How to Send a Voice Memo
Whether it's an iPhone Voice Memos recording, an Android Recorder clip, or something you need to email, here's how to send a voice memo from any device, and what to do when the file is too big to go through.
Quick answer
On iPhone, open Voice Memos, tap the memo you want to send, then tap Share. On Android, open Recorder (or your phone's voice recorder app), open the recording, and tap Share. If the file is too large for a text message or email, record or upload it at sendmyvoice.com/send-online-voice-message and send the link instead.
How to send a voice memo from iPhone
Voice Memos is the built-in app for this on every iPhone. The share flow is quick once you know where to look.
- 1
Open Voice Memos
Launch the Voice Memos app and find the recording you want to send in the list.
- 2
Select the memo
Tap the recording to open it. You'll see the waveform and playback controls.
- 3
Tap the three dots or Share
Depending on your iOS version, tap the three-dot menu or the Share icon directly below the waveform.
- 4
Choose where to send it
Pick Messages, Mail, WhatsApp, AirDrop, or Save to Files to send the recording another way later.
iPhone Voice Memos are saved as .m4a files, which play natively on iOS, Android, and most desktop apps. The exact menu layout (three dots versus a dedicated Share icon) varies a bit by iOS version, so if a step doesn't match what you see, look for the share icon near the waveform or in the recording's options menu. If you want to shorten the memo first, Voice Memos has a built-in trim tool (drag the yellow handles at the edges of the waveform) so you're not sending dead air at the start or end.
Memo too big to send?
Upload it (or record a new one) at SendMyVoice and send a link instead. Works on iPhone, Android, or any computer. No app needed.
Send a voice memo as a linkHow to send a voice memo on Android
Android doesn't have a single app called “Voice Memos,” but the equivalent, Google Recorder on Pixel phones or Samsung Voice Recorder on Galaxy devices, works the same way.
- 1
Open your recorder app
Launch Recorder (Pixel) or Voice Recorder (Samsung), or whichever recording app your phone shipped with.
- 2
Open the recording
Tap the recording in your list to open its detail view.
- 3
Tap Share
Look for the share icon, usually three dots or a share arrow, and tap it.
- 4
Pick an app to send it through
Choose Messages, WhatsApp, Gmail, Drive, or any installed app. The audio file attaches directly.
Android recordings typically save as .m4a or .mp3 depending on the app and phone manufacturer, both of which are widely supported formats. If you can't find a recording again later, check your phone's Files app under a Recordings folder, most recorder apps store copies there in addition to the app's own list.
How to attach a voice memo to an email
Email is often the most reliable way to send a longer memo, since mail providers generally allow bigger attachments than text messages do.
iPhone: Mail app
In Voice Memos, tap Share on the recording, then choose Mail. This opens a new message with the .m4a file already attached.
Android: Gmail app
Open Gmail, start a new message, tap the attach (paperclip) icon, and choose Attach file, then select the recording from your Files app or Recordings folder.
Desktop: AirDrop or download first
On a Mac, AirDrop the memo from your iPhone, then attach it from Finder. Otherwise, transfer the file to your computer (cable, cloud drive, or email it to yourself first) and attach it from there.
Attachment size limits vary by provider: Gmail caps attachments around 25 MB, Outlook around 20 MB, and iCloud Mail around 20 MB. A rough rule of thumb, since bitrates vary by recording app and settings, is that a typical .m4a voice recording runs somewhere in the range of roughly 0.5 to 1 MB per minute, so a 25 MB limit usually covers somewhere around 25 to 45 minutes of audio, though this can be lower for longer or noisier recordings. If your memo is close to or over the limit, see our full guide to sending a voice message by email for the link-based workaround.
How to send a voice memo by text
Sending a memo as a text attachment works fine for short clips, but it's the method most likely to quietly fail on longer ones. iMessage between iPhones handles larger files without issue. Standard SMS/MMS, the fallback used when the recipient isn't on iMessage or RCS, caps attachments around 1 MB on many carriers, so anything past a minute or two can fail to send or arrive corrupted. RCS (used by Android's Google Messages and newer iPhone-to-Android messaging) allows larger files than MMS, but limits still vary by carrier. When a memo fails to send as a text attachment, the most reliable fix is to send a link instead. See our guides to sending a voice message on iPhone and on Android for the full walkthrough on each platform.
How to send a voice memo as a link
When a memo is too long for text or email, or you just want a cleaner way to share it, a link-based tool like SendMyVoice skips the attachment entirely. Upload an existing memo, or record a new one directly in your browser, and you get back a link and QR code the recipient can open on any device. You can optionally set an expiry date or a password on the share, and neither side needs to install an app or create an account. It works the same way whether you're on iPhone, Android, or a desktop browser.
Send a voice message — free, no signup
Record a voice message in your browser and share it with a link. Password protection, auto-delete, and no account required.
Record a voice messageVoice memo won't send? Here's why
If a memo is stuck, failing, or not showing up for the recipient, work through these common causes:
The file is too large
Text messages and some email providers cap attachment size. If the memo won't go through, try a shorter clip, email instead of text, or send it as a link.
The recipient isn't on iMessage
If you're sending from an iPhone and the message bubble is green rather than blue, you're on SMS/MMS, which has much stricter size limits than iMessage.
The memo is still recording or wasn't saved
Make sure you tapped stop and the recording actually appears in your list before trying to share it.
Storage is low
Low device storage can block both recording and sharing. Check your phone's storage settings if sends keep failing.
You picked the wrong share target
Double-check you tapped the right app in the share sheet. It's an easy misfire, especially on a crowded share menu.
When none of the above fixes it, uploading the memo to a link-based tool and sending the link sidesteps attachment limits entirely, since the recipient streams the audio from a page instead of downloading a file.
Frequently asked questions
How do I send a voice memo from my iPhone to an Android phone?
Open the memo in Voice Memos, tap Share, and choose Messages, Mail, or WhatsApp if the recipient has it installed. Long memos can fail as a text message on some carriers, so email or WhatsApp tend to be more reliable across iPhone and Android. You can also record or upload the memo at sendmyvoice.com/send-online-voice-message and send the link instead, no app needed on either end.
Why is my voice memo too large to send?
Longer recordings produce bigger files, and most sending methods cap attachment size, roughly 1 MB for standard text messages on many carriers and around 20 to 25 MB for common email providers. Once a memo crosses that limit, the send fails or the file gets stripped. A link-based tool like SendMyVoice avoids the cap since you're sharing a link instead of an attachment.
Can I send a voice memo without the Voice Memos app?
Yes. Any recording app that can export or share an audio file works, and you can also record directly in a browser using a tool like SendMyVoice and get back a shareable link, no app install needed on your device or the recipient's.
What format are iPhone voice memos?
iPhone Voice Memos are typically saved as .m4a files (AAC audio). This format plays natively on iOS, Android, and most desktop apps.
How do I send a voice memo by email?
On iPhone, open the memo in Voice Memos, tap Share, then choose Mail. On Android, share the recording from Recorder or your voice recorder app and pick Gmail or your mail app. If the file is too large for your provider's limit, upload it to a link-based tool instead and paste the link into the email body.
Or skip the size limits entirely
Record or upload a voice memo at SendMyVoice and send a link instead of an attachment. Works on any device, no app install, no signup.