AI TranscribeHow to record a meeting on iPhone and get the notes
Recording a meeting on an iPhone takes one tap. The part that matters is what you have afterwards: a 50-minute audio file nobody will listen to, or a page of notes with decisions and action items. This guide covers both.
Short answer: Open AI Transcribe, tap Record, put the phone in the middle of the table, and stop when the meeting ends. The transcript arrives with speaker labels and timestamps, and one more tap turns it into meeting notes, a to-do list and a summary. If you only need the audio, the built-in Voice Memos app is enough.
The three ways to record a meeting on iPhone
| Voice Memos (built in) | AI Transcribe (app) | Plaud Note (device) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Free to try, Pro subscription | $159 device plus AI plan |
| Recording length | Unlimited | Up to 2 hours per recording | Up to 30 hours of battery |
| Transcript | iPhone 12 or later, about 10 languages | Every recording, 32 languages, speaker labels in most of them, timestamps | Yes, through the Plaud app |
| Meeting notes and action items | No | One tap, 20+ AI tools | Yes, through the Plaud app |
| Import a recording made elsewhere | No | Audio or video, up to 3 hours | Audio or video, up to 5 hours, through the app |
| Something extra to carry or charge | No | No | Yes |
1. Voice Memos: when you only need the audio
Open Voice Memos, tap the red button, tap it again to stop. On iPhone 12 or later with iOS 18, memos get a basic transcript in about 10 languages, and the newest iPhones can summarize it with Apple Intelligence. There are no speaker labels, no action items and no way to import a recording made on another device. Good for keeping a record. Not built for producing notes.
2. AI Transcribe: when you need the notes
- Open the app and tap Record. The Live Activity on the lock screen shows the timer, so you can put the phone down and forget it.
- Place the phone flat in the middle of the table, screen up. A normal meeting room table is within range. Avoid the spot next to the laptop fan.
- Tap stop when the meeting ends. Recordings can run up to two hours, and the app resumes after an interruption such as an incoming call.
- The transcript arrives with timestamps and, in most languages, speaker labels. Rename "Speaker A" to a real name once and it applies throughout.
- Tap Create meeting notes. Then Create a todo list for the action items and Extract dates for the deadlines. Export as text or PDF, or copy into Slack, Notion or an email.
The same app imports recordings made anywhere else: a Zoom cloud recording, a file from a colleague, a video. Files up to three hours are supported.
3. A dedicated recorder: when the phone has to stay in your pocket
Devices like Plaud Note record for a day on one charge and never ring during a meeting. The trade is $159 and another thing to carry, charge and sync. The transcript and notes come from the companion app afterwards, and the app can also import recordings from elsewhere. If the phone can sit on the table, the phone is the simpler tool. See Plaud alternatives for the full comparison.
Placement and audio quality
- Middle of the table, flat, screen up. The microphones are at the bottom edge; pointing that edge at the room helps.
- One phone is enough for a normal meeting room. For a long boardroom table, record from two phones and transcribe both.
- Mute notifications or turn on Do Not Disturb. A ringtone in the recording is worse than a ringtone in the room.
- Keep it off paper. Papers shuffled on top of the phone are the most common cause of an unreadable minute.
- Say names at the start. "Around the table: Dana, Priya, Tom." The transcript then has a key for the speaker labels.
Consent: the rule to know
Recording laws vary by country and, in the United States, by state. Federal law and most states allow recording with the consent of one party, which is you; around a dozen states, including California, Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania and Washington, require everyone's consent. In the UK and the EU, recording for your own notes is one question and sharing the recording under data protection rules is another. None of this is legal advice, and workplace policies add their own rules. The habit that keeps you on the right side in most places: say "I am recording this for the notes, is everyone okay with that?" at the start, and record the answer.
Frequently asked questions
Can I record a Zoom or Teams meeting on my iPhone? If you are in the room, yes, the phone records the room. If you are on the call, record on the platform and import the file into AI Transcribe afterwards. No bot joins the call.
Can iPhone record a phone call? Not with a third-party app. iOS 18 added call recording inside the Phone app on supported iPhones, with an announcement to the other party. See can you transcribe phone calls on iPhone.
Does the transcript work in languages other than English? Yes. 32 languages with automatic detection, and speaker labels in most of them. Notes and summaries can be generated in the meeting's language or translated.
How long does the transcript take? Minutes, not the length of the recording. Transcription runs in the cloud while the app is open.
Is there a free way to get meeting notes from a recording? AI Transcribe has a free trial. Voice Memos gives a free transcript on newer iPhones but no notes. See free ways to transcribe audio on iPhone.