# Start, pause, and resume a recording

> How to start, pause, resume, stop, or discard a recording on iOS, Android, and the web, and what happens to the audio at each step.

Updated: 2026-08-16 · Canonical: https://usecanto.com/help/recording/start-pause-stop/

Tap the microphone button on the home screen to start recording, **Pause** to hold it, **Resume** to continue, and **End** (iOS) or **Stop** (Android, web) to finish. Stopping starts the upload and transcription automatically; pausing keeps one continuous recording with the paused time left out.

## How do I start a recording?

1. Tap the large microphone button at the bottom of the home screen (the **Record** button on the web).
2. Allow microphone access the first time.
3. The recorder opens with a timer running. You can type a title in the **Recording title** field and notes in **Notes** while it records — see [Add bookmarks and notes while recording](https://usecanto.com/help/recording/bookmarks-and-notes/)

Two other starting points do the same thing with context attached:

- **From a space** — the microphone on a space's screen records straight into it, so the recording is filed without a later move.
- **From a meeting** — with a calendar connected, today's meetings appear on the home screen and you can start a recording from one; the meeting's title is preset. See [Meetings and series](https://usecanto.com/help/calendar/meetings-and-series/)

You can also start from outside the app entirely — see [Record from iOS widgets and Control Center](https://usecanto.com/help/recording/ios-widgets-live-activity/) and [Record from the Android widget and tile](https://usecanto.com/help/recording/android-widget-quick-tile/).

## How do pause and resume work?

Tap **Pause**; the timer stops and nothing is captured until you tap **Resume**. The result is a single recording — the pause leaves no gap or marker in the audio or the transcript, the skipped time is not there.

iOS can also pause on its own: if a phone call or another app takes the microphone, the recorder shows "Paused by another app — will resume automatically" and picks back up when the microphone is free. See [Does Canto record in the background?](https://usecanto.com/help/recording/background-recording/)

## How do I stop or discard?

- **Stop** — tap **End** (iOS) or **Stop** (Android, web). The recording lands in your library and moves through **Uploading**, **Processing**, and **Transcribing** to **Ready** — see [How does Canto process recordings?](https://usecanto.com/help/getting-started/how-canto-works/)
- **Discard** — tap **Discard** and confirm. The audio is permanently deleted, nothing is uploaded or transcribed, and no free minutes are used. There is no undo for discard.

## FAQ

### Is there a maximum length?

No practical one — recordings can run for hours. Transcription minutes on the free plan are the real limit; see [How long can a recording be?](https://usecanto.com/help/recording/recording-limits/)

### Can I keep using my phone while recording?

Yes on iOS and Android — the recording continues with the app in the background or the screen locked. On the web, keep the tab open.

### I stopped by accident — can I resume a finished recording?

No. Once stopped, a recording uploads and transcribes. Start a new recording; both stay in your library.

Related articles:

- [Add bookmarks and notes while recording](https://usecanto.com/help/recording/bookmarks-and-notes/)
- [Does Canto record in the background?](https://usecanto.com/help/recording/background-recording/)
- [Record your first meeting](https://usecanto.com/help/getting-started/record-your-first-meeting/)