Audio Recording
We are committed to building new technologies that help make your Uber experience safer, so you can ride and drive with confidence.
If you feel uncomfortable during your ride, you can now record the audio of the trip within the app.
Just tap the blue shield to open your Safety Toolkit and access the Record Audio option. The trip will be recorded in the app, and you can choose to share it with Uber after the ride has ended.
For everyone’s safety
Riders and drivers can record audio through their app to help encourage safe, comfortable interactions on trips. By giving them this control, Uber empowers its users to monitor and report uncomfortable situations.
Designed to protect your privacy
When a rider or driver uses this feature during a ride, the audio recording will be stored and encrypted on the phone so that no one—not even the person who initiated the recording—can access it. Uber can only access it if the user opens an incident report with Uber and includes this audio file. Unless this happens, Uber cannot access any of the contents.
Help Uber investigate
We take safety reports seriously. If a user files a report with an audio file, the safety team will review it. Uber will take appropriate action in accordance with our policies.
- What is the Audio Recording feature in the Uber app?
Audio recording is a new capability through the app designed to encourage safe, comfortable interactions on trips. Recordings can only be activated by the user and are securely stored on the device. They cannot be listened to, and can only be attached to a safety report sent through Uber’s app. Unless this happens, Uber cannot access any of the contents.
- Where is the Audio Recording feature available?
Down Small Audio Recording is currently available throughout Brazil, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Paraguay, Argentina, Costa Rica, and El Salvador. Uber is also piloting this feature in select cities in Chile and will continue to expand its availability.
- When can I use Audio Recording?
Down Small In select cities where the feature is available, riders and drivers can initiate a recording through their own smartphone. The other party in the vehicle will not be notified, though notice has been given to all riders and drivers that this capability is available.
- Who can use Audio Recording?
Down Small Where available, riders and drivers can initiate a recording through the in-app Safety Toolkit using their own smartphone. The other party in the vehicle will not be notified at the time of recording, though notice has been given to all riders and drivers that this capability is available.
- Can the driver or rider listen to the recording later?
Down Small No. To maintain the privacy of parties in the vehicle, the recorded content is encrypted, and neither riders nor drivers can listen to it.
- What if I don't want to be recorded?
Down Small If we receive a recording that does not have any pertinence to a safety incident, we will delete it after 30 days.
- Does Uber still have access to it if I don’t send it?
Down Small No, if you don’t submit an incident report with the recording attached, Uber has no access to the recording.
- Is it still recording when I am on a call with someone else?
Down Small No. The phone will take over the microphone and recording will automatically stop. You’ll have to start recording again on your own after the call. The same applies for other apps that use the microphone, like WhatsApp.
- Is Uber listening as the recording is happening?
Down Small No, the recording stays on your device where nobody can listen to it. Only if you choose to share it with Uber after the fact can we review it for a potential safety incident.
- Will the driver/rider know if I'm recording?
Down Small No, other parties in the vehicle will not be notified. This privacy works both ways, in case the other person chooses to start a recording.
- How does the feature notice vary by country?
Down Small In most countries, users are notified of the Audio Recording feature without having to take any action. This is the case in Brazil, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Guatemala, Paraguay, and Argentina. Because of a local regulatory requirement, users in Costa Rica and El Salvador must acknowledge that recording may occur while taking trips on the Uber platform.
- How much storage does it use?
Down Small This will vary based on your mobile phone, but in general 5-7 minutes of recording takes 1 MB of space on your device (about the same as one WhatsApp image).
- How much data does it use to share with Uber?
Down Small If you do need to submit a safety report with a recording attached, we encourage you to be connected to wifi first. Otherwise, your normal data rates will apply.
- How do I share the recording?
Down Small Share at the moment: a pop-up window will appear at the end of the trip, and you can share with Uber on the spot.
Share later: in the app menu, go to your trip history, tap on the trip in question, find the recording in your trip details, and share it with Uber.
Please note: you can only share audio with Uber after a trip ends.
- What will happen after I share the recording with Uber?
Down Small A member of Uber’s safety team will review the report and listen to the contents. Appropriate action will be taken in accordance with our policies.
- I accidentally deleted the recording. Is there any way to recover it?
Down Small No, the content is only stored on the device. If you delete it, Uber has no way to recover it.
- When does recording start and stop?
Down Small You can start and stop recording at any time through the Safety Toolkit by tapping the blue shield in the app.
- What if I forgot to stop the recording?
Down Small For riders, recording will automatically stop shortly after the trip ends. For drivers, recording will stop when you go offline.
- Is it still recording when I'm not on / quit the Uber app?
Down Small If you switch to different apps or lock your phone during a trip, the recording is still in progress. If you quit the Uber app the recording will stop.
- Where is the Audio Recording file stored?
Down Small The audio recording is encrypted and stored in the app storage of the Uber app for 7 days, not accessible from the file system. You are able to delete a recording at any time by accessing your Trip History.
- Who can listen to the recording?
Down Small Only Uber’s safety team has access to listen to the recording, and only if it is attached to a safety report submitted by a rider or driver. Uber may provide the shared recording to a competent authority, such as law enforcement, if necessary.
More about safety at Uber
Driver safety
Count on 24/7 support and emergency assistance. Share your trip with loved ones. Our focus is on your safety so you can focus on the opportunity.
Rider safety
Millions of rides are requested every day. Every rider has access to safety features built into the app. And every ride has a support team if you need them.
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