---
title: How to record and listen to calls
description: Learn about U.S. call recording laws, including consent requirements for recording calls with contacts. Discover which states require all-party consent and get step-by-step guidance on using Smarter Contact’s call recording feature to ensure compliance.
---
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July 29, 2026
# How to record and listen to calls
Call recording is a valuable tool for businesses, serving purposes such as creating training materials, improving employee performance, and logging data for better business decisions.
However, businesses must comply with various call recording laws and regulations. In this article, we’ll outline the laws specific to the United States.
In the U.S., these laws revolve around consent. To legally record a call, consent must be obtained from either one party or all parties involved. With one-party consent, only one person on the call needs to agree to the recording, while two-party (or all-party) consent requires agreement from everyone on the call.
Federal law generally allows one-party consent, but some states require two-party consent for a call to be legally recorded. These states include:
- California
- Connecticut
- Florida
- Illinois
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Montana
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- Pennsylvania
### Step-by-step video guide
### How to record a call
1. **Start a call with a contact**
Open a text conversation with a contact and initiate a call as usual.
2. **Click on Call Recording**
When the call starts, the Call Recording button will appear. Click it to begin recording.
3. **Confirm the recording**
A popup will appear asking you to confirm that you’ve informed the other person, if required by your local laws. Click to confirm and start recording.
4. **Recording in progress**
Once confirmed, the recording will begin. You’ll see a recording indicator on the right side of the dialer.
### How to listen to a recorded call
1. **Go to the Messenger**
After the call ends, the recording is automatically saved.
2. **Open the conversation**
Find and open the conversation with the contact.
3. **Access the recording**
The recording will appear just below the call log.
4. **Listen or download**
You can play the recording directly or download it for future reference.
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