How to Send a Voice Message on WhatsApp

How do you send a voice message on WhatsApp?

Recording and sending a basic voice message takes just a few seconds once you know where the controls are:

1. 1

   Open the chat

   Go to the conversation you want to send the message in.

2. 2

   Press and hold the microphone icon

   It sits at the bottom-right of the text field, in the same spot the send arrow appears once you type text.

3. 3

   Speak your message

   Keep holding while you talk. A waveform and timer show how long you've been recording.

4. 4

   Release to send

   Lift your finger off the screen and the message sends automatically. Slide left before releasing to cancel instead.

How do you lock a WhatsApp voice message to record hands-free?

If you need both hands, or you're recording something longer than a few seconds, you don't have to hold the microphone button the entire time.

1. 1

   Start recording as normal

   Press and hold the microphone icon to begin.

2. 2

   Slide up, not left

   While still holding, slide your finger upward toward the small lock icon that appears above the microphone.

3. 3

   Release once locked

   Once the lock icon is highlighted, lift your finger. Recording continues without you holding anything.

4. 4

   Tap send when ready

   Use the send button that appears, or pause and resume the recording, or discard it entirely from the locked toolbar.

What is a once-listen voice message on WhatsApp?

A once-listen (or “view once”) voice message disappears from the chat after the recipient plays it a single time. It's meant for anything sensitive you don't want sitting in a chat history indefinitely.

1. 1

   Record your voice message

   Use the microphone icon as usual and record what you want to say.

2. 2

   Look for the once-listen icon

   Before sending, a small circle with the number "1" inside appears next to the message preview.

3. 3

   Tap it to enable once-listen

   The icon highlights to confirm the setting is active for this message only.

4. 4

   Send as normal

   The recipient sees a "one-time" label and the message is removed from the chat automatically after they play it once.

Keep in mind that once-listen doesn't stop someone from recording their screen or using another device to capture audio playing out loud — it prevents replaying inside WhatsApp, not all forms of copying.

Can I speed up a voice message on WhatsApp?

Yes. When you receive a voice message and tap play, a small label reading 1x appears on the audio player. Tap it to cycle through 1.5x and 2x speed, which is handy for long or rambling messages. The speed setting applies per message and resets the next time you open a new one, so you'll need to tap it again for each long recording if you want to keep listening faster.

How do I send a voice message to someone who isn't on WhatsApp?

WhatsApp voice messages only work between people who both have the app installed. If you're trying to reach someone who doesn't use WhatsApp — an older relative, a new business contact, or anyone who prefers SMS or email — you have a few options:

• Use your phone's built-in voice messaging: iPhone Messages audio messages or Google Messages voice clips work fine if you're both willing to text natively instead.
• Record and share a voice memo file: Record with your phone's voice recorder app and share the file over email or any messaging platform they do use.
• Record online and send a link: A browser-based tool like SendMyVoice lets you record a message and get a shareable link instantly — the recipient just clicks it and listens in their browser, no WhatsApp account or install required.

The link method also works well when you want to send a voice message to a group of people who don't all use the same app — one link works everywhere. For more on this approach, see our guide to sending a voice message online, or compare more free tools in our roundup of the best online voice message tools.

WhatsApp vs. other ways to send voice messages

Here's how WhatsApp's voice messages compare to the other built-in options, and to a browser-based alternative:

WhatsApp's extra features — once-listen, adjustable playback speed — make it one of the more feature-rich options when both people already have the app. The trade-off is that it requires an install and a phone number tied to an account, which is exactly what a browser-based link avoids.

Why can't I send a voice message on WhatsApp?

If the microphone icon does nothing, recording stops immediately, or the message won't send, work through this list:

Tips for better voice messages on WhatsApp

Frequently asked questions