How to save a phone call audio recording from Notes to Files on Apple iPhone

Step 1: Record the phone call

Step 1: Record the phone call

Tap the record button during the phone call.

Step 2: Recording is in progress

Step 2: Recording is in progress

The recording progress is shown in the status bar of your iPhone. You can continue the conversation while the recording runs in the background. Note that recording duration may be limited depending on your device settings or carrier.

Step 3: End the phone call recording

Step 3: End the phone call recording

When the call ends or recording is stopped, the audio file will be placed in Notes.

Step 4: Open the Notes app

Step 4: Open the Notes app

Find and tap the Notes app icon on your home screen.

Step 5: Select the correct Notes folder

Step 5: Select the correct Notes folder

The folder containing phone call recordings is usually named "Phone Call Recordings" or "Phone Calls". If you cannot find it, try scrolling through the folder list or use the search function.

Step 6: Find and open the correct note

Step 6: Find and open the correct note

Phone call recordings usually have a title containing the contact name or phone number of the person you spoke with. Scroll through the notes list and open the one that contains the audio recording you need.

Step 7: Play the audio file

Step 7: Play the audio file
  • Inside the note you will see a player for playing back the audio recording.
  • Tap the play button (usually a triangle) to listen to the recording.
  • Make sure the sound is on and the volume is set to a comfortable level.
  • This will take you to the audio playback view where you can export the file.

Step 8: Open the More Actions menu

Step 8: Open the More Actions menu
  • In the top-right corner of the note screen you will see an icon with three dots (⋯). This is the More Actions menu.
  • Tap this icon to open the menu with additional options for the note.
  • Here you will find various actions such as Share, Copy, Delete, and others.

Step 9: Choose the Share option for the audio file

Step 9: Choose the Share option for the audio file
  • Tap the Share icon. It looks like a square with an arrow pointing upward and is usually located directly on the audio player or next to it.
  • Important: do not confuse this icon with the general Share icon for the entire note, which is in the top-right corner of the screen. You need to tap the one that belongs specifically to the audio track.

Step 10: Select "Save to Files"

Select "Save to Files"
  • After tapping the Share icon, the standard iOS share sheet will appear at the bottom of the screen.
  • Scroll through the list of available actions and find the row with a folder icon labeled "Save to Files". Tap it.

Step 11: Choose where to save the file

Step 11: Choose where to save the file
  • The Files app interface will open. Here you can choose exactly where you want to save the audio file.
  • iCloud Drive: saving here gives you access to the file from all your Apple devices (Mac, iPad, etc.).
  • On My iPhone: choose this option to save the file directly to your phone's storage. This is the preferred choice if you need access to the file without an internet connection.
  • Create a new folder (optional): for better organisation you can create a separate folder, for example "Call Recordings". To do this, tap the folder icon with a plus sign in the top-right corner of the screen.
  • Rename the file (optional): you can tap the current file name (e.g. "Recording.m4a") to rename it before saving.
  • Tap the Save button in the top-right corner of the screen to save the audio file to the chosen location.