Call recording

[ElsAr4e]

Checklist

• I made sure that there are no existing issues - open or closed - to which I could contribute my information.
• I have read the FAQ and my problem isn't listed.
• I have taken the time to fill in all the required details. I understand that the feature request will be dismissed otherwise.
• This issue contains only one feature request.
• I have read and understood the contribution guidelines.

Is your feature request related to a problem? Please describe.
NO

Describe the solution you'd like
I would like to have the option to record calls

It has been discussed here:

SimpleMobileTools/Simple-Dialer#36 (comment)

Describe alternatives you've considered
I want to add this feature request (again) and ask the following question:

Do you have any plans to release your app on Google Play?
Because Google does NOT allow to apps to use the Accessibility Service for call recording.
Other apps like ACR-Phone therefore need the APH app too: https://nllapps.com/apps/cb/accessibility.htm

But I think F-Droid does not have such rules?
So you could release one app (only?) that records the call using the Accessibility Service?

Additional context
And maybe you can also provide an option for rooted phones. (Opt-in setting that checks if your phone is rooted and asks if you want to enable that option)

[Aga-C]

Please adjust your feature request report to the issue template.

[ElsAr4e]

Please adjust your feature request report to the issue template.

Done.

[Aga-C]

@ElsAr4e Thanks!

@naveensingh Please check this.

[naveensingh]

Do you have any plans to release your app on Google Play?

Yes, the majority of the users are from Google Play.

I'm aware of the call recording situation as this was being researched at SMT and sadly there was no reliable way to make it work. Adding this support for the F-Droid version using an accessibility service is an option but I'm not sure how reliable that will be. I have tried ACR and it didn't work reliably for me.

@Aga-C I got a feeling this will be requested again and again so let's just keep this open.

[ElsAr4e]

I have tried ACR and it didn't work reliably for me.

But I guess you've used it on a non-rooted device and Android 10+? (Because until Android 8 real call recording without root should be possible even if you are using non-system apps).

The dialer (system app) of GrapheneOS already has that option: https://grapheneos.org/releases#2023040400

But people who are using rooted phones could enjoy the call recording without any limits?

[naveensingh]

I guess you've used it on a non-rooted device and Android 10+?

Yes.

people who are using rooted phones could enjoy the call recording

Yes, people with rooted phones (which includes me) could utilize this feature but the majority of the (future) users don't even know what root is so I don't want to add features requiring root permission. The Fossify apps still follow the Simple philosophy.

Since this is an attractive feature to many, we'll maybe try this using an accessibility service later.

[NickAndreou]

There is this ap called call recorder (duh) that works fine recording, maybe those who look for this option could use it, and the programmers here could get some ideas on how to implement a similar option. Below I will put the link that if not acceptable can be deleted.
https://gitlab.com/axet/android-call-recorder

[wyattwc]

There is this ap called call recorder (duh) that works fine recording

The problem is reliable implementation of the feature. How android handles access has evolved over the years. My brand new A54 for example, this doesn't work.

To be able to reliably get good quality phone call recordings you'd need to do MediaRecorder#setAudioSource(VOICE_CALL), and it requires android.permission.CAPTURE_AUDIO_OUTPUT. If you can find a way to grab that permission without being root, let us know.

Outside of that, I would love to see the option implemented in a way that we could enable it if we have root.