Recording law · United States
Can I record a call in Texas?
Yes, if you are part of the conversation. Texas is a one-party consent state: a participant may record their own call.
One-party consent A person who takes part in the conversation may record it without the others agreeing.
General information, not legal advice. Last reviewed October 2026. Laws change and facts differ; check before you rely on any line here, and ask a lawyer licensed where you record for anything that matters.
Is Texas a one-party or all-party consent state?
One-party consent. A person who takes part in the conversation may record it without the others agreeing.
- A party to the communication, or someone with the consent of one party, may record it, unless the recording is made to commit an unlawful act.
- Your own consent as a participant is enough under Texas law.
- Employers and regulated professions may have notice rules of their own.
Federal law (18 U.S.C. § 2511(2)(d)) allows a participant to record unless the recording is made to commit a crime or a tort. State law can ask for more.
The law
- Texas Penal Code § 16.02 (unlawful interception)
- Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code ch. 123
Recording a conversation with no party consenting is a felony, and the person recorded can bring a civil claim.
When the others are somewhere else
If anyone on the call may be in an all-party state, announce the recording. Video meetings are treated like phone calls, and the strictest rule that applies to anyone on the call is the one to follow.
Do I have to tell people I'm recording a call in Texas?
Not if you take part in the call: the recording law in Texas lets a participant record without telling the others. If anyone on the call may be somewhere stricter, say it at the start and get their agreement.
“Quick note before we start: I’m recording and transcribing this meeting on my own machine for my notes. It isn’t shared with anyone unless I send it to you. Let me know if you’d rather I didn’t.”
How Recordist fits
- One-party consent covers only conversations you take part in. Recordist records whatever your microphone picks up and whatever plays through your computer's sound output, so it can also record a call or a room you aren't part of, and that needs the consent the law sets for it. No bot joins the call.
- By default it asks before it records a call. A detected call is recorded only after you click Record, unless you add that app to Record without asking for in Settings → Detection or allow agents to start recordings in Settings → Integrations; both are off by default. The confirm card shows a one-line reminder that consent is your responsibility, so keep the sentence above to hand.
- The notice is still yours to give. Software cannot give consent for the other people. Tell them when anyone may be somewhere stricter.