In this guide
In a Messages conversation, tap Add, choose Audio and speak. Stop to preview or continue the recording, then send it. Tap Keep if you want to retain the message on your iPhone under the current expiration setting.
To record a voice message on iPhone, open a conversation in Messages, tap the Add (+) button, choose Audio and start speaking. Tap Stop when you are finished, play the recording to review it, then tap Send. The recipient can play it in the conversation.
This is an audio message in the Messages app, not a voicemail greeting or dictated text. If you want a standalone recording to edit or share later, use Voice Memos instead. Controls may look different across iOS versions; Apple's audio-message guide describes the current interface.
Record and send an audio message in Messages
- Open the conversation. In Messages, select the person or group you want to message. Check the recipient before recording anything private.
- Choose Audio. Tap the Add (+) button beside the text field, then tap Audio. Begin speaking when recording starts.
- Stop and review. Tap Stop, then tap Play to hear your message. You can continue recording at the end using the duration control, or cancel and start again.
- Send. When the message is ready, tap Send. Apple's guide also describes a quicker touch-and-hold Record Audio control for follow-up messages.
- Keep it if needed. Tap Keep on the sent message if you want to retain it in the conversation on your iPhone under the current expiration setting.
For a clear recording, hold the phone steady, speak at a comfortable distance and move away from fans or traffic if possible. Play the draft before sending to catch a covered microphone, a quiet voice or a cut-off ending.
Why did my audio message disappear?
Apple says that, unless kept, an incoming or outgoing audio message is deleted from the conversation on your iPhone two minutes after you listen to or send it. The recipient's copy is governed separately; they can tap Keep after listening. This behavior is about the local conversation, not proof that a recipient has deleted their copy.
To keep audio messages by default on current iOS versions, open Settings → Apps → Messages → Expire under Audio Messages, then select Never. The setting affects future retention on your device; do not assume it restores a message that has already disappeared. Labels and locations may vary with iOS.
Save an audio message to Voice Memos
To keep a received message in Voice Memos, Apple says to touch and hold the audio message and choose Save to Voice Memos. Open Voice Memos to check that it appears and plays. Saving a copy to another app is a different action from tapping Keep in the conversation.
Ask permission before saving or sharing another person's recording. If you need an audio file for a separate workflow, see how to record audio on iPhone for Voice Memos and the Save to Files option.
Messages audio vs. Voice Memos vs. dictation
| Goal | Use | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Send a quick spoken reply | Messages → Add → Audio | A playable audio message in the conversation, subject to its retention setting. |
| Make a recording to keep or edit | Voice Memos | A recording in the Voice Memos app that can be renamed and shared. |
| Send words as typed text | Keyboard dictation | Recognized text; review it before sending. |
Messages may also display a transcript of an audio message in supported languages. That transcript is separate from keyboard dictation and may contain recognition errors.
If the recording is quiet or Audio is missing
- Check the conversation and iOS version. Look for Audio in the Add menu; the appearance of controls and supported messaging features can vary. Consult Apple's guide for the installed version.
- Test the microphone. Make a short Voice Memos recording and listen back. Remove a case or accessory that obstructs the microphone opening and compare in a quieter space.
- Check connected devices. Disconnect an unintended Bluetooth audio device and repeat the test. A headset may use a different microphone from the phone.
- Check playback as well as recording. Play a different sound at a suitable volume or use headphones. A quiet playback device can make a good recording seem quiet.
The microphone test can check whether a compatible browser receives an input and play a temporary test sample. Browser permissions and the selected input are separate from Messages, so a successful browser test does not prove which microphone Messages used.
Common questions
Can I listen before sending a voice message?
Yes. After stopping the recording, tap Play to review it before tapping Send. You can continue the recording or cancel it if needed.
Can the other person keep the message?
Yes. Apple says a recipient can tap Keep after listening. Your device's expiration setting does not control what the recipient keeps.
Is an audio message the same as voicemail?
No. An audio message is recorded in a messaging conversation. Voicemail is associated with a phone call and its available controls depend on the phone service.