WhatsApp is one of the most popular messaging apps, with over 2 billion users worldwide. It allows users to exchange messages, photos, videos and make voice and video calls easily. A common question many WhatsApp users have is – can I record calls on WhatsApp? The short answer is yes, it is possible to record WhatsApp calls on both Android and iOS devices. However, there are some important things to keep in mind.
Is it legal to record WhatsApp calls?
Before recording any WhatsApp calls, it is crucial to first check if call recording is legal in your country/state. In many regions, recording calls without the consent of the other party is illegal. For example, in the United States, call recording laws vary by state – some states require only one-party consent, while others require all-party consent. In certain other countries like Australia and UK, call recording is outright illegal without consent. So check your regional laws carefully before recording any WhatsApp calls.
How to record WhatsApp calls on Android?
There are a few different methods to record WhatsApp voice calls on Android phones:
Using Third-party Apps
The easiest way is to use a third party call recording app available on the Google Play Store. Some popular apps include:
- Cube Call Recorder
- Automatic Call Recorder
- Boldbeast Call Recorder
These apps provide options to automatically or manually record your WhatsApp calls. Many of them even support recording both incoming and outgoing calls. The recordings are saved in mp3 format which you can later export and save on your device storage or SD card.
Using Built-in Apps
Some Android smartphones like Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei etc. come with built-in call recording apps. You can enable call recording in the settings and use these stock apps to record your WhatsApp calls.
Using Accessibility Features
On Android 9 Pie and above, Google provides a call recording option via Accessibility settings. You can enable this and give permission to record calls. This method may not work reliably on all devices.
How to record WhatsApp calls on iPhone?
Recording WhatsApp calls on iPhone is a bit tricky as iOS does not offer native call recording. Here are some methods:
Using Third-party Apps
As with Android, third party apps from the App Store are the easiest option to record WhatsApp calls on iPhone. Some good options are:
- Call Recorder iCall
- Call Recorder IntCall
- TapeACall Pro
These apps can record both incoming and outgoing WhatsApp calls seamlessly. Recording starts automatically as soon as you make or receive a WhatsApp call.
Using Mac as Speakerphone
You can route your iPhone’s audio through Mac using Continuity features. Mac has a built-in Voice Memos app to record calls. Follow these steps:
- On your iPhone, start a WhatsApp call.
- On your Mac, go to Settings > General > AirPlay and select your iPhone. This will route the call audio to your Mac.
- Open Voice Memos app on Mac. Hit record to start capturing the WhatsApp call.
This method provides high quality recordings. However, it only works if you have a Mac.
Using External Recording Devices
You can use external audio recording devices to capture WhatsApp call audio from iPhone earpiece or speakers. Some options are portable recorders, USB recording interfaces, cables with built-in recording, etc. The audio can later be transferred to your phone or computer.
Quality may vary based on the recording device used. This method also needs additional hardware.
Best Practices for Recording WhatsApp Calls
If you are recording WhatsApp calls, either for personal or professional needs, here are some tips to follow:
- Always inform the other party and take their consent before recording the call.
- Use apps designed specifically for call recording to get best quality.
- Make sure your phone storage has enough space for recordings.
- Recording calls secretly without consent is illegal in many regions.
- Export and backup your important recordings to cloud or computer.
- Make sure to follow call recording laws applicable to your local area.
Following these best practices will ensure you record WhatsApp calls in a legal and ethical manner.
Pros and Cons of Recording WhatsApp Calls
Here are some key advantages and limitations of recording your WhatsApp voice calls:
Pros
- You can save important discussions and retrieve them later for reference.
- It allows you to create records, minutes of meeting, interview transcripts etc.
- Recording can be useful for work collaboration or as learning material.
- It enables preserving special memories like family calls.
- Recordings can help resolve disputes arising from miscommunication.
Cons
- Recording without consent is illegal in many countries.
- Recordings take up device storage space.
- Quality may be compromised if using unofficial tools to record.
- App malfunction can result in failed or partially recorded calls.
- recording a conversation changes working patterns and behaviours
So while WhatsApp call recording can be useful in many cases, you need to be mindful of the disadvantages too. Consider if you really need to record a call before doing so.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common FAQs about recording WhatsApp calls:
Is it possible to record WhatsApp video calls?
Currently, there is no straightforward way to record native WhatsApp video calls. A few third-party apps claim to record WhatsApp video calls on Android but the experience is poor. On iPhone, it is not possible at all presently.
Can I record WhatsApp calls on my PC?
There is no native way to record WhatsApp calls on PC yet. You can use the speakerphone method with Mac as mentioned above. On Windows PC, you can try routing your smartphone audio to the PC via cable and use audio recording software. Quality may vary.
Do I need to root my Android phone to record calls?
Rooting the phone is not necessary. All the apps and methods discussed above work on non-rooted Android devices. However, a few advanced apps may require root access.
Can the other person find out if I am recording a WhatsApp call?
If you are recording via third-party apps, the other person has no indicators that the call is being recorded. Using the speakerphone method also does not alert them. However, you should still let them know out of courtesy.
What happens if I run out of storage while recording a call?
If your phone storage fills up during a WhatsApp call recording, the recording will abruptly stop. Some apps may give you low storage alerts. So ensure you have adequate free space before recording long calls.
Is call recording available on WhatsApp Business accounts?
Yes, the apps and methods outlined above for recording standard WhatsApp calls also work for Business accounts. As long as you are using WhatsApp on your smartphone, call recording is possible.
Can I retrieve deleted WhatsApp call recordings?
If you accidentally delete a WhatsApp call recording, unfortunately there is no way to retrieve it using regular methods. However, with root access on Android, data recovery apps may be able to find remnants of deleted files. Results vary across devices.
Conclusion
While WhatsApp itself does not have an option to record calls, Android and iPhone users can use third-party apps and workarounds to record conversations. However, laws and ethics around consent should be kept in mind. Recording important discussions can be useful but users must be aware of the limitations too. We hope this guide gave you a clear overview of how to record calls on WhatsApp plus the key benefits and drawbacks involved.