How to record a WhatsApp call on your Mac

You record the Mac, not WhatsApp. WhatsApp's help pages don't describe a way to record calls in its Mac app, so the routes are the ones that work for any app: the Screenshot toolbar, which records the call window with its sound on macOS 27 or later, or a recording app that captures the call's audio, like Audio Hijack or Piezo.

• A WhatsApp video call, as a video: the Screenshot toolbar with Include System Audio, on macOS 27 Golden Gate or later.
• A voice call, as an audio file: Audio Hijack, which lists WhatsApp, or Piezo.
• Notes from the call: a note taker that says it detects WhatsApp calls, like MacWhisper or Wispr Flow's Notetaker.

None of these tell the other person, so ask first. The details below come from Apple's and each app's own pages, checked October 16, 2026. We make Koi, a Mac app that records calls, and say below where it fits.

1. Start the call in the WhatsApp app on your Mac.
2. Press Shift-Command-5.
3. Choose Record Selected Window (macOS Tahoe 26 or later) and pick the call window, or Record Entire Screen.
4. Click Options. Pick a microphone for your own voice, and on macOS 27 Golden Gate or later, Include System Audio for the other person.
5. Click Record. To stop, click Stop in the menu bar or press Command-Control-Esc.

The .mov lands on your desktop. Per Apple's how-to, Include System Audio needs macOS 27 or later. On Tahoe 26 and earlier the toolbar only records a microphone, so the other person is faint, or missing if you wear headphones. Make a short test call first.

Two Rogue Amoeba apps, from their own pages:

• Piezo records FaceTime, Zoom and other call apps in one click, and saves each side of the call to its own channel. Its page doesn't name WhatsApp, so try it in the free trial first. $29, for macOS 14.4 to 27.
• Audio Hijack lists WhatsApp among the call apps it records out of the box. It's more of a toolkit, with a transcript made on your Mac if you add one. $69.

Free routes exist too, like the BlackHole driver with an audio app, at the cost of rerouting your Mac's sound. Our guide to recording internal audio on a Mac covers them.

If what you want is the words, not the file, two say they handle WhatsApp:

• MacWhisper Pro lists WhatsApp among the apps it detects for meeting recording, in its direct-download version, and transcribes on your Mac.
• Wispr Flow's Notetaker says it detects WhatsApp and FaceTime calls as well as meetings.

Koi's Record calls records your microphone as You and what the Mac plays as Them, transcribes both on your Mac, films the screen if you pick Audio and video, and with your yes writes a summary, your to-dos and a follow-up email. It's made for online calls in apps like Zoom, Google Meet and Microsoft Teams, with no bot joining.

Koi's Online call records whatever app the Mac plays, a WhatsApp call included. For the other call apps, see every way to record a meeting on a Mac.

It depends on where you and the other person are. In many places everyone on a call has to agree, and calls across borders can fall under more than one set of rules. This isn't legal advice.

The Screenshot toolbar and recording apps don't announce themselves. So tell the other person before you start, wait for a yes, and if they say no, don't record. Keep the recording to yourself unless they agreed to more.

• You're on macOS Tahoe 26 or earlier, where the Screenshot toolbar only records a microphone.
• The microphone is set to None under Options, so even your voice is missing.
• The recording app isn't allowed to hear the Mac. Check System Settings, Privacy & Security, Screen & System Audio Recording, and Microphone.
• You're wearing headphones with a microphone-only recording, so the other side never reaches it.

• A video call, on macOS 27? The Screenshot toolbar with Include System Audio.
• A voice call, as an audio file, with a transcript if you want one? Audio Hijack.
• Something simpler and cheaper? Piezo, once its free trial shows it hears WhatsApp.
• Notes from WhatsApp and your meetings? A note taker that says it detects WhatsApp.