Sayonara, Audio Messages: Transcribe Your WhatsApp Voice Messages into Text
Secret WhatsApp Feature: Guide for Transforming Voice Messages into Text Format - "WhatsApp Stealth Mode: Guide for Converting Voice Messages into Written Form"
Written by Malte MansholtApproximate Reading Time: 2 mins
Voice messages, all the rage among WhatsApp users. Quick, personal, and pretty darn convenient, right? But let's face it, those mini audiobooks aren't everyone's cup of tea. Some folks out there prefer to read their messages, and, well, we can't really blame them.
For those who find voice messages a tad inconvenient, here's a game-changer: WhatsApp allows you to transform those chatty audio messages into neat, readable text! But there's a catch – you've got to enable this mind-blowing feature yourself.
A Few Simple Steps to Convert Voice Messages into Written Gold
Navigate your way to the settings section and follow these steps:
- First, tap on the Settings tab (usually located at the bottom right corner).
- Then, proceed to Chats (for iPhone users) or Chat (for Android fans).
- Hunt for Transcripts for voice messages. If you spot an off switch, flick it on! Remember, it's not activated by default, so don't be alarmed if you can't find it.
- At this point, pick your preferred language for transcription, such as English, Spanish, or the language that tickles your fancy the most.
A Warning for Android Users: Language Options Might Be Limited
Android users need to brace themselves. WhatsApp's voice message transcription on Android only supports English, Portuguese, Spanish, and Russian as of now. Apple's iOS users can rejoice, though, as the availability of languages depends on the operating system version. From iOS 16 onward, you'll get languages like German, English, and Italian, with another eight languages coming with iOS 17. As for when German support makes its way to Android, well, nobody seems to be too sure about that.
Wanna Transcribe Your Voice Message? Here's How
To see the magical transformation of voice messages into words, simply hold the message for a moment to open a context menu, and—voilà!—the "Transcribe" option will appear. The text will then just casually float under the voice message.
No Need to Stress About WhatsApp Snooping
It's understandable if you're wondering if WhatsApp is creeping on your voice messages. Good news! "Transcriptions of voice messages are generated on your device, and your personal voice messages are protected by end-to-end encryption," WhatsApp assures us. "No one outside the chat, including WhatsApp, can listen to your voice messages or view or share the content of the transcriptions of your voice messages."
A Word of Caution: transcripts Might Not Always Be 100% Accurate
Once in a blue moon, some words or phrases might slip under the radar. In such cases, you'll see an underscore. In other words, it looks like you've been given a fill-in-the-blank text from school. Apparently, this can happen if the words can't be understood due to background noise or other factors. "It is possible that transcriptions of voice messages may be inaccurate," WhatsApp openly admits.
When accuracy takes a tumble, it's time to revert to the old method—and just give that voice message a good listening to.
- For smartphone users who find WhatsApp voice messages inconvenient and prefer to read their messages, transforming these into text is possible using their iPhone or any other smartphone gadgets with the help of WhatsApp's text transcription feature.
- This technology, which transcribes voice messages into written text, can be beneficial for those who want to read their messages, but it's important to note that transcripts might not always be 100% accurate due to factors such as background noise.
