Can iPhone Screen Recording Record Phone Calls?

Before you start

iPhone screen recording captures the screen and audio that apps can make available to the recording system. A standard phone call does not become part of that capture source because the call audio is handled separately by the phone app and is not included in the screen recording track. This behavior is not something you can change by adjusting the screen recording frame rate, recording format, bitrate, or encoding settings.

The screen recording feature is available through the Control Center on supported iOS versions. If you do not see the screen recording button, add it in Settings under Control Center. The recording is processed locally on the iPhone and saved to the Photos app when you stop it. No separate service is required to create the file.

Step-by-step instructions

Use these steps to test what your iPhone screen recording captures during a call. The procedure is reversible and does not change call audio behavior.

• Open Settings and go to Control Center.
• Make sure Screen Recording is included in the active controls.
• Start a phone call normally using the Phone app.
• Return to the Home Screen or open another app so the screen recording control is reachable.
• Open Control Center and tap the Screen Recording button.
• Wait for the countdown to finish, then use the phone for a few seconds while the call is active.
• Open Control Center and tap the red recording indicator or the Screen Recording button again to stop.

If you want the screen recording to include microphone audio, press and hold the Screen Recording button before starting. In the controls that appear, tap the Microphone button so it turns red and reads On. This records sound from the microphone, not the phone call audio, but it may pick up your voice or speaker output depending on your environment and volume.

iOS versions can differ in how the recording indicator appears and how Control Center is opened. On iPhones with Face ID, swipe down from the top-right corner. On iPhones with a Home button, swipe up from the bottom edge. The screen recording setting location is otherwise consistent.

Check the output

After stopping the recording, open the Photos app and play the saved clip. Listen for what the microphone picked up and compare it with what you said or heard during the call. A typical result is that the screen action is visible, microphone audio is present only if you enabled it, and the phone call audio is absent from the screen recording itself.

The output format is determined by the system. Do not expect the recording format, bitrate, or encoding to change which audio source is captured. Those settings may affect file size or visual quality, but they do not add a phone call audio stream.

Common problems and next steps

A common misunderstanding is that turning on the microphone enables call recording. It only enables an additional audio input for the screen recording. On many iPhones, starting a screen recording during a call still produces a video without the other person's voice.

If your main goal is to keep a copy of a conversation, use a method that actually captures the call. A speakerphone call with a second device recording the room may work in some places, but audio quality depends on background noise and distance. Some call recording apps or carrier features may be available where you live, but availability and consent requirements vary.

Before recording anyone, check the consent or notice rules that apply to your location and the other participant. Screen recording itself is not a call recording solution, so verify the laws or policies for the method you choose rather than assuming a built-in feature makes a call recording automatically lawful.