How to send and listen to voice messages on WhatsApp on iPhone

Learn how you can record voice clips inside the WhatsApp app on your iPhone and send them to a person or group. Additionally, we will show you how to listen to voice messages if you receive one and go over some troubleshooting tips in case you can’t do these things.

WhatsApp voice messages on iPhone

Like Apple’s iMessage inside the iPhone Messages app, WhatsApp – the world’s most popular instant chat service also allows you to send and receive voice messages.

It’s a fantastic medium of communication when you do not want to type and just want your messages to be heard, literally!

Send voice messages via WhatsApp on iPhone

  1. Open WhatsApp and go inside a person or group chat.
  2. Touch and hold the microphone icon at the bottom and speak what you want to convey.
  3. The voice recording will be sent when you lift your finger. In case you don’t want to send the voice message, slide left, and it will discard the recording.
Send a voice message via WhatsApp on iPhone

Note: If you’re using this feature for the first time, make sure to allow WhatsApp to use your iPhone’s microphone.

Want to send a long voice message?

If you’re planning to speak for a long time, continuing to hold the button can get tiring. So, just swipe up towards the lock icon, and then you can lift your finger from the screen. WhatsApp will continue to record what you’re speaking. Once you finish your long message, tap the blue send button.

Swipe up during voice recording in WhatsApp to access more controls

Note that, in this mode, you also have access to some extra controls:

  • Pause recording: You can use the handy pause and resume buttons.
  • Preview the message: Tap the pause button and then hit the triangle play button to listen to what you recorded.
  • Start fresh: If you are unhappy with the recording, tap the delete button, and then you can start fresh.

Listen to voice messages you received

  1. Tap the new WhatsApp message notification or open the app and go inside the concerned chat.
  2. Tap the triangle play button to hear the audio message.
Play received WhatsApp audio message on iPhone

Note: If there are multiple pending voice messages in succession, they will all play automatically, one after the other. You do not have to tap the play button for each.

Useful tips when listening to WhatsApp voice messages:

  • Tap the 1x button to change the playback speed. It can be handy if the audio message is long and slow.
  • Drag the blue dot on the waveform to scrub through the message, like you do when listening to songs.
  • If you’re in a public place, you can listen to the voice message privately by tapping the play button and putting your iPhone to your ear as if you were on a call. The message will now play from the top earpiece speaker and not the bottom loudspeaker.
  • You can also go back to the main WhatsApp chat screen or even out of the app on the iPhone Home Screen, and the audio message will keep playing. You will see a simple playback control strip at the top of the app when you’re out of the chat where the audio message is being played.
WhatsApp audio message playing in background

Managing WhatsApp voice messages

Like text or photo messages, you can touch and hold an audio message to mark it with a star, reply specifically to it, forward it to someone else, report it to WhatsApp if it has something you’re uncomfortable with, or just delete it.

Touch and hold voice message on WhatsApp to manage it

What to do if you’re unable to send voice messages

Make sure you have allowed WhatsApp the necessary permission to use your iPhone’s microphone. If you accidentally choose Don’t Allow:

  1. Go to your iPhone Settings, scroll down to the bottom, and tap WhatsApp.
  2. Turn on the switch next to the Microphone option.
Microphone option for WhatsApp in iPhone Settings

Note: If you do not see the Microphone option here, that means WhatsApp never asked you for mic access, and you did not tap Allow or Don’t Allow. So, to force the app to ask for permission now, go back to it and try invoking the microphone usage by holding the mic button inside a chat or making a call. Once you do that, the app will show a popup asking permission to use the device mic. Tap Allow here. If the problem continues, restart your iPhone and update WhatsApp from the App Store.

What to do if you cannot listen to voice messages

  • Press the iPhone volume buttons to increase the sound.
  • Make sure your phone is not in silent mode.
  • Hit the play button and put the iPhone to your ears. You may hear the audio message from the top earpiece.
  • Open the Control Center and ensure a Bluetooth device is not connected to it. If it is, put those Bluetooth earphones or AirPods in your ears or disconnect them for audio to play through the iPhone speakers.
  • Check out the audio message, and if there are straight dots and no waves, that means it’s a blank/empty voice message, and you obviously can’t hear anything. Ask the sender to record their message again and re-send it to you.
Blank and useful audio messages on WhatsApp

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