Call recording with S20 FE 5G

[HoosierDaddy]

I often use call recording and researched to make sure the S20 FE 5G could do that before buying. Never found anything that specifically said the FE did but all the other S20s apparently can.

My T-Mobile S20 FE 5G does not have the option. %&*#.

Can someone with an FE 5G unlocked version check to see if call recording is available? I'm thinking T-Mobile may have removed it from the generic version.

And if it is available in an unlocked, can I flash the unlocked version to my T-Mobile FE while its still carrier locked to T-Mobile for 24 months? I've been using unlocked phones exclusively in the past so won't miss any lost T-Mobile extra features such as WiFi calling. Would hate to lose native voicemail but rather that than call recording.

I looked for an app, but its looking like recent Android changes makes then useless (no longer records other side of a conversation).

 

[methodman89]

This has been discussed many times. A search will give you more info, but briefly, recording both sides of a phone call is illegal without dual consent in most states.
There are screen recorders that will also record the sound.
You'll have to find your own solution. Good luck.

 

[Jeremy8000]

Federal law requires at least one party's consent. 15 states require both parties' consent in at least some situations:

California
Connecticut
Delaware
Florida
Illinois
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Montana
Nevada
New Hampshire
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Vermont
Washington

https://www.justia.com/50-state-surveys/recording-phone-calls-and-conversations/

 

[HoosierDaddy]

I know threads constantly go off topic. I do that myself, but what may be illegal somewhere else is irrelevant. I'm in AZ, I always consent to recording my own calls. And I never even hinted that I didn't get the other party's consent at any time.

So, still waiting for someone with an unlocked S20 FE to say if their phone supports it. Other S20s do.

 

[Mike Dee]

I know threads constantly go off topic. I do that myself, but what may be illegal somewhere else is irrelevant. I'm in AZ, I always consent to recording my own calls. And I never even hinted that I didn't get the other party's consent at any time.

So, still waiting for someone with an unlocked S20 FE to say if their phone supports it. Other S20s do.

Where did you see that other S20s can record? I have an S20 Ultra and am not aware of any call recording feature. To my knowledge it is restricted by region.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Where did you see that other S20s can record? I have an S20 Ultra and am not aware of any call recording feature. To my knowledge it is restricted by region.

Web is full of pics and videos showing how to turn it on and off. Can be done per call or turned on to record all calls. It's turned on/off under settings from the ellipses in the dialer. Is your Ultra a carrier version?

The most likely reasons for it to be missing from my S20 FE are: (1) Samsung made the FE 5G the only S20 that doesn't have the feature, or (2) Carriers remove the feature (or Samsung does in some models for some regions). I am suspecting T-Mobile removed it, but am trying to confirm.

 

[Mike Dee]

Web is full of pics and videos showing how to turn it on and off. Can be done per call or turned on to record all calls. It's turned on/off under settings from the ellipses in the dialer. Is your Ultra a carrier version?

The most likely reasons for it to be missing from my S20 FE are: (1) Samsung made the FE 5G the only S20 that doesn't have the feature, or (2) Carriers remove the feature (or Samsung does in some models for some regions). I am suspecting T-Mobile removed it, but am trying to confirm.

It not available in Android 10, at least not in the US. I do not have a carrier version.

 

[X1tymez]

Call recording app is only for international. Samsung removed this feature for U.S clients, but there's work around and I won't go there


I'm using S20 FE unlocked and there's no recording app.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Call recording app is only for international.

I'm using S20 FE unlocked and there's no recording app.

Thanks.

Are you saying the settings in the phone app doesn't have the option? I'm not looking for an add-on recording app to do this but the option baked into the S20s that we know can record thru the call settings.

All the videos and pictures showing turning recording on and off show doing that in the default phone app. So, when you say international, are you referring to the phone app that came in international version of the phone? Do I get that by flashing an international version?

Going back to look at all the videos, and how-tos for turning call recording on and off in S20s. Surprised if I didn't notice if they were on foreign web sites or mentioned that.

 

[Mike Dee]

Thanks.

Are you saying the settings in the phone app doesn't have the option? I'm not looking for an add-on recording app to do this but the option baked into the S20s that we know can record thru the call settings.

All the videos and pictures showing turning recording on and off show doing that in the default phone app. So, when you say international, are you referring to the phone app that came in international version of the phone? Do I get that by flashing an international version?

