How to convert WhatsApp and Telegram voice messages to text
A five-minute voice message in a meeting, in a noisy street or in a language you don’t speak well? Turn it into text and read it in seconds.
WhatsApp voice messages on iPhone
- In the chat, touch and hold the voice message and tap Forward.
- Tap the Share icon at the bottom right (not the arrow to another chat).
- Choose Transcribe.ai in the share sheet.
- Pick the language and tap Transcribe.
WhatsApp’s own transcripts support only some languages and live inside the chat. With Transcribe+ you get 120 languages, the text is saved in your library, and you can export or search it later.
Telegram voice messages and audio files
- Touch and hold the voice message, choose Forward or Share (for audio files, open the file and tap Share), or save it to Files first.
- Send it to Transcribe.ai.
- Pick the language and start the transcription.
On a Mac
In WhatsApp or Telegram for Mac, save the voice message or audio file (OPUS, OGG or M4A) and drag it onto Transcribe+. The transcript also appears on your iPhone.
When this is useful
- Long voice messages from colleagues with instructions you’ll need to come back to.
- Messages in a foreign language: transcribe first, then translate the text.
- Voice notes from clients, which you want to keep as text in a CRM.
- Family recordings you want to keep as written memories.
- Accessibility, for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Try it on your own recording
Transcribe+ turns audio and video into text on iPhone, iPad and Mac. The first 15 minutes are free, no account needed to start.
Questions and answers
What format are WhatsApp voice messages?
OPUS audio in an OGG container. Transcribe+ reads it directly.
Can I transcribe several voice messages at once?
Yes, forward or share several messages and transcribe them in one go.
Is it private?
The audio is sent only to your Transcribe+ account for transcription and is not shared with anyone else.