Record & Transcribe a Call on iPhone in iOS 26
With iOS 26, your iPhone finally supports native call-recording and transcription, enabling you to capture business calls, client conversations or interviews directly and save them as searchable text in the Notes app.
By Rodger Mansfield, Technology Editor
October 23, 2025
Here's a Cool Tip: Record and Transcribe Calls on iPhone in iOS26.
Apple’s iOS 26 introduces a call-recording + transcription feature.
Being able to revisit the audio and a searchable transcript is a game-changer.
Feature Explanation
The feature gives you the ability to record a standard phone or FaceTime audio call and then transcribe it into text.
After the call ends, the recording along with its transcript is stored in the Notes app under a “Call Recordings” folder.
Why this matters:
- You get a verbatim log of what was said (useful for client commitments, compliance or instructions)
- Transcripts are searchable: you can find keywords later rather than scrambling through memory or audio.
- Because it’s built into the OS, you avoid third-party apps, reducing friction and risk of unsupported tools.
- In business contexts, you can archive calls as part of your documentation workflow.
What You’ll Gain
- Capture crucial call details for later review.
- Improve accountability with both audio and transcript.
- Boost productivity by eliminating manual note-taking.
Step-by-Step Instructions
Here's how to do it.
iPhone (iOS 26):
- Ensure your iPhone is updated to iOS 26 and you’re in a region where the feature is enabled.
- Make or receive a phone call or FaceTime audio call.
- During the call, tap the More button.
- Tap the Record Call icon (often a waveform or “record” button) and tap it.
- An audio notice plays to all participants: “This call is being recorded.”
- The recording proceeds. You can stop recording during the call by tapping the Stop button, or end the call to stop it automatically.
- After the call, open the Notes app → Call Recordings folder → select the note.
- You'll see:
- Play button for the audio recording
- “Preview” Tap to view the text version
- You can search the transcript, copy text, export, delete, or archive as needed.
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fig. 1 - Example of Recording a Call on iPhone |
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fig. 2 - Calls are Stored in Notes App |
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Reliable, built-in: No third-party app needed, reducing risk and complexity.
- Searchable transcripts: Big win for business users, educators, notaries needing accurate records.
- Seamless workflow: Recording appears directly in Notes where you may already keep your meeting minutes etc.
- Consent built-in: Audio warning ensures compliance in most jurisdictions. See important info below.
Cons:
- Region & device constraints: The feature isn’t enabled everywhere yet and may require specific hardware (e.g., Apple Intelligence-capable chips).
- Transcription accuracy: The transcripts are helpful but not perfect so expect occasional mis-heard words.
- Legal/regulatory variation: Recording calls may be illegal or need one-party consent depending on your jurisdiction.
Feature Access
- Who can use it: iPhone users running iOS 26 in supported regions.
- Subscription: No special subscription required; feature is part of the OS.
- Enterprise/business use: Works for business users in the same way as personal users, just check internal compliance/regulation if call-recording is subject to corporate policy.
Score
Criterion | Score | JustificationValue 9For business users and productivity-minded folks, being able to record and find call details is a strong improvement.Usability 8It’s easy to access and use, especially for iPhone-savvy users; but region/hardware limits knock it slightly.Wow Factor 7It’s “cool” and useful—but not revolutionary (call-recording existed via apps before). The integration into Notes and transcription adds the twist.Total: 24/30 → 👍 Good. Worth adopting for most users.
Key Takeaways
You now have a built-in iPhone feature that saves call audio and transcript directly in Notes making review and search much easier.
It works best when your device and region support the feature, and it’s ideal for business or productivity-centric workflows.
Approach with awareness of accuracy limits and legal/regulatory compliance.
Note:
While Apple’s feature provides an automatic audio notice that a recording is in progress, this alone may not be sufficient to satisfy the law in every location.
In the US, most states require only "one party consent" (meaning you, as the recorder, count), but about a dozen states require "all-party consent."
Since the laws are based on the location of all participants, and the stricter law usually applies for interstate calls, you must verify the specific consent requirements for your jurisdiction before relying on any recording for legal or business purposes.
Here is a reference for checking US state requirements: Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.
Try It Yourself
Update your iPhone to iOS 26 today, enable call-recording in settings, then make a test call (perhaps with a colleague) and see how the transcript appears in Notes.
Drop a comment below with your experience, subscribe to our One Cool Tip newsletter, and share this article with your team; it’s a tip your colleagues will thank you for.
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