the Google Pixel Phone application – including in France. All models from Pixel 6 running Android 14 (or higher), with the latest version of the Phone app (version 198 minimum), can record a call via Settings > Call assistant > Call recording. All participants hear an audio announcement at startup, in accordance with GDPR. If you have a recent Pixel, there is no need to go through the methods below.

Record a call using a second smartphone

It is not possible to use the phone application to record a conversation on Android in France, like Google Voice. So, there remains one method, the most rudimentary: recording using a third-party device. Note that this method obviously works with both an Android or iOS device.

- Get a second smartphone, in addition to your Android phone.

- On the first, open the “Voice recorder” application.

- Then go to the “Phone” application on your Android smartphone.

- Start the call you want to record. Once on a call, turn on the speakerphone.

- While on a call, access your second smartphone again with the Voice Recorder application open, then start recording by pressing the red circle at the bottom of the screen.

- After the phone call, stop recording.

- Your recorded conversation will be available at the very top of the recordings list on your other smartphone. You can then transfer it to your smartphone if you wish.

Record a phone conversation from Google Voice

The third method is more uncertain, since its use will depend on your position: in fact, the application in question is blocked in France, but is available in other French-speaking countries (like Canada, for example). This is Google Voice, the voice over IP (VoIP) service created to allow users who wish to make and receive calls over the Internet. This tool also allows you to record incoming and outgoing calls, provided that certain conditions are met.

On the one hand, it is necessary to have a Google Voice account. On the other hand, the interlocutors must be aware of the recording. At the same time, the voice call options must be activated, and finally all participants must already be on a call before they can start recording (so it is not possible to surprise a caller by recording them as soon as they respond). If all these conditions are met, then the method to save is as follows:

- Answer the call.

- Press 4 to start recording.

- Press 4 to stop recording.

- Then access the recordings from the voicemail tab of Google Voice.

Third-party apps

There is a second method: using third-party applications like Call Recorder, which essentially allow you to record calls on Android, but for a monthly subscription. Fortunately, most of them usually offer a free trial version, if you want to record a conversation sporadically.