---
title: "Record WhatsApp calls on Mac and Windows"
description: "The Kaption desktop app records WhatsApp voice and video calls (audio), saves each one to your Downloads folder and transcribes both sides separately, so the transcript shows who said what."
canonical: "https://kaptionai.com/call-recording/"
lang: "en"
---

# Record WhatsApp calls on Mac and Windows

> The Kaption desktop app records WhatsApp voice and video calls (audio), saves each one to your Downloads folder and transcribes both sides separately, so the transcript shows who said what.

Canonical: https://kaptionai.com/call-recording/

WhatsApp itself has no way to record calls. Kaption records the call's own audio inside its desktop app, and in WhatsApp Web with the Kaption extension for Chrome and Edge.

## How it works

1. **Choose how each number records.** Settings › Call recordings: Every call, Only when I press Record, or Off, per WhatsApp number. A number that has not chosen yet records, and the bar asks: Always, Only this call, or Don't record ("Don't record" discards the recording).
2. **Talk as usual.** A red bar shows the running time and a Stop button, and reminds you the first time to tell everyone on the call. Your side follows WhatsApp's mute.
3. **Find the file in Downloads.** When the call ends, a standard .m4a file with both sides is saved to Downloads › Kaption Call Recordings, named after the contact and the time. Files are never overwritten.
4. **Read the transcript.** Each side is transcribed separately and labelled. The Call recordings screen lets you play, search and delete recordings.

## Details

- No screen-recording or system-audio permission: the other person's voice comes from WhatsApp's call playback, yours from the microphone WhatsApp already uses.
- Mac with macOS 26: transcripts can run on the computer with Apple's speech recognition, or in Kaption Cloud.
- Windows: call transcripts run in Kaption Cloud. Cloud transcription depends on your plan.
- Automatic transcription is off until you turn it on.
- Only WhatsApp calls, in the Kaption desktop app or in WhatsApp Web with the Kaption extension (Chrome and Edge; not Firefox). Not phone calls, not other apps. In the extension, recordings are kept in the browser, with Download and an optional save-to-folder. Video is not recorded, only the audio.
- Supported: Macs with Apple silicon; Windows 10/11 64-bit (early beta).

## Consent

Recording laws differ by country and state; many places require everyone on the call to agree. Kaption does not notify the other person. Tell everyone on the call before you record.

Download: https://kaptionai.com/desktop/ · Guide: https://kaptionai.com/blog/en/how-to-record-whatsapp-calls-on-mac-and-windows/