With the release of iOS 17, Apple has significantly enhanced the audio messaging features on iPhones, making it easier and more convenient to communicate through voice messages. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you make the most out of these new features.
Starting a Voice Message
To send a voice message, begin by opening the Messages app on your iPhone. Here, you can either start a new conversation or open an existing one. Once you are in the conversation, you will see a text field at the bottom of the screen. In iOS 17, you can initiate an audio message in a couple of ways:
Tap the plus button at the bottom left of the screen, then select the audio option next to the orange waveform. This will start the recording process immediately[3][5][4].
Alternatively, if you are using the text field, you can tap and hold the microphone icon to start recording your message[1].
Recording and Managing Your Message
During the recording process, iOS 17 offers several useful features to enhance your experience:
Pause and Resume Recording: If you need a moment to gather your thoughts or want to add more to your message later, you can pause the recording by tapping the square red icon button. To resume, simply tap the ‘+’ icon inside the recording interface[3][5][1].
Live Transcription: As you record your message, iOS 17 provides a live transcription of what you are saying. This feature is particularly useful for understanding messages in noisy environments or when audio playback is not feasible[1][2].
Review and Edit: Before sending your message, you can listen to it by tapping the play button. If you are not satisfied, you can delete the message by tapping the X on the left or add more to it by continuing the recording[3][5][4].
Sending Your Voice Message
Once you are happy with your recording, you can send it by tapping the blue arrow. If you change your mind, you can cancel the message by tapping the X on the left[3][5][4].
Saving Voice Messages
By default, audio messages are automatically deleted from your iPhone 2 minutes after you send or listen to them. However, you can choose to save them by tapping Keep within this 2-minute window. To always keep audio messages, go to Settings > Messages, tap Expire (below Audio Messages), and select Never[2][5].
Additional Features
iOS 17 also introduces several other features to make voice messaging more engaging and accessible:
Improved Playback Controls: You can fast-forward or rewind through messages by sliding right and left on the audio message. You can also adjust the playback speed by touching and holding the playback controls[2].
Raise to Listen: When you receive an audio message, you can play it by raising your iPhone to your ear. To reply, lower the iPhone and raise it to your ear again, then speak after you hear a tone[2].
Customization: You can customize your audio message settings, such as choosing how long to keep audio messages before they are automatically deleted. Additionally, you can share audio recordings from Voice Memos or other apps directly to Messages[1].
Security and Privacy
Apple ensures that all media sent through iMessage, including audio messages, is protected with end-to-end encryption. This means your voice messages are secure and private[5].
Most Important Facts About Sending Voice Messages on iPhone
Initiate Recording: Tap the plus button and select audio, or tap and hold the microphone icon in the text field to start recording[1][3][5].
Pause and Resume: Use the square red icon button to pause and the ‘+’ icon to resume recording[3][5][1].
Live Transcription: See a real-time transcription of your message as you speak[1][2].
Review and Edit: Listen to your message before sending and delete or add more as needed[3][5][4].
Send Message: Tap the blue arrow to send the audio message[3][5][4].
Save Messages: Tap Keep to save an audio message or go to Settings > Messages > Expire to always keep them[2][5].
Playback Controls: Use the playback controls to fast-forward, rewind, or adjust playback speed[2].
Raise to Listen: Play and reply to audio messages by raising your iPhone to your ear[2].
Security: Audio messages are protected with end-to-end encryption for security and privacy[5].
