Feature Request: Call Recording

[hamiltonrn]

Please implement call recording. Thank you!

[tibbi]

post only 1 thing per issue please, it cannot be managed like this

[hamiltonrn]

Updated.

[judge2b]

I would appreciate this feature as well

[pvagner]

I would say call recording is a night mare on android. The implementation details are often either device or android build specific thus implementing it in this app would make this app no longer simple.

[tibbi]

indeed call recording has been blocked by Google on Android 10+ without giving an alternative. Not even the preinstalled apps can do it. It can be set up with some commands run via adb or some other tinkering, but most people dont want to do it. As soon as there is some call recording supported by Android, I will definitely add it.

[ihaake]

The problem is:
You may only record telephone calls if your call partner has agreed to this, otherwise you are committing a criminal offence!
This is the case in many countries.
In Germany § 201 Strafgesetzbuch (StGB) is the basis.

[judge2b]

Single-party call recording is not illegal everywhere though, so offering it as a feature would be very useful where it is allowed. Of course, it makes sense to wait for better Android support for this.

[hamiltonrn]

The problem is:
You may only record telephone calls if your call partner has agreed to this, otherwise you are committing a criminal offence!
This is the case in many countries.
In Germany § 201 Strafgesetzbuch (StGB) is the basis.

In Germany, not in many other countries, in Brazil, for example, if you are part of the talk you are totally free to record it and even use as proof to defend yourself, recording is only prohibited for third parties. It's a very useful feature, will be very glad if implemented.

[ihaake]

Let's do not count when "many" is many.
I'm arguing from the standpoint of the app provider.
If you provide an international app you have to take into account even the few ones.
At least you have to take means to prevent, that people use Software illegal in their county.
Exclude people of those (few) countries from downloading the software?
How?
Not caring about the problems of the few is a matter of reputation and trust.
Can I trust, that the app provider doesn't bring me in conflict with law?
Or do I have to avoid that provider to feel save?
If I know the risk and I am willing to take the risk of being prosecuted I can take (technical) precautions.
If I'm a simple user who just wants no problems, I may tend to avoid the provider totally, not only the app.

I think that's why Google doesn't implement this feature and makes it difficult to circumvent it.
Google has a reputation to lose.

[hamiltonrn]

Let's do not count when "many" is many.
I'm arguing from the standpoint of the app provider.
If you provide an international app you have to take into account even the few ones.
At least you have to take means to prevent, that people use Software illegal in their county.
Exclude people of those (few) countries from downloading the software?
How?
Not caring about the problems of the few is a matter of reputation and trust.
Can I trust, that the app provider doesn't bring me in conflict with law?
Or do I have to avoid that provider to feel save?
If I know the risk and I am willing to take the risk of being prosecuted I can take (technical) precautions.
If I'm a simple user who just wants no problems, I may tend to avoid the provider totally, not only the app.

I think that's why Google doesn't implement this feature and makes it difficult to circumvent it.
Google has a reputation to lose.

You just need an Agreement, for that functionality, where the user takes the responsibility for using it. You don't want to use it, just don't use.

[poiNt3D]

Please remain lightweight. There is a separate call recording app on F-Droid: Call Recorder.

Edit: I take back my words. It doesn't work anymore.

[just-Nob]

If you have LineageOS installed as well as (Ed)Xposed (i.e. your phone must be rooted!), you can activate this feature by using (and configuring) XCallRecordingSettings.
Works well on LOS 16.0 & 17.1 (= Android 9 & 10).

[000exploit]

Please remain lightweight. There is a separate call recording app on F-Droid: Call Recorder.

It doesn't work correctly, cuz it cant record interlocutor directly from call and I don't want to have extra apps on my phone

[jjelev]

I vote for leaving ethics for the users. This Free Software and it's user's responsibility to use it according to the law.
I am willing to help build this feature. However I don't have much experience with Android development and Kotlin.
If someone can guide me in so I can start from small stuff and eventually grow to the task ?

[tibbi]

It's not me blocking it for ethical reasons, it's Google. Anyway, this definitely isn't the feature you want to learn Android on.

[Midi-In]

I think it could be added for those who run older versions of the system, where the feature isn't crippled by Google. I personally still run Oreo and it would be extremely useful

[robovoice1]

And what about combining simple dialer with simple voice recorder as a "workaround"?
The idea is not recording the direct signal which is limeted by android, but you can record what is coming out of the smartphone speaker(s) and the voice of the caller with the simple recorder app. If you choose to record the call in the dialer, the phone call is forced to play loud via smartphone speakers.

[tibbi]

you cannot do that

[raed667]

I value this feature so much because (when it was available) it allowed me to record spelled out emails, addresses and phone numbers then take a note of them later when the call ends.

I would be willing to tinker with adb or even rooting the phone to gain it back.

[electriquo]

Google Phone has support for call recording, Xiaomi Dialer, Samsung Dialer and many others have it.

