If you’re recording in the PatientNotes Android app, the app must stay open and visible on your screen for the whole recording. If you lock your phone, turn the screen off, or swap to another app, Android may pause or stop the recording in the background — which can result in missing or empty audio.
Why this happens
Android is designed to limit background activity to save battery and protect privacy. When an app is sent to the background (or the screen is locked), the system can restrict microphone access and stop background audio capture.
To ensure your audio is captured correctly
While recording in the PatientNotes Android app:
Keep PatientNotes open on the recording screen
Do not lock your phone
Do not turn the screen off
Do not switch to other apps
Avoid actions like opening the camera, answering messages, or checking email during the recording
Best practice (recommended)
Keep your phone unlocked
Leave PatientNotes on-screen
Plug your phone in or ensure the battery is adequate for longer sessions
If you need to step away, keep the phone on the recording screen (screen awake)
If you need your screen to stay on
You can adjust your phone settings temporarily:
Settings → Display → Screen timeout (set to a longer time while recording)
(After your session, you can change it back.)
What to do if your recording is blank or missing
If your screen was locked or the app was closed during the recording, the audio may not be captured. In that case:
Return to the app
Start a new recording
Keep PatientNotes open until you stop the recording and the upload/processing finishes