WhatsApp is rolling out a new feature that transcribes voice messages into text, making it easier to keep up with conversations when listening isn’t an option. The Meta-owned messaging app announced the global rollout on Thursday, highlighting the feature’s convenience for users in loud environments or on the go.
The feature works directly on your device, ensuring privacy. “No one else can read your transcripts,” WhatsApp emphasised.
To enable voice message transcripts, navigate to Settings > Chats > Voice Message Transcripts and turn the feature on. You can also choose your preferred language for transcription.
Once activated, long-press a voice message and select the “Transcribe” option to convert it into text. The feature won’t automatically transcribe all voice messages, so users can decide which ones to convert.
Supported languages vary by device and operating system:
- iOS 16+: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Turkish, Chinese, and Arabic.
- iOS 17+: Adds Danish, Finnish, Malay, Norwegian, Dutch, Swedish, Hebrew, and Thai.
- Android: English, Portuguese, Spanish, and Russian.
WhatsApp plans to expand support for additional languages in the coming months.
The new feature arrives as competition heats up among messaging platforms. Apple introduced a similar transcription capability for voice messages in its iMessage app last year with iOS 17.
WhatsApp’s voice message transcripts will roll out globally in the coming weeks, offering a new way for users to stay connected seamlessly.