This article is general information, not legal advice. Recording laws change and depend on your situation. If the stakes are high, speak to a lawyer in your jurisdiction.
The short answer
In the US, recording a conversation is generally lawful if you're part of it and the required people have agreed. How many people must agree depends on the state. The simple way to stay on the right side of these rules is to tell everyone you're recording and get their agreement before you start.
One-party and all-party consent
Consent laws in the US usually fall into two groups:
- One-party consent: one person in the conversation must agree. If you're taking part, that person can be you.
- All-party consent: everyone in the conversation must agree. It's sometimes called two-party consent.
Federal law follows the one-party approach. Under 18 U.S.C. § 2511(2)(d), a private person can generally record a conversation they're part of, or one where a party has given prior consent, unless the recording is made to commit a criminal or tortious act.
States can set stricter rules. A state-by-state summary from the law firm Matthiesen, Wickert & Lehrer lists 12 all-party states: California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, and Washington. Treat that as a starting point, not a final answer. Legal sources classify some states differently, and a state's rules can vary by situation or have changed since a summary was written.
What if people join from different states?
Remote meetings make this harder, because participants can be in different places under different laws. It isn't always clear which state's law applies. The practical advice is to follow the strictest rule that could apply, which usually means getting everyone's consent.
What about outside the US?
Rules differ from country to country, and this article doesn't cover them. Data protection law may also apply, particularly if you're recording for work and your recording contains personal information. If you work with people internationally, check the rules where they are as well as where you are.
Do bot-free recorders change anything?
The legal question stays the same, but you lose an automatic reminder. Platforms and bots can make recording visible, while an app recording on your own device may give participants no signal at all. The job of telling them is yours.
The same applies in person. Your iPhone on a table doesn't tell anyone it's recording. Apple's built-in call recording is an exception, as it plays an audio notice to both parties on the call.
How to ask
- Ask at the start, or better, in the calendar invite.
- Say why, and who will see the recording or notes.
- Wait for a clear yes. Don't treat silence as agreement if you can avoid it.
- Offer an alternative. If someone says no, stop recording or take notes by hand.
- Ask again when someone joins late.
Some wording you can use:
- On a call: "Is it OK if I record this so I can get accurate notes? I'll only use it for our follow-up."
- In an invite: "I'd like to record this meeting for note-taking. Let me know if you'd prefer I didn't."
- In person: "Do you mind if I record this? I'd rather listen than take notes."
Other things to check
- Workplace policy. Your employer may have its own rules, even where the law allows recording.
- Client contracts. Confidentiality terms or NDAs may limit recording or sharing.
- Sensitive conversations. Health, legal, and HR discussions can come with extra obligations.
- Storage and sharing. Know where the recording lives and how to delete it. Our On Device and Cloud guide explains how this works in Convoxa.
Convoxa's Terms also prohibit recording conversations without the consent of all parties where the law prohibits it.
