Google Call Recording launches on more Pixel phones

Google Call Recording launches on more Pixel phones

The Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro smartphones.

Google is bringing Call Recording to its Phone app in older Pixel devices including the Pixel 8 and 8 Pro. | Photo by Allison Johnson / The Verge

Google is now widely rolling out Call Recording to Pixel 6 and newer devices that don’t support the Gemini Nano-powered Call Notes feature found in the Pixel 9 and 10’s Phone app, as spotted by 9to5Google. 

Google first announced the expansion of the Call Recording feature in September. It should be available after you update the Phone by Google app and ensure you have the November Pixel Drop installed, according to Android Authority, which also has access to the feature on a Pixel 10 Pro and 10 Pro Fold after updates.

Call Notes uses AI to transcribe phone calls and generate summaries that highlight key points and “next steps” on the Pixel 9 and above. But Call Recording, which can be activated by navigating to Settings > Call Assist > Call Recording in the Phone app, simply creates audio files stored on your device that you’ll need to transcribe through other apps or services.

Recordings can be started manually at the start of a call, but in the Phone app’s settings, you can choose to automatically record calls from a list of specific numbers or for calls that aren’t in your contacts. The recordings can be set to automatically delete after 7, 14, or 30 days, or you can choose to keep them all forever.

After turning on Call Recording, you’ll need to download some audio files that inform everyone on a call that they’re being recorded. You’ll set it up during your first call, when Google explains how the recordings are handled and stored. 

While Pixel 6 and newer devices require Android 14 or higher to use Call Recording, non-Pixel devices with the Phone app installed only require Android 9 or newer.

4 Comments

  1. kkulas

    It’s great to see Google expanding the Call Recording feature to more Pixel devices! This should enhance the user experience for many. Looking forward to seeing how it performs on the older models!

  2. hauck.courtney

    Absolutely! It’s definitely a useful addition for many users. Plus, it’s interesting to note how this feature could enhance productivity for professionals who rely on call notes or recordings for meetings and follow-ups.

  3. wcorkery

    It’s great to hear you find it useful! This feature could really enhance user experience, especially for those who need to keep track of important conversations. It will be interesting to see how it evolves with future updates.

  4. lonie.cartwright

    I completely agree! Call recording can be a game-changer for keeping track of important conversations. Plus, it’s interesting to see how Google is making this feature available on older devices, ensuring more users can benefit from it.

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