Recording

Use CometChat Calls SDK v5 recording on Android to start, stop, access, and manage recordings for supported call sessions.

Record call sessions for later playback. Recordings are stored server-side and can be accessed through call logs or the CometChat Dashboard.

Recording must be enabled for your CometChat app. Contact support or check your Dashboard settings if recording is not available.

Start Recording

Start recording during an active call session:

Kotlin

val callSession = CallSession.getInstance()
callSession.startRecording()

Java

CallSession callSession = CallSession.getInstance();
callSession.startRecording();

All participants are notified when recording starts.

Stop Recording

Stop an active recording:

Kotlin

val callSession = CallSession.getInstance()
callSession.stopRecording()

Java

CallSession callSession = CallSession.getInstance();
callSession.stopRecording();

Auto-Start Recording

Configure calls to automatically start recording when the session begins:

Kotlin

val sessionSettings = CometChatCalls.SessionSettingsBuilder()
    .enableAutoStartRecording(true)
    .build()

Java

SessionSettings sessionSettings = new CometChatCalls.SessionSettingsBuilder()
    .enableAutoStartRecording(true)
    .build();

A recording runs until it is stopped. Whether it was started manually or automatically through enableAutoStartRecording, it keeps running until someone stops it. If nobody does, it stops on its own when either:

• Everyone leaves the session — the recording ends about a minute later.
• Everyone in the session stays muted for 10 minutes.

Hide Recording Button

Hide the recording button from the default call UI:

Kotlin

val sessionSettings = CometChatCalls.SessionSettingsBuilder()
    .hideRecordingButton(true)
    .build()

Java

SessionSettings sessionSettings = new CometChatCalls.SessionSettingsBuilder()
    .hideRecordingButton(true)
    .build();

Listen for Recording Events

Monitor recording state changes using MediaEventsListener:

Kotlin

val callSession = CallSession.getInstance()

callSession.addMediaEventsListener(this, object : MediaEventsListener() {
    override fun onRecordingStarted() {
        Log.d(TAG, "Recording started")
        showRecordingIndicator()
    }

    override fun onRecordingStopped() {
        Log.d(TAG, "Recording stopped")
        hideRecordingIndicator()
    }

    // Other callbacks...
    override fun onAudioMuted() {}
    override fun onAudioUnMuted() {}
    override fun onVideoPaused() {}
    override fun onVideoResumed() {}
    override fun onScreenShareStarted() {}
    override fun onScreenShareStopped() {}
    override fun onAudioModeChanged(audioMode: AudioMode) {}
    override fun onCameraFacingChanged(facing: CameraFacing) {}
})

Java

CallSession callSession = CallSession.getInstance();

callSession.addMediaEventsListener(this, new MediaEventsListener() {
    @Override
    public void onRecordingStarted() {
        Log.d(TAG, "Recording started");
        showRecordingIndicator();
    }

    @Override
    public void onRecordingStopped() {
        Log.d(TAG, "Recording stopped");
        hideRecordingIndicator();
    }

    // Other callbacks...
    @Override public void onAudioMuted() {}
    @Override public void onAudioUnMuted() {}
    @Override public void onVideoPaused() {}
    @Override public void onVideoResumed() {}
    @Override public void onScreenShareStarted() {}
    @Override public void onScreenShareStopped() {}
    @Override public void onAudioModeChanged(AudioMode audioMode) {}
    @Override public void onCameraFacingChanged(CameraFacing facing) {}
});

Track Participant Recording

Monitor when other participants start or stop recording using ParticipantEventListener:

Kotlin

callSession.addParticipantEventListener(this, object : ParticipantEventListener() {
    override fun onParticipantStartedRecording(participant: Participant) {
        Log.d(TAG, "${participant.name} started recording")
    }

    override fun onParticipantStoppedRecording(participant: Participant) {
        Log.d(TAG, "${participant.name} stopped recording")
    }

    // Other callbacks...
})

Java

callSession.addParticipantEventListener(this, new ParticipantEventListener() {
    @Override
    public void onParticipantStartedRecording(Participant participant) {
        Log.d(TAG, participant.getName() + " started recording");
    }

    @Override
    public void onParticipantStoppedRecording(Participant participant) {
        Log.d(TAG, participant.getName() + " stopped recording");
    }

    // Other callbacks...
});

Access Recordings

Recordings are available after the call ends. You can access them in two ways:

1. CometChat Dashboard: Navigate to Calls > Call Logs in your CometChat Dashboard to view and download recordings.

2. Programmatically: Fetch recordings through Call Logs:

Kotlin

val callLogRequest = CallLogRequest.CallLogRequestBuilder()
    .setHasRecording(true)
    .build()

callLogRequest.fetchNext(object : CometChatCalls.CallbackListener<List<CallLog>>() {
    override fun onSuccess(callLogs: List<CallLog>) {
        for (callLog in callLogs) {
            callLog.recordings?.forEach { recording ->
                Log.d(TAG, "Recording URL: ${recording.recordingURL}")
                Log.d(TAG, "Duration: ${recording.duration} seconds")
                Log.d(TAG, "Start Time: ${recording.startTime}")
                Log.d(TAG, "End Time: ${recording.endTime}")
            }
        }
    }

    override fun onError(e: CometChatException) {
        Log.e(TAG, "Error: ${e.message}")
    }
})

Java

CallLogRequest callLogRequest = new CallLogRequest.CallLogRequestBuilder()
    .setHasRecording(true)
    .build();

callLogRequest.fetchNext(new CometChatCalls.CallbackListener<List<CallLog>>() {
    @Override
    public void onSuccess(List<CallLog> callLogs) {
        for (CallLog callLog : callLogs) {
            for (Recording recording : callLog.getRecordings()) {
                Log.d(TAG, "Recording URL: " + recording.getRecordingURL());
                Log.d(TAG, "Duration: " + recording.getDuration() + " seconds");
                Log.d(TAG, "Start Time: " + recording.getStartTime());
                Log.d(TAG, "End Time: " + recording.getEndTime());
            }
        }
    }

    @Override
    public void onError(CometChatException e) {
        Log.e(TAG, "Error: " + e.getMessage());
    }
});

Recording Object

Property	Type	Description
rid	String	Unique recording identifier
recordingURL	String	URL to download/stream the recording
startTime	int	Timestamp when recording started
endTime	int	Timestamp when recording ended
duration	double	Recording duration in seconds