Going back to look at all the videos, and how-tos for turning call recording on and off in S20s. Surprised if I didn't notice if they were on foreign web sites or mentioned that.

An international device would require a carrier that supports GSM

 

[anon(10614692)]

I'm in the UK with an S10. There is no call recording facility via settings. AFAIK the only firmware that allows this is Indian firmware.

 

[noam23]

Indeed, the Indian firmware of the S20 FE allows call recording:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cd5pB-DwFTc

The problem is that in India the only version of the S20 FE that is sold, is the Exynos version. So you can't flash it on the SD 865 version...

Btw, even for the rest of the S20 lineup (S20/S20+/S20 ultra) it was only the Exynos version that had call recording.

I'm looking closely at the call recording feature on Android in general. It seems that starting from about April 2020, every new device announced from all manufacturers (Xiaomi, Oneplus, Samsung etc.) do not support built-in call recording anymore (apart from some devices allowing recording through the Google Phone Dialer, but this option doesn't allow automatic call recording, and also notify both sides of the call they are being recording, with an annoying voice message).

As far as I can see, for someone living in USA or Europe to get built-in call recording for a device announced after April 2020, the only way is to purchase a Xiaomi device, and install a Xiaomi.eu ROM.

 

[HoosierDaddy]

I would have no problem with warnings.

Thanks all.

If only some Exynos versions have it then will have to look for 3rd party solution or use external recorder which is doable since I don't recall ever recording a call that I wasn't on speaker. I rarely put a phone to my ear and don't use earphones. Next steps are to see if there are ANY Snapdragon model versions that have call recording.

Someone hinted they knew a way to add call recording to the US version, but I didn't pay attention at the time since I wanted to explore native solution first.

 

[mustang7757]

I would have no problem with warnings.

Thanks all.

If only some Exynos versions have it then will have to look for 3rd party solution or use external recorder which is doable since I don't recall ever recording a call that I wasn't on speaker. I rarely put a phone to my ear and don't use earphones. Next steps are to see if there are ANY Snapdragon model versions that have call recording.

Someone hinted they knew a way to add call recording to the US version, but I didn't pay attention at the time since I wanted to explore native solution first.

Haven't heard any Snap Dragon with it natively, some international have it but depends on region .

 

[Mike Dee]

Haven't heard any Snap Dragon with it natively, some international have it but depends on region .

Exactly... There aren't any Snapdragons with the feature. It started with Android 9 and finalized with Android 10.

 

[mustang7757]

Exactly... There aren't any Snapdragons with the feature. It started with Android 9 and finalized with Android 10.

Yeah

 

[Kizzy Catwoman]

Google specifically removed compatibility in Android 9 and 10. If the Indian ROM has it then that is the outlier. In the UK we lost call recording ability when we moved to Android 9.

 

[noam23]

Google specifically removed compatibility in Android 9 and 10. If the Indian ROM has it then that is the outlier. In the UK we lost call recording ability when we moved to Android 9.

From what I know, the Galaxy S20 lineup that came out at March 2020, with Android 10, had call recording built-in at the UK. If you purchase a Galaxy S20 device in the UK today (apart from the FE variant) you have built-in call recording. We are talking about the Exynos variants only, though.

Btw, according to UK laws, there is no problem whatsoever to record a call, without notifying the other side on the line that he's being recorded. Maybe Google think they're already big enough to set the world-laws by themselves.

 

[mustang7757]

From what I know, the Galaxy S20 lineup that came out at March 2020, with Android 10, had call recording built-in at the UK. If you purchase a Galaxy S20 device in the UK today (apart from the FE variant) you have built-in call recording. We are talking about the Exynos variants only, though.

Btw, according to UK laws, there is no problem whatsoever to record a call, without notifying the other side on the line that he's being recorded. Maybe Google think they're already big enough to set the world-laws by themselves.

It's possible the manufacturer doesn't want get tangled up in the legaltivity of different laws and just removed it .

 

[HoosierDaddy]

Btw, according to UK laws, there is no problem whatsoever to record a call, without notifying the other side on the line that he's being recorded. Maybe Google think they're already big enough to set the world-laws by themselves.

It's crazy for a company to actively restrict legal behavior.

I'm going to take extra good care of my car now to delay buying a new one that might not be able to exceed 15 MPH because that is the legal maximum in school zones where I live.

But when in Rome..... I'm off to demand my Senator draft a law that says bricks must be made of foam rubber so that rioters can't break windows with them.