How to Send and Receive Voice Messages in WhatsApp
Record and send audio messages in WhatsApp instead of typing — perfect when your message is long, your hands are full, or typing feels difficult.
4 min read · 5 steps · Checked April 2026
Step 1. Open a chat and find the microphone button
Open WhatsApp and tap on the conversation you want to send a voice message to. At the bottom of the screen, where you normally type a message, look to the right side. You'll see a microphone icon (if the text field is empty). That's the voice message button.
Quick Tip
If you've already started typing in the text field, the microphone icon may change to a "send" arrow. Delete what you've typed and the microphone will reappear.
Step 2. Record a voice message
Press and hold the microphone icon. While you're holding it, speak your message clearly. You'll see a red recording indicator showing how long you've been recording. When you're done, lift your finger off the button. WhatsApp will automatically send the message.
Quick Tip
Hold the phone a comfortable distance from your face. You don't need to speak directly into it. Normal conversational volume works fine.
Step 3. Record a longer message without holding your finger down
If you have a longer message to record and don't want to hold the button the whole time, press and hold the microphone icon, then slide your finger upward — you'll see a lock icon appear. Slide up to the lock to lock the recording in place. You can then record freely without holding the button. Tap the send arrow (or the checkmark) when you're done, or tap the trash icon to delete the recording.
Step 4. Preview before you send
On newer versions of WhatsApp, after you finish recording a locked message, a preview bar appears. Tap the play button to listen to your recording before sending it. If it sounds good, tap the blue send arrow. If you want to re-record it, tap the trash icon to delete it and start over.
Step 5. Listen to a voice message you received
When someone sends you a voice message, it appears in the chat as a blue bar with a play button and a waveform (the wavy line that represents the audio). Tap the play button (triangle) to hear the message. It will play through your phone's speaker. Tap the 1x speed button to change playback speed — 1.5x or 2x makes long messages faster to listen through.
Quick Tip
If you want to listen privately without others nearby hearing, hold the phone up to your ear like a regular phone call — WhatsApp will automatically switch to the earpiece speaker.
WhatsApp voice messages are one of the most popular features in the app, and for good reason: they're faster than typing, more personal than text, and much easier to use if you have trouble with small keyboards. You record your message by holding down a button, and the other person can listen to it whenever they're ready.
Voice messages in WhatsApp work like leaving a voicemail. But they go directly into your chat conversation as a playable audio clip. The person you're messaging can listen to it right away or come back to it later. They can also speed it up or slow it down with a tap if they want.
Here's when voice messages are especially useful:
- When your message is long and typing it out would take a while
- When you're on the go and your hands are busy
- When you want your message to feel warm and personal
- When typing on a small phone keyboard is difficult for you
- When you want to explain something that's hard to put into words
WhatsApp voice messages are completely free (no extra charge beyond your regular data) and work the same way on iPhone and Android. They're also end-to-end encrypted, which means only you and the person you're sending to can hear them — not WhatsApp, not anyone else.
This guide covers both sending and listening to voice messages.
Official sources
- Apple Support — support.apple.com
- iPhone User Guide — support.apple.com
- AppleCare contact options — support.apple.com
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