WhatsApp can turn voice messages into text by itself: switch on Voice message transcripts under Settings > Chats, then tap and hold a voice message and tap Transcribe. On Android, WhatsApp currently transcribes only English, Portuguese, Spanish and Russian (its help page, checked September 25, 2026). If the voice message is in another language, or you want a reply, a summary or a translation instead of a raw transcript, save the voice note as an audio file and import it into a voice to text app.
| What you want | Best route |
|---|---|
| Read a voice message in English, Portuguese, Spanish or Russian | WhatsApp's built-in transcripts |
| Read a voice message in another language on Android | A voice to text app that imports audio files |
| A finished reply, a to-do list or a translation | A voice to text app with AI writing |
Turn on WhatsApp's built-in transcripts
These steps come from WhatsApp's Android help page. Transcripts are off until you turn them on.
- Open WhatsApp and go to Settings.
- Tap Chats.
- Turn on Voice Message Transcripts.
- Tap Choose language and pick the language most of your voice messages are in.
- Tap Set up now or Wait for Wi-Fi.
To read a voice message as text:
- Tap and hold the voice message.
- Tap the more options menu (three dots), then Transcribe.
- Tap the expand icon in the voice message to see more of the transcript.
You can change the language later under more options > Settings > Chats > Transcript language. The transcript is for the recipient; WhatsApp says the sender cannot see it.
Which languages WhatsApp transcribes
WhatsApp's help page lists different languages per platform. As of September 25, 2026:
| Platform | Languages listed by WhatsApp |
|---|---|
| Android | English, Portuguese, Spanish, Russian |
| iPhone, iOS 16 or newer | English, Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Turkish |
| iPhone, iOS 17 or newer | The iOS 16 list plus Danish, Dutch, Finnish, Hebrew, Malay, Norwegian, Swedish and Thai |
WhatsApp said when it launched the feature in November 2024 that it planned to add more languages over time, so check the list in your own WhatsApp settings. WhatsApp also says the transcripts are generated on your device and that they may be inaccurate.
WhatsApp voice to text not working?
If you cannot find the Transcribe option or no text appears, check these points from WhatsApp's help page:
- Transcripts are switched off. They are off by default. Turn them on as described above.
- The wrong language is set. WhatsApp asks you to pick the language most of your voice messages are in. You can change it under Settings > Chats > Transcript language, but on Android the list is the one shown above.
- The transcript needs a moment. WhatsApp notes that a transcript can take a moment to become available.
If your language is not on the Android list, no setting will add it. The next section shows the way around it.
Convert a WhatsApp voice note to text with an app
A voice to text app works with the audio file itself, so it does not depend on WhatsApp's language list. With Retexta, a cloud voice to text and AI writing app for Android, it works like this:
- Save the voice note as a file. In WhatsApp, tap and hold the voice message and look for Share (in the top bar or in the more options menu). Send it to an app that keeps files, such as your cloud drive or a file manager. The exact options depend on your phone and your WhatsApp version.
- Pick a goal in Retexta. On the start screen (What do you want to do?), choose Reply to a message for a finished answer. For the plain text or a translation, open More templates and choose Transcript only or Translate.
- Tap Import audio. Android's file picker opens and shows your audio files. Go to where you saved the voice note and select it.
- Check the result. Retexta transcribes the audio and, if you chose a writing goal, writes the text. Read it before you send it: AI output can contain mistakes.
Importing audio files and the writing goals are part of Retexta Pro. Retexta is free to try: new users get a few free Pro results to view in the app. Copying, sharing and exporting need Retexta Pro or credits, and so does everything after the free results.
Whose voice is it?
Retexta is a cloud service: the audio you import is processed on servers, not only on your phone. A voice message was recorded by someone else, so think about whether they would be fine with that before you upload it, whichever app or website you use.
Example: a rambling voice note turned into a reply
This example was written by us to show the idea. It is not real app output, and your results will look different.
The voice message, as a plain transcript:
Hey, it's me. So, about Saturday, the moving thing. The van is booked for nine, but actually, wait, I think they said pickup at eight thirty, so maybe we meet at eight fifteen at my old place? And, um, can you bring the drill, the one with the long bits, because the shelves won't come off otherwise. Oh, and Jess can't come until the afternoon, so it's just us and Tom in the morning. Pizza's on me after. Let me know if that works, okay? Bye.
What you want to send back (Reply to a message):
Hi Sam, Saturday works for me. I'll be at your old place at 8:15 and I'll bring the drill with the long bits for the shelves. So it's you, me and Tom in the morning, and Jess joins us in the afternoon. Pizza sounds perfect. See you then!
The reply answers every point in the voice message (time, place, drill, who is coming) without you listening to it three times and typing it out.
Free and online options
- WhatsApp's own transcripts are built in, with nothing extra to install. They are the first thing to try if your language is supported.
- Online converters ask you to upload the audio to a website. Before you do that with a private voice message, check who runs the site and what it does with uploads.
- Voice to text apps vary in what is free. In Retexta, new users get a few free Pro results to view in the app, importing audio needs Retexta Pro, and copying or sharing the text needs Retexta Pro or credits.
On iPhone
WhatsApp on iPhone supports more transcript languages (see the table above). WhatsApp's help page says you need iOS 16 or newer and Siri must be turned on. Retexta is an Android app, so the import steps above are for Android phones.
What to do with the text next
Once the voice message is text, you can reply, copy the key facts into your notes or forward a summary. If the voice note is about paperwork, for example an office asking for a document, our guide on how to write a letter to a government agency shows the structure. More about the app: Retexta, voice to text for Android.
Sources
Checked by FLAME Apps on September 25, 2026.
- WhatsApp Help Center, How to turn voice message transcripts on or off (Android and iPhone versions): steps, supported languages, on-device processing, accuracy note.
- WhatsApp Blog, Introducing Voice Message Transcripts, November 21, 2024.
- Retexta: features and plan names as shown in the app and on its Google Play listing.
