Google To Kill Third Party Call Recording Apps Starting May 11

Android custom OEM skins such as MIUI, ColorOS, One UI, OxygenOS, etc. come with a built-in call recording function. Besides, it is also available on the Google Pixel phones integrated within the Google Phone app. However, that is not the case everywhere because of regional restrictions. In such a case, users make use of a third-party call recording app to get on with their tasks. But that won’t be the case after May 11, as that is the end date when Google will remove third-party call recording apps from the Play Store. For quite some time, Google has actively advised users not to use call recording on Android. With Android 6.0, Google removed the call recording API from its OS. Developers made use of this API to bake in call recording features into their apps. But with Android 9.0, Google tried to remove some of the unofficial workarounds for call recording.

Google has clarified that the new API change will only affect third-party apps

Fast forward to Android 10, and Google completely blocked call recording over the microphone. That didn’t stop developers from looking for another solution. And they made use of the accessibility service to offer call recording on Android 10 or above. Google will block third-party apps from using the Accessibility API for call audio recording on May 11 as part of a new Play Store policy change. In a webinar, Google clarified that this new API policy change in the Play Store will only affect third-party apps. So, if your phone comes pre-loaded with the call recording feature, then you are good to go. However, if you make use of a third-party app on your phone that you have downloaded from the Play Store, then, from May 11, it won’t be able to record calls on your phone. Do note that the Google Phone app that provides a built-in call recording feature is exempted from this policy change. There is no clarity on how Google wants to implement or enforce this change. Moreover, there is also no information on whether the third-party call recording app will be removed from the Play Store after May 11 or not.