How to Transcribe Voice Memos
Share the voice memo to your files, drop it in the box below, and press Transcribe. You get editable text in your browser, free, with no upload.
Option 2. Transcribe it free with Script Timer
- Save the memo as a file. On iPhone, open Voice Memos, tap the memo, tap the three dots, tap Share, then Save to Files.
- Open this page on the same phone, or move the file to your computer with AirDrop or email.
- Choose the file in the box above. Pick Fast on a phone or Accurate on a computer.
- Press Transcribe, then copy the text or download it.
Want to know how long the transcript runs when you read it aloud? Paste it into the words to minutes calculator.
Option 1. Use the transcript built into Voice Memos
Newer versions of iOS can show a transcript inside the Voice Memos app on supported iPhones. Open the memo, look for Transcript, and copy the text if your phone offers it.
Which option should you use?
Use the transcript in Voice Memos when your iPhone offers it and you only need a quick read. Use Script Timer when you want a file you can edit, download, or turn into captions, or when your phone does not show a transcript.
Why can't Voice Memos transcribe my recording?
Apple only shows a transcript on some iPhones and iOS versions, and not on every memo. Background noise, a language Voice Memos does not support, or an older phone can all hide it. Export the M4A and transcribe it here instead.
Transcribe voice memos on iPhone
- Open the Voice Memos app and tap the recording you want.
- Tap the three dots, then Share.
- Tap Save to Files and pick a folder.
- In Safari, open this page, tap Choose a file, and pick the memo from Files.
Transcribe voice memos on Mac
- Open Voice Memos on your Mac. Memos sync from iPhone if iCloud is on.
- Drag the memo out of the app onto your desktop. It saves as an M4A file.
- Drag that file into the box on this page and press Transcribe.
Transcribe voice memos on Android
- Open your recorder app and find the recording.
- Use Share or Save to put the file in your Downloads folder.
- Open this page in Chrome, tap Choose a file, and pick the recording.
Some phones, such as Pixel models with the Recorder app, can transcribe as they record. This page works with any recorder and gives you a file you can edit and download.
Record a new voice memo here
No memo yet? Press Record from mic, talk, then press Stop. The recording stays in your browser and goes straight into the transcriber. It's a quick way to draft a script by talking it out.
The voice memo is transcribed in that same browser. It is not uploaded to Script Timer. The speech model downloads once from the Hugging Face hub and stays cached for the next memo.
Turn the voice memo into a script
A voice memo is often a rough script. Paste the transcript into the words to minutes calculator, cut the ums, and read the clean version on the free teleprompter.
Hear that version in 100+ AI voices before you record the real take.
More free audio converters
How to Transcribe Voice Memos FAQ
Is my voice memo uploaded anywhere?
No. The memo is transcribed in your browser. Script Timer never receives the recording. The speech model downloads once from the Hugging Face model hub and your browser caches it.
Is transcribing a voice memo free?
Yes. A voice memo transcript needs no sign-up and adds no watermark. One memo can run up to 60 minutes.
What model transcribes a voice memo?
OpenAI's open-source Whisper model, run in the browser with transformers.js. Fast uses Whisper Tiny, which is the better choice on a phone. Accurate uses Whisper Base on a computer when the memo has background noise.
Why is the first voice memo slower?
The first memo waits while the browser downloads the speech model. The next memo uses the cached model and starts right away.
What format are iPhone voice memos?
iPhone Voice Memos save as M4A files with AAC audio. This page reads them directly, so there's nothing to convert first.
Hear it before your audience does
Paste your script into Script Timer to time it, grade the delivery and hear it in 100+ AI voices.
In-browser speech recognition follows whisper-web (MIT license).