One of the features included in the popular messaging app WhatsApp is voice message transcription, which attempts to convert voice messages into text. Although the feature had major accessibility issues when first introduced, it is now accessible for the most part. Note that I don’t know when the feature became accessible, but I am basing my tests on WhatsApp beta version 2.25.5.23.
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How to Activate and Configure Voice Message Transcription
Transcription is disabled by default. To enable it:
- Open WhatsApp and tap More options, located near the top edge of the screen.
- Select Settings.
- In Settings, find and activate Chats.
- Tap the toggle for Voice message transcripts to switch it on (double-tap if using a screen reader).
- After enabling the feature, a new screen appears, confirming that transcription is end-to-end encrypted, with a button to choose the language.
- Activate the Choose language button and select the transcription language (tap or double-tap depending on whether a screen reader is active).
At the time of writing, the service only supports English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian. Select Set up now to proceed.
Since the service is offline, the necessary data will be downloaded to your device. When focusing on the Set up now button, you will hear the download size.
To change the language later, go to Transcription language, located next to the transcripts toggle.
It is important to note that toggling Voice message transcripts off and then on again requires redownloading the recognition data.
Getting and Viewing Transcripts
Once the necessary data is downloaded, you should be ready to use the transcription feature.
- Long press the voice message you want to transcribe.
- At the top of the screen, tap More options.
- Select Transcribe to start the transcription.
Alternatively, screen reader users can use actions to access the Transcribe option after focusing on the voice message.
Note that only voice messages are supported; audio files are not included at this time.
Wait for the transcription to complete. The processing time depends on the length of the message. I am unsure if there is a time limit, but the longest message I tested was two minutes.
While transcription is ongoing, a Transcribing indicator appears next to the voice message. Once finished, it is replaced by the recognized text. If the message is slightly long (just a few sentences), only the beginning of the recognized text is displayed. To read more, tap Expand next to the recognized text. Note that multiple taps may be required, as the text is revealed gradually.
Changing the Per-Chat Transcription Language
If you want to use a different transcription language for a particular chat instead of the default selected in settings, you can do so after transcribing a voice message.
- Long press the voice message and select Change language from More options.
- Alternatively, screen reader users can use Actions to access the Change language option.
- Select the language you want to use, then go back.
Quick Testing Observations
I tested the feature with a few voice messages using different English accents, and the results were mixed. Some messages were recognized accurately, while others were not as good. However, most of the tested messages provided meaningful transcripts, even when errors were present.
If a portion of the message cannot be recognized, it is replaced with underscores, which is a useful indication that some text was missed.
Another thing I noticed is that transcripts are not deleted after leaving the chat or even closing the app. When reopening the chat, the transcripts remain available.
The only accessibility issue I found during testing is the inability to rate transcriptions. Sometimes, a prompt appears asking if the transcription was useful, but I could not find a way to respond and provide a rating.
Although the voice message transcription service is far from perfect, it is still a useful addition nonetheless. If you find yourself in need of voice message transcription, nothing prevents you from giving it a try, as it is free, offline, and accessible.
