Modifying this control will update this page automatically

iPhone User Guide

Send and receive audio messages in Messages on iPhone

You can record and send audio messages, along with transcripts of what’s said in the message. Audio messages are automatically deleted to save space on your iPhone, but if you want to save them, you can.

Note: Audio message transcription is available in select languages. See the iOS and iPadOS Feature Availability website.

👁 A Messages conversation with an audio message.

Record and send an audio message

Instead of writing a text message, you can record an audio message that can be played right in the Messages conversation.

  1. Go to the Messages app 👁 Image
    on your iPhone.

  2. In a conversation, tap 👁 the Add button
    .

  3. Tap Audio, then begin speaking.

  4. Tap 👁 the Stop button
    to pause or end your recording, then do any of the following to your message:

  5. Tap Keep to save an incoming or outgoing audio message on your iPhone.

    Otherwise, the recording is deleted from the conversation—on your iPhone only—2 minutes after you send or listen to it. Recipients can play your recording any time after they receive it. To save it, they need to tap Keep within 2 minutes after listening to it.

Tip: Send follow-up audio messages more quickly by touching and holding 👁 the Record Audio button
in the text field.

Audio messages are automatically transcribed in the language chosen in the sender’s Settings. To switch to another language for your outgoing messages, see Change the language and region.

Always keep audio messages

  1. Go to the Settings app 👁 Image
     on your iPhone.

  2. Tap Apps, then tap Messages.

  3. Tap Expire (below Audio Messages), then tap Never.

Listen or reply to a recorded audio message

  1. Go to the Messages app 👁 Image
    on your iPhone.

  2. Open a conversation with an audio message, then tap 👁 the Play button
    to play it.

  3. Do any of the following:

  4. Tap Keep to save an audio message in the conversation.

    To save the message in the Voice Memos app 👁 Image
    ,     touch and hold the audio message, then tap Save to Voice Memos.

Use Raise to Listen

When you receive an audio message, you can move your iPhone to play and reply to the message. Do either of the following:

  • Play an audio message: Raise your iPhone to your ear.

  • Reply to an audio message: Lower your iPhone and raise it to your ear again, then speak after you hear a tone. Tap 👁 the Send button
    to send your reply.

Turn off Raise to Listen

If you don’t want audio messages to play when you raise your iPhone to your ear, you can turn the feature off.

  1. Go to the Settings app 👁 Image
     on your iPhone.

  2. Tap Apps, then tap Messages.

  3. Turn off Raise to Listen.

Switch to FaceTime from Messages

You can quickly make an audio or video call instead of sending a message by switching to FaceTime. In a Messages conversation, tap 👁 the FaceTime button
.

Thanks for your feedback.