How do I get audio on my text messages?

Audio messages are voice recordings sent between mobile devices instead of traditional text messages. They allow you to quickly capture and send longer, more nuanced messages by speaking rather than typing. Audio messages have grown in popularity in recent years, with over 60% of Americans reporting sending voice notes and 30% using them on at least a weekly basis.^[1]

People enjoy audio messages because they can convey emotion and emphasis through the tone of your voice. They feel more personal than text, and allow you to communicate complex thoughts or tell stories more easily. Audio messages are also helpful when you are multitasking or your hands are full, as you don’t have to stop and type out a text.

If you want a quick and intimate way to get in touch, audio messages are an excellent communication option to consider. This guide will walk through everything you need to know to send and receive audio messages on your device.

^{[1] https://www.vox.com/technology/23665101/voice-message-whatsapp-apple-text}

Enabling Audio Messages

Most modern smartphones come with the ability to send audio messages built-in, you just need to enable the feature. On an iPhone, audio messages are enabled by default in the Messages app as of iOS 8 and later (Apple Support). For Android phones, you’ll need to have a messaging app that supports audio messages such as Google’s Messages app or WhatsApp. The default messaging app on your Android phone may or may not support audio messages depending on the manufacturer. Check your messaging app settings to see if there is an option to enable audio messages.

Once you’ve confirmed audio messaging is supported on your device, you shouldn’t have to do anything special to activate it. The ability to record and send audio messages should be built into the messaging interface. If for some reason you don’t see an option to record audio in your messages, double check that the feature is enabled in your device and app settings.

Sending an Audio Message

To send an audio message on your iPhone, first open the Messages app and start a new message or open an existing conversation. Tap the Apps icon, then tap the microphone icon to start recording your voice message.

Hold down the microphone icon while you record your message. When you’re done, release your finger to end the recording. You can listen to your recording before sending by tapping “play.” The maximum recording length is 2 minutes.

Once you’re satisfied with your recording, tap the send button (arrow icon) as you normally would to send a text message. The audio recording will be sent as an attachment that the recipient can play. See https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/send-and-receive-audio-messages-iph2e42d3117/ios for more details from Apple on sending audio messages.

Receiving an Audio Message

When you receive an audio message on your iPhone, it will appear in the Messages app like a regular text message, but with a play button icon next to it. Tapping on this play button will begin playback of the audio file.

The audio message playback screen provides controls similar to a video. You can pause, play, fast-forward, rewind, and scrub to any point in the message. The visual waveform gives you a sense of the message length and current playback position. Volume can be adjusted using the side buttons on the iPhone.

If you exit the message mid-playback, it will resume where you left off when you re-open it. This allows you to take a break from listening without losing your place. The message status will update to show if it’s unplayed, partially heard, or fully listened to.

Overall, the process of receiving and playing back audio messages on the iPhone is intuitive and user-friendly. The controls mimic familiar video and audio apps, so most users can start enjoying the convenience of audio messaging right away.

Audio Message Length

The maximum length of audio messages can vary depending on your phone model, operating system, carrier, and messaging app. Most modern smartphones allow voice messages up to 2-3 minutes in length. However, some Android devices may permit audio recordings over 10 minutes. On iPhone, the limit is 30 seconds for some carriers like AT&T, while T-Mobile and Verizon allow messages up to 2 minutes.

For iPhone users, Apple provides a maximum voice memo length of 2 minutes in the default Messages app. According to an Apple Support thread, there are no set limits enforced on the device side. Restrictions come from specific mobile carriers.

If you find your voice messages cut off prematurely, check with your wireless provider. You may need to upgrade your messaging plan to enable sending longer form audio texts beyond 30 seconds. Certain carriers like AT&T offer options to increase the limit to 3 minutes.

File Size Considerations

Sending audio messages can quickly consume your data allowance if the files are too large. Most messaging apps limit audio recordings to 1-2 minutes to keep file sizes manageable. However, even short recordings can produce large files depending on audio quality and compression algorithms.

For example, a 1-minute audio recording can be over 1MB with default settings on an iPhone. Audacity reports a 1-minute, 128kbps MP3 audio file is approximately 1.2MB. Higher quality formats like AIFF or WAV can be 5MB or larger for the same length recording.

