How to Transcribe Voice Memos on iPhone (Free, Built In)
Voice Memos can transcribe your recordings on the iPhone itself. Here's how to view, copy and search transcripts, which phones and languages support it, and free options when yours doesn't.
To transcribe a voice memo on iPhone, open the recording in the Voice Memos app, tap the More button, and choose View Transcript or Copy Transcript. It's free and built in, and according to Apple's iPhone User Guide it works on iPhone 12 or later in English and nine other languages.
Here are the exact steps, how to watch a transcript appear live while you record, and what to do if your phone or language isn't supported.
How do I see the transcript of a voice memo?
Open Voice Memos, tap the recording, tap the More button, then choose View Transcript to read and select part of it, or Copy Transcript to copy the whole thing. You can then paste it into Notes, Mail, a document or anywhere else.
The steps from Apple Support:
- Open the Voice Memos app (it's in the Utilities folder).
- Tap the recording you want.
- Tap the More button.
- Choose View Transcript to select and copy part of it, or Copy Transcript to copy all of it.
Apple also notes that if you open a recording made in an older version of Voice Memos (iOS 17 or earlier), the app transcribes it automatically if it contains speech. So old recordings aren't left out.
Can I watch the transcript while I'm recording?
Yes. Start a recording, swipe up from the top of the waveform, and tap the transcription button; the transcript appears live with the current word highlighted (Apple).
Tap the waveform button to go back. Pausing and resuming works as usual.
Which iPhones and languages support Voice Memos transcription?
Apple says transcription is available on iPhone 12 or later in English (all variants), Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese, and that it isn't available in all countries or regions (source).
If you don't see the transcript option, check those three things first: phone model, recording language, and region.
Can I search my voice memos by what I said?
Yes, and it's one of the most useful parts. In Voice Memos, tap search and type a word; the list shows recordings with that word in the title or the transcript, and selecting a term in a transcript jumps the playhead to that spot in the audio (Apple).
That turns a pile of "New Recording 47" files into something you can actually find things in.
What are my options if Voice Memos can't transcribe it?
If your iPhone is older than an iPhone 12, the recording is in an unsupported language, or you want the transcript on a computer, you can transcribe the audio file instead. Here's how the free routes compare:
| Option | Cost | Where it runs | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Voice Memos transcript | Free | On your iPhone | iPhone 12 or later, supported languages |
| Free Voice Reader speech to text | Free | In your computer's browser | Older phones, other languages, transcribing on a computer |
| DictaWiz | Free to start | On your iPhone | Live dictation and meeting transcription on iPhone |
Free Voice Reader (in your browser)
Share or AirDrop the recording to your computer, open Free Voice Reader's speech-to-text mode, load the Whisper model (a one-time download of about 565 MB), and upload the audio file. Transcription runs in your browser using OpenAI's Whisper Large V3 Turbo, which covers 99+ languages, so the audio isn't uploaded to a server.
The tool accepts common audio formats such as MP3, WAV and WebM. Voice Memos saves .m4a files; if your browser won't open one, convert it to MP3 first and try again.
DictaWiz (on iPhone)
DictaWiz is our iPhone voice keyboard. It transcribes as you speak in any app, records meetings with speaker identification and AI summaries, and runs entirely on the phone, with 99+ languages on its comprehensive engine. It's built for capturing new speech rather than importing old recordings.
How do I turn a voice memo into notes?
Copy the transcript, paste it into Notes or a document, and tidy it up. Apple says that on iPhones with Apple Intelligence you can use Writing Tools to summarize or proofread transcripts.
If you'd rather hear your cleaned-up notes read back (handy for checking they make sense), paste them into Free Voice Reader and press play.
Frequently asked questions
Is Voice Memos transcription free?
Yes. It's built into the Voice Memos app on supported iPhones.
Does Voice Memos transcription need the internet?
Apple's Voice Memos guide doesn't say either way. If you need a guaranteed offline option, Free Voice Reader's Whisper mode runs in your browser after the model downloads, and DictaWiz works fully offline on iPhone.
Why don't I see a transcript for my recording?
The most common reasons are an iPhone older than iPhone 12, a recording in an unsupported language, or a region where the feature isn't offered.
Can I transcribe voice memos on a Mac or PC?
Yes. Move the audio file to your computer and use a browser-based transcriber like Free Voice Reader's speech to text.
Got a recording waiting? Open the speech-to-text tool and drop it in. No account needed.
Transparency Notice: This article was written by AI, reviewed by humans. We fact-check all content for accuracy and ensure it provides genuine value to our readers.