How to transcribe an in-person meeting on Android
We make VoiceVault, which we use for the step-by-step part of this guide. The recording tips work with any app.
Most bad transcripts are bad recordings. A phone in the right spot, in a quiet-enough room, gets you most of the way. The rest is picking an app that fits your meetings and spending two minutes checking the result before you send it to anyone.
Before the meeting
1. Tell people you're recording
It's courteous, it's often required, and people speak more clearly when they know. Follow the consent rules where you are and your organization's policy.
2. Put the phone in the right place
- Flat, in the middle of the table. Every speaker should be within about two metres.
- Microphone uncovered. On most phones the main microphone is on the bottom edge. Don't put it under papers or a notebook.
- Away from noise. Laptop fans, projectors, air vents and clinking cups all end up in the transcript as gaps or nonsense.
- Big room? Seat yourself in the middle, or ask people at the far end to speak up. A second phone at the other end beats one phone straining.
3. Check battery and notifications
An hour of recording and transcription uses a noticeable amount of battery. Start above 30% or plug in. Turn on Do Not Disturb so notification sounds don't land in the recording.
Choosing an app
| Option | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Google Recorder | Pixel owners; free, transcribes on the phone | Pixel only |
| Samsung Voice Recorder with Galaxy AI | Recent Galaxy phones; free | Model-dependent; summaries may use the cloud unless set to on-device |
| Otter, Fireflies and other cloud apps | Online meetings, team sharing, iPhone and web | Need internet and an account; monthly plans with minute limits |
| VoiceVault | In-room meetings on any Android 13+ phone, confidential meetings, no internet | Android only; doesn't join online meetings; one-time AI download |
If you're unsure, try your phone's built-in recorder first. If it doesn't give you summaries, to-dos or speaker names the way you want, or you don't have a Pixel or Galaxy, move on to a dedicated app. For the cloud-versus-phone question, see an Otter alternative that works without the cloud.
Step by step with VoiceVault
- Set it up once, on Wi-Fi. Install VoiceVault from Google Play and open it. It downloads its AI to your phone; after that it works offline.
- Optional: connect your calendar. VoiceVault reminds you just before each meeting and names the recording after it.
- Tap Record. Put the phone face up in the middle of the table. You can turn the screen off; recording and transcription carry on.
- Tap Mark at key moments, such as a decision or a number you'll need later. Marked moments are highlighted in your notes.
- Tap Stop and save. The transcript, summary and to-dos are written on the phone. Long meetings take longer on older phones.
- Name the voices. Tap a speaker chip such as "Speaker 2" and VoiceVault plays a line they said, so you can tell who it is.
- Check the to-dos. Each one shows an owner. Add a due date and VoiceVault reminds you on the day.
Forgot to stop recording? VoiceVault offers to cut long quiet stretches, or to split two meetings into two recordings.
Every meeting, written up. Right on your phone.
VoiceVault for Android: transcripts, summaries and to-dos with no account, no servers and no subscription. 30 days free, then pay once.
After the meeting
- Read the summary before you share it. AI summaries are good at the gist and occasionally wrong on names and numbers. Fix what matters.
- Confirm owners on the to-dos. "We should..." often means nobody. Assign it.
- Pick the right summary style. VoiceVault has styles for meetings, 1:1s, client calls, interviews, lectures, doctor visits and brainstorms, or your own prompt.
- Keep a backup if you need one. VoiceVault can copy recordings to your own Google Drive, and exports to PDF, Word and Markdown.
Troubleshooting
Words are missing or wrong
Usually distance or noise. Move the phone closer to the quietest speaker, and away from fans. Accents and jargon improve when people speak a little slower.
Two people get the same speaker label
Similar voices, or people talking over each other, can confuse speaker detection. In VoiceVault, press and hold a line to fix the name on it.
The meeting switched language
VoiceVault transcribes 25 European languages, including English, French, German and Spanish. For other languages, check what your app supports before the meeting.
Questions
Where should I put my phone to record a meeting?
Flat on the table, in the middle of the group, within about two metres of the furthest speaker, with nothing covering the bottom edge where the main microphone usually is. Keep it away from laptop fans and coffee cups.
Can Android transcribe a recording without internet?
Yes, with an app that runs speech recognition on the phone: Google Recorder on Pixels, Samsung Voice Recorder with Galaxy AI on recent Galaxy phones, or VoiceVault on Android 13 and newer. Cloud apps such as Otter need a connection to transcribe.
How much storage does an hour of meeting audio use?
It depends on the app's audio format. VoiceVault saves compressed AAC audio at about 22 MB per hour, so even a busy month of meetings takes little space.
Can I record with the screen off?
In most recorder apps, yes. VoiceVault keeps recording and transcribing with the screen off and the phone in your pocket; a notification shows it's recording.
Do I need permission to record a meeting?
Tell people you're recording, and follow the consent rules where you are and your organization's policy. Rules differ by country and province or state.
Sources
- Google Recorder transcribes offline on Pixel (TechCrunch)
- Samsung: how to use Galaxy AI Transcript Assist
- Otter on Google Play
Prices and features were checked on 31 October 2026 and change often; check each provider before you buy.