How to Send a Voice Message on iPhone

How do you send a voice message on an iPhone using Messages?

The built-in Messages app is the fastest way to send audio to another iPhone or iPad user. It works over iMessage (blue bubbles) and, on recent iOS versions, over RCS with Android users too — though the audio message experience is smoothest between Apple devices.

1. 1

   Open a conversation

   Launch Messages and open (or start) a conversation with the person you want to send audio to.

2. 2

   Tap and hold the audio icon

   Next to the text field you'll see a small waveform or microphone icon. Press and hold it (on newer iOS, a single tap arms it and a second tap starts recording) to begin recording.

3. 3

   Speak your message

   Talk normally, holding the phone as you would for a call. You can record while the icon is held, or lock it in place to keep both hands free, depending on your iOS version.

4. 4

   Preview and send

   Release to stop, then tap play to review it. If it sounds right, tap the up arrow to send. If not, tap the trash icon and try again.

The exact tap-and-hold behavior has changed a little across iOS releases — some versions require a press-and-hold the whole time you talk, others let you tap once to start and tap again to stop. If recording doesn't start the way you expect, try both gestures; your version of iOS will support one of them.

Raise to Listen and hands-free playback

iPhone has a feature called Raise to Listen that lets you play and reply to audio messages without touching the screen — useful when your hands are full. Turn it on in Settings > Messages > Raise to Listen. With it enabled, simply lift the phone to your ear when a new voice message arrives and it starts playing automatically; keep it there and start talking to record a reply.

Expiry settings: keep or auto-delete audio messages

By default, audio messages you receive are removed automatically 2 minutes after being played, to save storage. If you want to keep one, tap Keep underneath the played message before it disappears. To change the default behavior for every future message, go to Settings > Messages > Expire and choose After 2 Minutes or Never.

How do I send a Voice Memo from my iPhone?

The Voice Memos app is better suited for longer recordings — interviews, lectures, song ideas, or a message you want to keep permanently rather than have it expire. Unlike Messages audio clips, a Voice Memo is a real file you can share anywhere.

1. 1

   Record in Voice Memos

   Open the Voice Memos app (pre-installed on every iPhone) and tap the red record button. Tap it again to stop.

2. 2

   Find your recording

   Your new memo appears at the top of the list, labeled with the date and location by default. Tap it to select it.

3. 3

   Tap Share

   Tap the three-dot menu (or the share icon, depending on iOS version) and choose Share.

4. 4

   Pick how to send it

   Choose Messages, Mail, AirDrop, WhatsApp, or any other app installed on your phone. The audio file (usually .m4a) attaches directly.

Because a Voice Memo shares as an actual audio file rather than a disappearing Messages bubble, it works over email, cloud storage, or any messaging app — including ones on Android. This makes it the most reliable built-in option for sending audio to someone outside the Apple ecosystem, as long as their app can play .m4a files (most can).

Can I send a voice message on WhatsApp from an iPhone?

Yes — WhatsApp on iPhone works the same as on Android. Open a chat, press and hold the microphone icon in the bottom-right corner of the text field, speak, and release to send. Swipe the microphone icon toward the lock icon while recording to keep it hands-free without holding the button down. WhatsApp is often the best cross-platform choice if both people already have the app installed, since it works identically whether the recipient has an iPhone or an Android phone. For a full walkthrough of WhatsApp's recording options — including locking, once-listen messages, and playback speed — see our guide to sending voice messages on WhatsApp.

How do you send a voice message to an Android phone from an iPhone?

This is where things get frustrating. iMessage audio messages are an Apple-only feature — when you send one to someone with an Android phone, it either fails to send as an audio clip, arrives as a low-quality compressed file over SMS, or doesn't send at all, depending on carrier and RCS support. If you've ever had a voice message silently fail to a green-bubble contact, this is why.

You have three reliable options:

• Use WhatsApp: If your contact has WhatsApp, it sends real audio files that play natively on any phone — no compatibility issues.
• Export a Voice Memo: Record in Voice Memos and share the file via email, Google Drive, or any messaging app both of you use.
• Record online and send a link: Tools like SendMyVoice let you record straight from your iPhone's browser and get back a link. Paste that link into any text message, email, or chat — the recipient just taps it and the audio plays in their browser, no app or account needed on either end.

The link approach is worth knowing about even if you're not an Android user — it's also the easiest way to send a voice message to someone on an old phone, a work computer, or any device where installing an app isn't practical. See our full guide on sending a voice message online for more detail.

Comparing your options on iPhone

Here's how the main methods stack up, especially if cross-platform delivery matters to you:

If everyone you talk to has an iPhone, Messages audio messages are the simplest choice — it's already installed and takes two taps. The moment Android enters the picture, WhatsApp (if both people have it) or a browser-based link (if they don't) will save you the failed-delivery headache.

Why can't I send a voice message on my iPhone?

If the microphone icon is greyed out, recording won't start, or the message shows as undelivered, check these in order:

Tips for better voice messages on iPhone

Frequently asked questions