Voice Chatting Basics: Creating & Dispatching Oral Texts From Your iPhone

What to Know

• In the Messages app, tap and hold theaudio icon while speaking. Release your finger and tap theup arrow .
• Open the Voice Memos app and taprecord . When finished, tapstop . Tap the three dots icon and select Share .

This article explains two easy ways to send voice messages on your iPhone. You can create and share an audio message using the Messages and Voice Memos apps. This option is convenient if speaking is quicker and easier than typing or if you want your recipient to hear your voice.

Create and Send a Voice Message With Messages

Typing text messages can be time-consuming if you have a lot to say. By sending a voice message inthe Messages app , you can say exactly what you want to your recipient.

These instructions apply to iPhones running iOS 16 and later. We’ve noted any differences between versions.

1. Open the conversation you want to send a voice message in, or start a new one.
   
2. Select theplus sign to the left of the text field.
   In iOS 16, tap theApps icon below the text box.
3. ChooseAudio from the menu. You may have to scroll down to find it.
   In iOS 16, select theAudio icon, which looks like a waveform.
   
4. The message will automatically start recording, and the text box will have a red recording bar in it.
   In iOS 16, you may need to choose the microphone icon to the right of the message field. Tap once to start recording, or tap and hold to send the message as soon as you release the button.
5. Record your message, and then selectStop to end the recording.
6. TapSend to share the audio message. Alternatively, tapPlay to preview it, andX to cancel.
   

Here are a couple of disadvantages to using this function in Messages:

• As an iPhone user, you cannot currently send voice messages using the Messages app to other smartphones like Android.
• By default, audio messages expire two minutes after you listen to them and are automatically removed. Your recipient can tapKeep to hold onto your message or disable the expiration by going toSettings >Messages .

If your recipient isn’t an iPhone user or you want to avoid the possible expiration of your audio message, consider sharing your message using Voice Memos.

TheVoice Memos app is excellent for capturing audio notes, speakers during a meeting, and more. Since you can easily share a voice recording from the app, this is a solid alternative to the Messages app on iPhone.

1. Open Voice Memos on your iPhone and tap (don’t hold) the red Record button at the bottom.
2. Speak your message. You’ll see the duration of the recording as you speak.
3. When you finish with your message, tap the red Stop button.
   
4. The recording pops to the top section of the screen. You can tap the Play button to have a listen. To share, tap the**three dots** next to the name of the recording.

If you want to rename the recording before you share it, tap the current title and type in the new one.
5. Select Share .
6. Choose a sharing option from the Share Sheet. Depending on your iPhone’s sharing options, you can send the audio message in a text message, email, or shared storage service like Dropbox.

• How do I compose text messages on iPhone with my voice?
  First,enable voice dictation for iOS . In the Messages app, tap and hold themicrophone icon on the keyboard to record your message.
• How do I stop sending voice messages automatically?
  Go to theSettings app >Messages >Audio Messages and tap theRaise to Listen switch to disable it. You can still send audio messages manually.
• How do I record a voicemail greeting on iPhone?
  Open the Phone app and tapVoicemail >Greeting >Custom >Record torecord your iPhone greeting . When you’re done, tapStop andSave .

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