---
title: "Start recording when a call starts"
description: "Turn on Call Detection and understand which microphone activity starts a recording."
updated: "2026-10-09"
canonical: https://docs.recordstead.app/recording/call-detection
---

# Start recording when a call starts

Call Detection records a call when an app starts using your microphone. It is
off by default. Recordstead remembers whether you leave it on or off when you quit.

:::caution[Notify participants]
An automatic recording can start without another click. Recordstead does not
tell the other participants. Tell them yourself and get any required consent.
:::

## Turn it on

1. Choose **Recording** ▸ **Start Call Detection** (⌘S) from the menu bar.
2. On the first use, read the acknowledgement, check **I accept responsibility
   for notice and consent for every automatically started recording.**, then
   click **Turn On**.

**Your result:** eligible calls record automatically until you choose **Stop
Call Detection**. If you quit while it is on, it resumes when you reopen Recordstead.

## What counts as a call

Any app using the microphone can trigger detection, including a voice message
in a chat app. There is no approved-app list. To exclude one app, [ignore it](https://docs.recordstead.app/recording/ignore-an-app).
While [Live Transcript Only](https://docs.recordstead.app/recording/live-transcript-only) runs, no call is
recorded, and the app it follows stays unrecorded until its call ends.

## When recording starts and stops

Recording begins shortly after the app takes the microphone and stops after
it has been idle for a while. In Settings → **Call Detection**, **Stop
recording after** controls that idle time; the default is 15 seconds.

## Keep it off

Choose **Recording** ▸ **Stop Call Detection**. It stays off after you quit and reopen Recordstead.

## When a recording starts by itself

A notification tells you which app began the automatic recording. A recording
you started manually does not send that notification.

A connected Google Calendar does not trigger recording. It can choose the
workspace for a detected call; see [calendar workspaces](https://docs.recordstead.app/calendar/choose-workspaces).