It would be awesome if Simple Dialer would have call recording feature.

[ItsIgnacioPortal]

It can be set up with some commands run via adb

That's far better than no call recording at all. With this app being one of the very very few FOSS dialers out there, I think this feature is a must-have, so users can protect themselves legally.

Also, anyone who would go out of their way to replace com.google.android.dialer with this app, probably already has the skill to run a couple of adb commands

[mexicancartel]

This is a necessity for many people.. Hope it will be implemented

[andsofine]

any chance for that?

[ElsAr4e]

If you want call recording on non-rooted smartphones use ACR Phone app https://acr.app/ .
Ideally you use a SIP-account.

Most details are explained here: https://www.androidauthority.com/best-call-recorder-apps-android-1001838/

The best solution probably would be GrapheneOS?
https://www.reddit.com/r/GrapheneOS/comments/12g7kjw/is_call_recording_on_graphene_os_possible/

[Alerymin]

I would love to see this feature. To record scammers calling me. And as @foolioo said, most other apps support it.

But there is still the legal issue. There a 2 different routes I can recommend for this:
1: Warn the user that he's responsible for respecting the laws about recording calls
2: Make the dialer app say a message like "The person you are calling is recording the call". Preferably warning the user that there will be a voice message sent.

[electriquo]

No recording phone all warns the other end about recording the call. I see no legal issue here.

[tibbi]

I dont really care about the legal issues, it is up to the user. I just dont like that recording isnt officially supported, there are just some workarounds that work here and there, mostly in preinstalled apps or ones that havent been updated for ages and dont have to stick to the latest system rules and restrictions. Some workarounds that were being used in the past are no longer doable and as Google keeps pushing against call recording, I dont want to spend time working on something that will just stop working soon.

[heberjeur]

I dont really care about the legal issues, it is up to the user. I just dont like that recording isnt officially supported, there are just some workarounds that work here and there, mostly in preinstalled apps or ones that havent been updated for ages and dont have to stick to the latest system rules and restrictions. Some workarounds that were being used in the past are no longer doable and as Google keeps pushing against call recording, I dont want to spend time working on something that will just stop working soon.

But many peoples around the world need this feature

[electriquo]

@heberjeur The responsibility is on the one that records the call to inform the other ends that the call is being recorder, it is not on the application itself. This is why the feature should exists regardless of the warning whether the call is being recorded.

In the same spirit that a murder is illegal all over the globe but no law requires you to warn everyone when you carry a knife ;)

[Alerymin]

@heberjeur The responsibility is on the one that records the call to inform the other ends that the call is being recorder, it is not on the application itself. This is why the feature should exists regardless of the warning whether the call is being recorded.

GrapheneOS added call recording to the AOSP app. I don't know if it works the same for every app.

[tibbi]

GrapheneOS added call recording to the AOSP app. I don't know if it works the same for every app.

well, as it is their OS, they can optimize the app for the given system, thats exactly what I was saying. In such cases it can work, but an app that can be downloaded globally through Google Play on any system, it cannot be done reliably.

[ElsAr4e]

It will also work if you root your smartphone and use the APH Magisk Module - but it is not recommended.
Explanation: https://nllapps.com/apps/cb/accessibility.htm

Anyway I use ACR-Phone app on multiple (non-rooted) devices together with the ACR Phone Helper (APH) and you can record the microphone and loudspeaker at the same time of your phone during the call even on newer Android versions.

But if place a call using sim when it comes to recording a call the best solution would be GrapheneOS or using old (Google-) Android versions up to Android 8 (actually end-of-life).

Or you use a SIP account - in that case you can always record the call even if you are using Android 13 or higher?

[poiNt3D]

Developers shouldn't take responsibility for their user, otherwise it can go too far.
Warning the user of the app should be sufficient. That is on him, if he enables it where it is forbidden.

[ItsIgnacioPortal]

It will also work if you root your smartphone and use the APH Magisk Module - but it is not recommended.

I recommend it. Works 10/10, it's much better than the rootless accesibility-based call recording. You can actually playback calls and have them sound exactly the way they did while you were making the call

[inson1]

+1

[NikMAX2077]

+1

[ae5960e8-a6fc-491f-b252-898ecf59af95]

FYI the iodeOS dialer features call recording. Can't wait for Simple Mobile Tools to implement recording.

[ElsAr4e]

FYI the iodeOS dialer features call recording. Can't wait for Simple Mobile Tools to implement recording.

@ae5960e8-a6fc-491f-b252-898ecf59af95
Simple Mobile Tools was sold. This is the new fork: FossifyOrg/Phone#17

[ae5960e8-a6fc-491f-b252-898ecf59af95]

FYI the iodeOS dialer features call recording. Can't wait for Simple Mobile Tools to implement recording.

@ae5960e8-a6fc-491f-b252-898ecf59af95 Simple Mobile Tools was sold. This is the new fork: FossifyOrg/Phone#17

Thank you, I had no idea.