How to Transcribe Voice Memos in Three Steps
Turn Voice Memos into Text
Share an iPhone or Android voice memo, upload it, and get accurate text in minutes — with speaker labels and export. Free for memos under 5 minutes.
- No signup to try
- No credit card required
How do I turn a voice memo into text?
Open your voice memo, tap Share (or export the file), and upload it to 1Transcribe — it transcribes the recording with OpenAI's Whisper and returns accurate text in minutes. iPhone memos (M4A), Android recordings, and WhatsApp voice notes all work. Memos under 5 minutes are free, with no signup, and you can export the text to Word, PDF, or TXT.
How to transcribe an iPhone voice memo
The iPhone Voice Memos app saves recordings as M4A files, which 1Transcribe reads directly:
- Open the Voice Memos app and tap the memo you want.
- Tap the ••• (or Share) button, then Save to Files or share it to your browser.
- Upload the file to 1Transcribe, pick a language, and download the transcript.
Android recordings and WhatsApp voice notes
Any recorder works the same way. Export a recording from your Android voice recorder (or Google Recorder), or forward a WhatsApp voice note to yourself and save the audio, then upload it. 1Transcribe accepts M4A, MP3, WAV, OGG, OPUS, and more, so you rarely need to convert anything first.
Long memos, accurate text
A quick thought or an hour-long ramble both come back as clean text. 1Transcribe uses the latest Whisper models for up to 99.9% accuracy, labels different speakers automatically, and handles memos up to 10 hours long. Turn a rambling note into a tidy recap with a one-click AI summary, or export to Word, PDF, or TXT.
Voice memo transcription at a glance
| Works with | iPhone Voice Memos (M4A), Android recorders, WhatsApp voice notes |
|---|---|
| AI engine | OpenAI Whisper (latest models) |
| Accuracy | Up to 99.9% on clear audio |
| Languages | 99+, with automatic detection |
| Audio formats | M4A, MP3, WAV, AAC, OGG, OPUS, AMR |
| Speaker labels | Yes — automatic diarization |
| Max length | 10 hours per memo |
| Export formats | DOCX, PDF, TXT |
| Free tier | Memos under 5 minutes, no signup |
| Price | Free, or Unlimited from US$4.17/mo billed yearly |
What people transcribe voice memos for
Ideas on the go
Capture a thought as a memo, then turn it into searchable, editable text for your notes.
Interviews & research
Record on your phone and get a speaker-labeled transcript you can quote and search.
Meetings & calls
Record a quick debrief and get an AI summary with the decisions and next steps.
Lectures & study
Turn recorded classes into notes you can review and revise.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about 1Transcribe.
How do I transcribe an iPhone voice memo to text?
Open the Voice Memos app, tap the memo, tap the ••• / Share button, and save or share the M4A file. Upload it to 1Transcribe, choose a language, and download the transcript. Memos under 5 minutes are free.
Can I transcribe a WhatsApp voice note?
Yes. Forward the voice note to yourself or export the audio, then upload it. 1Transcribe reads WhatsApp's audio format directly and returns accurate text in minutes.
Is voice memo transcription free?
Memos under 5 minutes are free with no signup. For longer memos up to 10 hours, an Unlimited subscription starts at US$4.17/month billed yearly (US$49.99/year) or US$19.99/month.
What file format are iPhone voice memos?
iPhone Voice Memos are saved as M4A files, which 1Transcribe accepts directly — no conversion needed. Android recordings (M4A, MP3, OGG, AMR…) work too.
How accurate is the transcription?
1Transcribe uses OpenAI's latest Whisper models for up to 99.9% accuracy on clear audio, including accents and background noise common in on-the-go recordings.
Does it label different speakers?
Yes. Automatic speaker identification labels each speaker, so recorded conversations and interviews are easy to read.
Can I transcribe long voice memos?
Yes — a single memo up to 10 hours and 5 GB, with no splitting. Great for long interviews and recorded meetings.
Try It Before You Decide
Start With One File. Use It Every Day.
Upload a recording and read the full transcript first — files under five minutes are free, with no signup and no credit card.