How to Send a Voice Message on WhatsApp: Step by Step

A voice message on WhatsApp lets you speak your reply instead of typing it, and the other person can listen whenever it suits them. It is held inside the same chat as your text messages, costs nothing on Wi-Fi, and is far quicker than tapping out words on a small keyboard. Sending one takes a single button, held down while you talk.

Voice messages are perfect when your hands are busy, your eyes are tired, or you simply want your family to hear your voice rather than read cold text. They work on every type of phone, so it does not matter whether your grandchildren have an iPhone or an Android. The whole feature lives behind one button you may not have noticed before.

Finding the microphone button

The microphone button sits at the bottom right of any chat, where you would normally find a Send arrow. Open WhatsApp, tap the Chats tab at the bottom, then tap the name of the person you want to message. You are now inside your conversation with them.

Look to the far right of the box where you would type a message. When that box is empty, you will see a small microphone icon. As soon as you type any text, the microphone changes into a Send arrow, which is why some people never spot it. To see the microphone, just make sure the text box is empty.

Step by step: recording and sending

There are two ways to record, and both are simple. The classic method is to hold the button down the whole time you speak. The newer hands-free method locks the recording so you can talk without holding anything. Try the first one to begin with.

1. Press and hold the microphone button. Keep your finger on it. A red recording indicator and a timer appear, showing it is listening.
2. Speak clearly into the phone. Hold it a hand's width from your mouth, in a reasonably quiet room. Say what you want to say at a normal pace.
3. Lift your finger to send. The moment you release the button, the message sends on its own. There is no separate Send button to find.
4. To cancel instead of sending, while still holding, slide your finger to the left over the word "Cancel" or the bin icon, then let go. Nothing is sent and you can start over.

For a hands-free recording, press the microphone and slide your finger upward to the little lock icon, then let go. The recording keeps running without you holding anything, so you can talk at length. When you finish, tap the blue Send arrow that appears. This is ideal for longer messages.

Listening to a voice message you receive

When someone sends you a voice message, it appears in the chat as a small bar with a play arrow and a length, such as 0:42 for forty-two seconds. Tap the play arrow once and it begins to play through your phone's speaker. Tap it again to pause.

Hold the phone to your ear like a normal call if you are somewhere noisy or want privacy, and the sound switches to the earpiece automatically. You can replay a message as many times as you like, which is handy if you missed a word. Voice messages stay in the chat, so you can come back and listen again days later.

Tips for clear, friendly voice messages

A quiet room makes the biggest difference to how clearly you come across. Background noise from a television or a busy kitchen competes with your voice and makes you harder to hear. Turning the television down for a minute is the simplest fix there is.

Speak at your normal pace and do not rush. A voice message is not a live call, so there is no clock ticking and no reason to hurry. If you fumble a sentence, you can slide to cancel and start again, or just carry on naturally, because your family will not mind a small stumble.

Keep messages to a comfortable length, perhaps under a minute or two, so they are easy to listen to in one go. If you have a lot to say, it is fine to send a few shorter messages rather than one very long one. Short and warm beats long and rambling every time.

Frequently asked questions

Does sending a voice message cost anything?

On Wi-Fi it is completely free. On mobile data it uses a tiny amount of your allowance, far less than a photo. For everyday use you do not need to think about the cost.

Can the other person tell if I listened to their message?

Yes. Once you play a voice message someone sent you, the little microphone icon next to it turns blue on their screen, the same way read receipts work for text. This just tells them you have heard it.

How long can a voice message be?

WhatsApp allows very long voice messages, well over an hour, so length is rarely a worry. In practice, keeping each one under a minute or two makes it easier and pleasanter for the listener.

I pressed the button and nothing recorded. Why?

The most common reason is that WhatsApp does not yet have permission to use your microphone. The first time you record, the phone asks if WhatsApp can access the microphone; tap Allow. If you tapped Don't Allow before, go to your phone's Settings, find WhatsApp, and turn the Microphone switch on.

Can I delete a voice message after I send it?

Yes. Press and hold the message you sent, tap Delete, then choose "Delete for Everyone" if you act within a couple of days. That removes it from the other person's chat as well as your own.

Will this work with an iPhone if I have an Android?

Yes. WhatsApp voice messages work the same way between any phones, so it makes no difference whether you or your family use an iPhone or an Android. Everyone hears the message clearly either way.