To conserve data, try recording messages closer to 30 seconds which produces smaller files. Also, use headphones with built-in microphones which offer noise-cancellation for clearer audio in a smaller file size. Finally, if possible, connect to WiFi when sending or downloading audio messages to avoid draining cellular data.

According to this article, voice chat services consume 0.5-1.5MB per minute on average. So longer audio messages can quickly consume your cellular data plan’s allowance.

Troubleshooting

If you’re having issues with sending or receiving audio messages on your iPhone, there are a few troubleshooting steps you can try:

One common problem is that audio messages get stuck on “Sending” and never actually deliver to the recipient. This is often caused by poor cellular or WiFi connectivity. Try toggling Airplane mode on and off to reset the connection. Also make sure you have a strong WiFi or LTE signal when trying to send an audio message. If issues persist, try restarting your iPhone to refresh the messaging components.

If your recipient says your audio messages are not playing back properly, the file may have been corrupted in transmission. Ask them to try downloading the message over WiFi instead of cellular data, as that often resolves playback problems. You can also try re-recording and resending the voice message.

On the receiving end, an error like “Cannot Play Message” usually means the audio file itself is damaged. Ask the sender to re-record and send it again. Turning Airplane mode on and off can also help refresh the connection and download a fresh copy of the file.

Make sure that Sound Recognition is enabled in Settings > Accessibility > Sound Recognition on both the sending and receiving device. This feature needs to be on for audio messages to work properly.

As a last resort, you can try uninstalling and reinstalling the Messages app, or restoring your iPhone to factory settings. But typically, audio messaging problems can be resolved with simpler troubleshooting.

Audio Text Alternatives

While WhatsApp doesn’t natively support sending audio messages as text, there are some third-party apps that can help transcribe your voice messages into text. Here are a few options:

Speechnotes is an accurate speech-to-text app that can convert your WhatsApp audio messages into text. You simply record your message in Speechnotes and it will transcribe it for you. You can then copy and paste the text into WhatsApp to send.

Dragon Anywhere is another top-rated speech-to-text app that integrates with various third-party apps including WhatsApp. It allows you to dictate text via speech and send it to your contacts.

While not as full-featured, SpeechTexter provides a simple voice-to-text transcription service that can work with WhatsApp audio messages. Just record your message, transcribe it, and copy the text into WhatsApp.

These third-party apps provide handy workarounds for converting WhatsApp audio messages into text, which can be more convenient for many users. They offer accurate speech-to-text capabilities specifically designed to integrate with messaging apps like WhatsApp.

Voice Message Etiquette

When sending an audio text message, it’s best to keep it brief and avoid overly long voice notes. The recommended maximum length for an audio text is 3 minutes or less. Going beyond that time can come across as inconsiderate, especially if the recipient needs to listen to long rambling messages. Keep in mind the recipient may not always have headphones available or be in an environment conducive to listening to extended voice notes.

According to Pioneer Valley Church of Christ, the ideal audio text etiquette is 3 minutes and and don’t go any longer.

Stick to the key information you need to convey. If you find yourself rambling, it’s better to wrap up the voice message or split it into two shorter audio texts. Be mindful not to bombard someone’s phone with multiple long voice recordings in a row.

Save very long stories or conversations for an actual phone call or voice chat. Audio texts work best for quick updates, reminders, or simple exchanges.

Summary

In summary, here are the key steps for sending and receiving audio text messages:

1. Make sure both you and the recipient have an iPhone or Android phone that supports audio messaging.
2. Open your messages app and select a contact or start a new message thread.
3. Tap and hold the microphone icon and record your voice message.
4. Lift your finger to stop recording and send the message.
5. When receiving an audio text, you’ll get an alert and see a Play button. Tap to hear the message.
6. Adjust your notification settings if needed so audio texts don’t play automatically.
7. Keep file sizes reasonable by limiting messages to 30 seconds.
8. Troubleshoot issues by checking your data/WiFi connection.

With the ability to send voice messages over text, you can add a personal touch and communicate tone. Use audio texts when convenient but don’t overuse them. Follow proper etiquette and allow recipients to listen privately.