How to Send a Voice Message on iPhone (via iMessage)

Mehvish Mushtaq is a computer engineer by degree. Her love for Android and gadgets led her to develop the first Android app for Kashmir. Known as Dial Kashmir, she won the prestigious Nari Shakti award from the President of India. She has been writing about technology for 6+ years and her favorite categories include how-to guides, explainers, tips and tricks for Android, iOS/iPadOS, social media, and web apps.

Arshmeet has been a tech tinkerer since childhood, but she realized her love for technology and writing about 5 years ago. Since then, she has been honing her skills and helping people figure out how things work, troubleshoot problems, choose the right app and products, and dig deep into the new and old concepts of technology. She is a self-professed Apple Enthusiast who loves debating what’s good and what’s not. It is her passion for finding techniques, hacks, apps, and products that make everyday life simpler.

Method 1. How to Record and Send an Audio Message on iPhone

Note: Since iOS 17, the position or access point of the iMessage App Drawer has changed. Instead of an App Store icon next to the text field, you now get a + icon that lists all default andthird-party iMessage apps.

Step 1: Launch theMessages app> open the chat.

Step 2: Tap the+ iconnext to the text field.

Step 3: Here, look forAudio(its icon looks like sound waves) andtap it.

Note: You can swipe up or tap the More button to find the Audio icon.

Step 4: You should start speaking immediately, as the voice message starts recording as soon as you tap the Audio icon.

Step 5: Once done, tap theStop buttonto finish recording.

Step 6: Now, you can

Interestingly, iOS 17 remembers your last preference and auto shuffles between the Audio messages and the Dictation icon. So, after you’ve sent a voice note on iMessage to someone, the text field in the chat will show an Audio message icon until you Dictate a text message.

Moreover, you can use the feature mentioned above to send voice messages even more quickly. Press and hold the Audio icon from the typing area and start recording the message. Tap Stop when done, then replay, edit, delete, or send the recording as you please.

Tip: In addition to these changes, iOS 17 incorporates alive transcriptionof the shared voice notes. You can observe the text under voice notes.

Method 2. Create and Send Voice Notes on iMessage via Voice Memos

If you want to share a previously recorded memo or a saved audio message or for some reasoncan’t send an audio message, you can instead send Voice Memos. Although the Voice Memo is sent as an attachment and works differently, for instance, it doesn’t offer the iOS 17’s transcribing feature.

Step 1: Launch theVoice Memoapp

Step 2: Tap therecording buttonto start recording > hitStopwhen you’re done recording.

Step 3: The recording is automatically saved. Tap it to replay, edit, and share it.

Step 4: To send the Voice Memo, tap thethree-dot icon> selectShare.

Step 5: Next, selectMessagesfrom the option > choose asender> tapSend.

Tips and Tricks for Leaving Voice Messages on iPhone

1. Save Audio Messages From iMessage

You can save sent or received voice messages from iMessage asVoice Memo. To do so, long-press or tap and hold the voice note and selectSave to Voice Memos.

The audio message will be instantly saved. You can check it in the Voice Memos app. Although you can’t set a name for the memo while saving it, you can rename it from the app later.

2. Undo Voice Messages on iPhone

The process is similar toun-sending a text message. Simply long-press the voice message to open the contextual menu → selectUndo Send.

Notably, the rules are also the same as text messages, i.e., you can unsend a voice message within two minutes of sending it. Moreover, both you and the receiver can see that you’ve unsent a message.

3. Use Gestures to Listen or Reply to Voice Messages

Voice Messages in iMessage support a special Raise to Listen feature, i.e., you can listen or reply to an audio message by raising the iPhone to your ear. So, when you receive a voice message, instead of pressing the play button, raise the phone to your ear.

Additionally, if you want to reply with an audio message, lower the phone and then raise it to your ear again. Record your reply after the tone. Once you’ve done this, lower the phone and tap Send.

Note: If the feature isn’t working on your phone or you want to disable it, go toSettings→Messages→ toggleRaise to Listenon or off accordingly.

4. Change the Expiration Length of Voice Messages on iPhone

Similar todisappearing messages on WhatsApp, you can also send auto-deleting audio messages in iMessage. However, you can manage the setting while sending the message, you’ll have to enable/disable it from Settings every time.

To do so, go toSettings→Messages→ scroll down to the Audio Messages section and tapExpire→ selectAfter 2 Minutes or Never.

5. Send a Voice Message to Multiple Recipients

You can share the same voice message with multiple people withoutcreating and sending a group text. First, send a voice message to any of the contacts. Next, press and hold the message and tapMore.

Here, select one or more voice messages that you want to share. Tap theForward button> selectmultiple recipients> send it.

Additionally, you can also use Voice Memos to send voice messages to multiple recipients

6. How to Send Voice Messages on iPhone to Android

As the fight between the Green and the Blue Bubble continues, we can’t send an iMessage between iPhone and Android. However, you can send an audio message via MMS, WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Telegram, etc.

If you want to share the same voice messages sent via iMessage, save it to Voice Memos. Next, follow the instructions above and send the audio messages from iPhone to Android through a preferred app.

FAQs

Yes, although the speed and stability of the network connection might affect the length and time taken to send the message.

As per Apple, you can record as long a voice message as you want. However, sending and receiving extremely long messages can be problematic and will depend on the network type and speed.

Yes, Apple uses end-to-end encryption to protect all media sent through iMessage, including photos, videos, files, and audio messages.

It depends on the settings you’ve selected. If you’ve chosen to auto-delete the audio message, it will expire 2 minutes after the receiver has listened to it. However, you can also choose not to auto-delete by selecting Never from the option.

If you are seeing this error, it’s probably because you are trying to send a voice message to a contact who doesn’t use iMessage. Or, the contact might also have Sleep Focus enabled on their phone.

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Last updated on 13 August, 2024

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