No record button in WhatsApp
Phone recorders and second devices are unreliable, and they leave files on personal phones.
How to record WhatsApp Business calls, with consent
WhatsApp has no built-in call recording: at the time of writing (October 2026), we did not find a record option in the WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business app, and screen recorders often can’t capture call audio. To record WhatsApp Business calls properly, run the number on Meta’s WhatsApp Business Platform and use a tool such as Dialaunch, which records calls only when you turn it on, plays a consent message first and deletes recordings when the retention period ends.
Consent comes first
Many countries require callers to be told before a call is recorded. Check the rules where you operate.
Recording with rules
Dialaunch: off by default, consent message first, team-only access, automatic deletion.
Can you record WhatsApp calls?
Not from inside WhatsApp. Neither app has a record button for calls. People work around it with third-party recorder apps on Android, screen recording, or a second device on speaker. Results vary by phone and operating system, and some phones block other apps from capturing call audio.
For a business, the workarounds have a bigger problem: the recording sits on one person’s phone, with no consent message for the caller, no control over who can play it and no rule for when it is deleted.
Consent and the law, in short
Rules on call recording differ by country. In many places, including much of Europe under the GDPR, you need a valid reason to record and must tell callers before the recording starts. Some places require every party’s consent. This guide is not legal advice: check the rules where you and your customers are, and write down why you record and how long you keep recordings.
- Tell callers before recording, in plain words
- Record only for a clear purpose, such as quality or disputes
- Limit who can listen
- Delete recordings when they are no longer needed
How to record WhatsApp Business calls with Dialaunch
Dialaunch connects your WhatsApp Business number through Meta’s WhatsApp Business Platform, so calls are handled in software, not on a phone. Recording is off until an admin turns it on, sets a retention period and adds a consent message that callers hear first.
Recordings play only for members of your organisation, through links that expire, and transcripts are limited to admins and owners. Recordings are deleted automatically when the retention period ends: 30 days on current plans. EU customers’ call data stays in the EU, and Dialaunch is GDPR-ready, with a DPA and Standard Contractual Clauses.
More than a recording
Often you don’t need to replay a call to know what happened. With Dialaunch, every call gets a summary, key moments and an outcome, and a call history with a timeline shows who answered, how long the caller waited and whether the call was handed off. Supervisors can listen live, whisper and take over in one click while the call is still happening.
The AI agent for WhatsApp calls says it is an AI at the start of each call, on by default, in line with the EU AI Act’s transparency rule.
Checklist before you record calls
Settle these points before turning recording on.
- Check the recording rules in the countries where you operate
- Write a short consent message callers hear first
- Choose the retention period
- Decide who in the team may listen to recordings
- Mention call recording in your privacy policy
- Consider whether summaries are enough for most calls
What to know before you start
Does WhatsApp Business have call recording?
No. At the time of writing (October 2026), we did not find a call recording option in the WhatsApp or WhatsApp Business app. Tools on the WhatsApp Business Platform, such as Dialaunch, can record calls with a consent message.
Is it legal to record WhatsApp calls?
It depends on the country. Many places require you to tell callers first, and some require everyone’s consent. This is not legal advice: check the rules where you and your customers are.
Does WhatsApp notify the other person when a call is recorded?
WhatsApp has no recording feature, so it doesn’t notify anyone. That is why a consent message matters: Dialaunch plays one before any recording starts.
How long does Dialaunch keep call recordings?
Until the retention period you set ends: 30 days on current plans. Recordings are then deleted automatically.
Who can listen to recorded calls in Dialaunch?
Only members of your organisation, through links that expire. Transcripts are limited to admins and owners.