Wave lets you record, transcribe, and summarize your phone calls automatically — just like it does for meetings. This guide covers both methods: making recorded calls through Wave, and recording calls already in progress.
Two Ways to Record Phone Calls
Outgoing call — Calls you're about to make. Requires a verified phone number (one-time setup).
Bridge recording — Calls you're already on. Requires a verified phone number (one-time setup).
Step 1: Verify Your Phone Number
Before making recorded calls, you need to verify your phone number once. This lets Wave display your real number on caller ID so the person you're calling sees a number they recognize.
Open Wave and go to the Phone tab.
Tap Verify Your Number.
Enter your phone number with the correct country code.
Wave will call your phone — answer the call.
When prompted, enter the 6-digit verification code shown on your screen using your phone's keypad.
Once verified, you'll be prompted to save the Wave contact card so you can recognize incoming calls from Wave.
Verification is one-time. Your number stays verified unless you change it.
Tip: Save the Wave contact card to your phone. When Wave calls you (for outgoing calls or bridge recording), you'll see "Wave" on your screen instead of an unknown number.
Making a Recorded Outgoing Call
Go to the Phone tab in Wave.
Enter a phone number or select a contact.
Tap Call.
You'll see a confirmation: "You are about to place a recorded call." Tap to proceed.
Wave will call your phone first — answer this call.
Once you answer, Wave connects you to the person you're calling. Recording starts automatically.
The recipient sees your verified phone number on their caller ID.
When the call ends, Wave automatically processes the recording — transcript and summary appear in your library within a few minutes.
Important: Please notify the person you're calling that the call is being recorded. See the Recording Consent section below.
Recording a Call You're Already On (Bridge Recording)
Already on a phone call and wish you were recording it? You can start recording mid-call using Wave's bridge feature.
Without hanging up your current call, open Wave and go to the Phone tab.
Tap Record Ongoing Call.
Wave will call your phone. You'll see an incoming call while your current call is still active.
Answer the incoming call from Wave. Your original call will be placed on hold.
Merge the calls — use your phone's merge or conference call button to combine both calls.
Recording begins from the point the calls are merged.
Tips for merging calls:
On iPhone: After answering Wave's call, tap Merge Calls in the call interface.
On Android: After answering, tap the Merge or Conference button.
If you don't see a merge option, your carrier may not support three-way calling. Contact your carrier for details.
What Happens After a Call
Once you hang up, Wave handles everything automatically:
Recording is saved — audio is stored securely in Wave's cloud.
Transcription — the full conversation is transcribed with speaker labels.
AI Summary — key points, action items, and topics are generated.
Searchable — the call becomes searchable by keyword, topic, or natural language across your Wave library.
Processing typically takes a few minutes. You'll see the recording in your library with a "phone" label. You can also tap any call in the Recents tab to view its transcript or redial the number.
If a call is very short or the other party doesn't answer, no recording is created.
Troubleshooting
"No verified phone number for caller ID"
You need to verify your phone number before placing calls. Go to the Phone tab and complete verification.
Verification call not coming through
Make sure you entered the correct phone number with the right country code.
Check that your phone isn't in Do Not Disturb mode.
Some carriers block calls from unrecognized numbers — temporarily disable any call blocking or spam filtering.
If the verification times out (90 seconds), tap to try again.
Call won't connect
Check your internet connection — Wave needs internet to initiate calls.
If calling an international number, note that non-US numbers with rates above $0.20/min are not supported.
If you see a paywall, you'll need an active Wave subscription to use phone recording.
Bridge recording: not receiving the callback
Make sure your phone allows incoming calls while already on a call (carrier-dependent).
Answer the call from Wave promptly — it will ring for about 30 seconds.
Bridge recording: can't merge calls
Three-way calling must be supported by your carrier and plan.
On iPhone, look for the "Merge Calls" button after answering Wave's call.
On Android, look for "Merge" or "Conference" in your call interface.
Recording didn't appear after the call
Very short calls (a few seconds) or unanswered calls don't generate recordings.
Allow a few minutes for processing — longer calls take longer to transcribe.
Check your internet connection — recordings sync when you're back online.
FAQ
Does the person I'm calling know I'm using Wave?
No. They see your real phone number on caller ID. The call looks and sounds like a normal phone call to them.
Can I record calls to any country?
Wave supports calls to most countries. However, calls to numbers with per-minute rates above $0.20 are blocked to prevent unexpected charges. Most standard landline and mobile numbers worldwide are supported.
Do I need internet for the whole call?
You need internet to start the call. Once connected, the voice call goes over your regular phone network — call quality depends on your cell signal, not your internet speed.
What audio format are recordings saved in?
Recordings are saved as WAV files with dual-channel audio (one channel per speaker), enabling accurate speaker separation in transcripts.
Recording Consent
Recording laws vary by location. In some jurisdictions, you must inform all parties that a call is being recorded.
One-party consent (e.g., most US states): Only one person on the call needs to know about the recording — you.
Two-party/all-party consent (e.g., California, many European countries): Everyone on the call must be informed and consent.
Best practice: Always let the other person know the call is being recorded. Wave shows you a reminder before each call, but it's your responsibility to comply with local laws.