Can you record audio on an iPhone?

Absolutely. Apple's iPhones come with a built-in audio recording app called Voice Memos. It’s perfect for recording voice notes, interviews, or anything else you want to record directly from your phone.

To use Voice Memos, just open the app and tap the red record button. Press the same button again to stop. In the app, you can listen, rename, edit, and share recordings. You can also trim the audio so you only save and share what you want.

🧠 Read: How to use voice recording on iPhone for great podcast audio

How to record audio on iPhone with Voice Memos

1. Locate and launch the Voice Memos app

Go to your iPhone's Home Screen. Find the Voice Memos app, which has an icon resembling a waveform within a black background. Tap on the memo app to open it.

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If, for some reason, you’ve removed the app, you can always download it for free on the App Store. 

2. Position your iPhone correctly

If you’re recording your own voice, hold your iPhone like you would during a phone call, or place it on a flat surface about 6–8 inches away from your face. If you're recording someone else or a group, put the iPhone on a flat surface 6–8 inches from them. Make sure the built-in microphone isn't blocked. 

Otherwise, follow the tips you’d use with any microphone to improve your audio quality: make sure you’re in a quiet room without a lot of echo or background noise. But if you can’t avoid it, don’t worry: there are ways to remove background noise later on. 

If you’re trying to capture audio of participants who aren’t in your same physical location, you can either instruct them on how to use Voice Memos and have them send you the file, or, ideally, use a remote audio recording tool instead. 

3. Tap the red record button

When you want to record, tap on the large red circle button.

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4. Record your audio

Speak clearly and at a reasonable volume. You can adjust the recording level by moving the microphone closer or farther away from the source. 

Image of a new recording in progress on iPhone

👉 NOTE: When you use Voice Memos to make recordings, an orange dot appears at the top of your screen to indicate your microphone is on. 

If you have an iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 15 Pro, or iPhone 15 Pro Max, you can see your recording in progress in the Dynamic Island at the top of the Home Screen. 

To get back to Voice Memos, tap the Dynamic Island.

5. Pause or stop the recording

If you’re recording in parts and need to pause, swipe up from the waveform to see more advanced features. Tap the pause button to stop the recording. Tap Resume to continue.

Tap the stop button to finish recording. 

6. Name and save your recording

Recordings are automatically saved with a default name. Tap on the default name to rename it. The keyboard will appear so you can add a new name.

Tap “Return” on the keyboard to save the name.

7. Access and edit your recorded audio

The main Voice Memos screen shows all your recordings. To play a recording, just tap it. You can also edit or delete recordings by selecting them and using the available options.

You can adjust playback speed, remove silence, or improve sound quality to polish up your final product.

The Voice Memos app also lets you trim parts you don’t want, record over parts, or replace your entire recording. 

To trim your recording, tap the More Actions button, then tap “Edit Recording.” Tap the Trim button at the top right, then drag the yellow trim handles to enclose the section you want to delete or keep. 

Tap Trim to keep the section and delete the rest of the recording. Or, tap “Delete” to get rid of the highlighted part. When you’re finished, hit “Save,” then tap “Done.” 

If you want to record a phone call or record system audio from a computer, you’ll need to use separate tools. Check out our guides on how to record a call and how to record computer audio.

How to share an audio recording on iPhone

Say you create a podcast on your iPhone and want to transfer it to another mobile device or backup for editing. Voice Memos lets you easily send recordings to your Mac, iPad, or another iOS device through AirDrop. 

You can use Messages, Mail, and other options if you want to send the audio file to an Android smartphone or device. 

Here’s how:

1. Select the recording to export. 
2. Tap the More Actions button. 
3. Tap “Share,” then choose a sharing option and follow the onscreen prompts. 

The best way to record high-quality audio

There are many tools to record audio on the market, but not all have the features you need to create high-quality audio with incredible sound. 

People who already use Descript’s voice recorder benefit from: 

• Overdub, which creates an AI clone of your voice to fix voiceover mistakes 
• Studio Sound, which makes it sound like you recorded in a professional studio
• Accurate transcription that identifies filler words like  “um” and “uh”
• 5GB of free cloud storage with shareable links 
• Professional editing tools that allow you to edit audio from text 
• Exporting options to share your audio across podcast hosting services

Start creating high-quality audio with the best voice recorder app on Mac and Windows. Take a tour and see why.

How to record audio on iPhone FAQs

How do I secretly record audio on my iPhone?

Secretly recording audio on any phone without consent is illegal in many jurisdictions. If you have legitimate reasons and the proper permissions, you can use the Voice Memos app or another third-party app to record audio on your iPhone.

How do I record just the audio?

iPhone users can record just the audio using the Voice Memos app, which saves audio without video. Open the app, tap the red record button, and it'll start recording.

How do I use my iPhone as a recorder?

To use your iPhone as a recorder, launch the Voice Memos app, which comes pre-installed on all iPhones. Press the red record button to start recording and again to stop; your recordings are saved within the app for playback and sharing.