After years of back and forth, Google has confirmed that Call recording returns natively to Android on Pixel phones starting with Pixel 6. No more messing around with third-party applications: The option will be integrated into the Phone app and will be available on the markets where Pixels are sold, including Spain.
The return comes with nuances and a clear focus on privacy. The tool will include a automatic audible warning when starting recording to inform all interlocutors, and ties in with Google's recent push into features artificial intelligence (AI) linked to the calling experience.
What exactly has Google announced?
In an official statement, the company explains that all Pixels from 6 onwards recover the recording function within the Phone app, and that the measure extends to all regions where Pixel is supportedThis includes Europe and, therefore, Spain. The rollout will be gradual and will include a simple interface to start and stop recording during the call.
Google places this decision in the context of its AI capabilities, so Models without advanced features like Call Notes will have at least a standard recording.
The company also stresses that the recordings will be saved locally and that the system will add a message or warning tone at the outset to protect the parties, a requirement that seeks to balance utility and privacy.
Why it's coming back now: AI, users, and market context
This return is no coincidence. On the one hand, Google is bringing to the Pixel features based on Gemini allowing transcribe and summarize calls directly on the device. For models that can't yet create automatic notes, the solution is to restore classic recording.
In addition, the community has applied pressure through official channels. Spanish users They organized a petition on Google's issue tracking portal, arguing that recording one's own conversation is legal in our country. Although that petition was closed at the time, opened a precedent which has weighed on the change of course.
In parallel, the competitive landscape has advanced and other systems have put the focus on call management tools (transcription, notifications, filters), a context that also pushes Google to offer a native and coherent alternative on Android.
How it will work: notices, controls and options
Recording will be activated from the Google Phone app with an on-screen control. When you start it, the system will play a mandatory audible warning to inform the other person that the conversation is being recorded. Recording will be stopped manually or when you hang up.
- Privacy Policy: Automatic tone or message at start.
- Local storage: : Files will be saved to the device.
- Integration with AI (on supported markets and models): Call notes and summaries.
- simple controls: button to start/pause from the call screen.
With this implementation, Google is looking for a homogeneous experience that reduces the risks of unofficial methods while complying with legal and privacy requirements in different countries.
Device compatibility and deployment
Google has indicated that the feature will be coming to Pixel 6 and later models, with Android 14 or higher. In the ecosystem of other brands, availability will depend on agreements and the market, but the company points out that, as a base, Android 9 or later will be required and the Google Phone app installed and updated.
The deployment will be progressive by region and may vary depending on the operator, country, or manufacturer. In any case, the goal is for compatible devices to receive the option within the regular call interface, without complex configurations.
Legal aspects in Spain: what is allowed and what is not
In Spain, jurisprudence holds that You can record a conversation in which you participate without prior notice, as long as the recording is for your legitimate use. What is not allowed is spread or share it with third parties if it affects the confidentiality of communications or privacy.
This means that the function can serve as personal or evidentiary tool in certain contexts, but not as a way to publish or distribute third-party content without consent. Google, with its sound warning, adds a transparency layer which facilitates regulatory compliance in more territories.
How we got here: a clear chronology
The blocking of recording on Android was gradual. With Android 6, Google began restricting technical ways apps used to capture call audio. Starting Android 9, direct access to audio was closed, leaving many developers without viable options.
The final straw came in 2022, when Play Store policy prohibited using the Accessibility API to this end, eliminating the last resort of many apps. Since then, the feature has been left to individual manufacturers or has largely disappeared from the Android catalog.
Now, with the emphasis on the AI functions during calls and the need for a globally consistent solution, Google backtracks and offers a native recording with clear rules. For alternatives and existing applications, see best apps to record calls.
What remains to be known
Google has not detailed all the technical details: for example, whether there will be duration limits per file, how the export will be managed or if there will be Official APIs so that other apps (with explicit user permission) can integrate the recordings. These responses are expected to arrive as the rollout progresses.
The return of call recording to the Pixels regularizes a practical feature, reinforced by privacy notices and aligned with Google's plan to bring AI to the phone experience. For users in Spain, it means recovering a useful tool within the law, with clear compatibility requirements and a deployment that will be opening in the coming weeks.
