Wondering how you can disable Call Recording Announcement on your Android? Every time you start recording a call, both the caller and the receiver hear the “This call is now being recorded” announcement. As annoying as it sounds, Google is doing this for the privacy of its users. Like in many European countries, recording calls is against the law. You will have to take permission or inform the other person that you will be recording their call.
Ever since Google has enabled the call recording feature in the Google Dialer (or Google Phone) app, they also have to follow the local call recording laws and comply with them.
But the problem is that there is no way to turn off this call recording announcement. And if you happen to live in a country/region where call recording laws aren’t as strict, this feature seems more like a problem. However, there is a workaround that you can follow to stop this call recording announcement on your Android.
How to Disable Call Recording Announcement on Android?
If you have enabled the call recording feature on your Android and want to disable the recording announcement. Here is how to disable it;
- First, download and install the TTSLex app from Google Play Store.
- Now open the Settings app on your Smartphone and search “Text-to-Speech,” and tap on the result that says “Text-to-Speech output.”
- Inside Text-to-Speech output, tap on “Preferred engine” and select “TTSLex Engine.” An attention warning will pop up. Press the “OK” button to confirm.
After changing the preferred TTS engine, we will now clear the storage data/cache of the Google Dialer (Google Phone) app. Doing so will reset all the app settings.
Clearing Data of the Google Phone app might delete your recent call list and your previous call recordings. Take a backup using any third-party Backup app before clearing data of Google Dialer.
Here is how to clear Google Phone App data on a Xiaomi/Redmi Smartphone.
- Now, long-press on the Google Dialer’s icon on your Android home screen, and tap on the (i) icon to open App Info.
- Inside the Google Dialer’s app info, tap on “Storage” and then on “Clear Data.” (or, on the “Clear Storage” button on Realme, Oppo, and OnePlus Smartphones)
- Now press the “Clear All Data” and then the “OK” button on the confirmation popup to clear Google Phone app data. And you are good to go.
After clearing the data/cache, open the Google Phone app, and try making a call. You will hear the “This call is now being recorded” announcement followed by “The call recording has been ended” right before your first call.
Once your call is connected, hit the record button and press “Start Recording” on the confirmation pop-up. Google Dialer will start recording your call without alerting the other person with the annoying call recording announcement.
And that’s how you turn off call recording announcements and record a call on your Android phone. Now let’s see how to listen to the recorded calls, and share them with someone else.
Where are Google Dialer’s Call Recordings stored in Android?
The call recordings of Google Dialer are stored inside,
/android/data/com.google.android.apps.recorder/files/recordings
However, with Android R (Android version 11), you can no longer access this folder from your file manager due to system restrictions.
If you are on the latest version of Android, you can access them from Google Dialer itself. Just open your Google Dialer/Phone app, and go to the “Recents” tab. After that tap on the contact whose recording you want to listen to or share, and tap on “History“.
Here you will see, the call logs of that contact/phone number. Recorded calls will have “Listen to Recording” text below them, tap on in to listen, or share that recording with someone else.
What Are the Legal Implications of Disabling Call Recording Announcements?
Disabling the call recording announcement may have legal implications depending on your jurisdiction. It’s essential to be aware of local laws regarding call recording to ensure you’re not violating any regulations.
How Does the TTSLex App Work in Disabling the Announcement?
The TTSLex app changes the Text-to-Speech engine on your Android device. By doing so, it effectively bypasses the default announcement made by the Google Dialer app when recording a call.
Are There Any Risks to Clearing Google Dialer’s Data and Cache?
Clearing the data and cache of the Google Dialer app will reset all its settings and may delete your recent call list and previous call recordings. It’s advisable to take a backup before proceeding.
Is It Possible to Revert to the Original Settings?
Yes, you can revert to the original settings by changing the Text-to-Speech engine back to the default option and not clearing the Google Dialer’s data and cache.
How to Access Call Recordings After Disabling the Announcement?
The article mentions that call recordings are stored in a specific folder, which may not be accessible due to system restrictions on newer Android versions. However, you can access them directly from the Google Dialer app under the “Recents” tab.
What Are the Alternatives to Using the TTSLex App?
While the TTSLex app is one solution, there may be other third-party apps or settings that can achieve the same result. However, it’s crucial to ensure that any alternative methods comply with local laws and don’t compromise your device’s security.
Does Disabling the Call Recording Announcement Affect Call Quality?
Disabling the call recording announcement using the TTSLex app or other methods should not impact the actual quality of the call. However, it’s essential to test the call quality after implementing these changes to ensure there are no issues.
How Do Android Updates Affect This Workaround?
Android system updates can sometimes reset settings or make previous workarounds ineffective. It’s advisable to check if the call recording announcement is still disabled after updating your Android OS.
Is It Ethical to Record Calls Without the Other Party’s Knowledge?
While the article provides a method to disable the call recording announcement, it’s important to consider the ethical implications of recording someone without their consent. Always respect the other party’s privacy and inform them if you intend to record the call.
Are There Any Battery or Performance Implications?
Changing the Text-to-Speech engine and using third-party apps like TTSLex could potentially have an impact on your phone’s battery life or performance. It’s a good idea to monitor these aspects after implementing the workaround.
What Happens If You Switch to a Different Dialer App?
If you decide to switch from Google Dialer to another dialer app, the settings and workarounds you’ve implemented may not carry over. You’ll likely need to find a new method to disable the call recording announcement for the new app.
Can You Schedule Call Recordings Without the Announcement?
Some users may want to schedule call recordings in advance. While the article doesn’t cover this aspect, it’s worth exploring whether scheduled recordings can also bypass the announcement using the described method.
Final Words: Disable Google Dialer’s Call Recording Announcement!
While this may not be a permanent solution for getting rid of the call recording announcement. But right now, this is the only way you can record calls on your Android without that annoying announcement. We will update the article when (and if) Google gives a toggle to disable call recording warning inside the Dialer (or Phone) app.
Regardless, we urge everyone to follow their local call recording laws and record calls with the other person’s consent on the call.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How do I disable this call that is now being recorded announcement on my phone?
Well, this call is now being recorded announcement can easily be disabled by using a custom TTS engine. So when you do this you re-route the trigger from the default TTS engine to a custom one which is silent in that case and hence you get no announcement.
How do I stop call recording announcements in Realme, MIUI, OPPO, and OnePlus?
Google has made it mandatory for “Tier 1” OEMs to use Google Phone and Messaging app. Every phone from OEMs like Realme, Xiaomi, OnePlus, and Oppo comes with Google Dialer and Messaging as the default Phone and Messaging app.
You can follow the aforementioned method to disable call recording announcements on your Realme, OnePlus or Oppo Smartphone.
How to disable this call is now being recorded on Redmi and Xiaomi Phones?
If you use a Xiaomi or Redmi phone then you will get this problem. The problem is whenever you tap on the record button while on a call, the phone will announce the recording instead of discreetly recording. To disable this you just have to follow our guide here and you will be able to do so.
