The short answer: WhatsApp doesn’t translate voice messages, but it can turn one into text. Turn on Voice Message Transcripts, tap and hold the voice message and tap Transcribe, then translate the text. On Android, drag the Swift Translate bubble onto the transcript and it appears in your language. If WhatsApp can’t transcribe the language, play the message out loud and Swift Translate’s Audio on Android shows live captions in your language.
Step 1: turn the voice message into text
WhatsApp calls this voice message transcripts. It’s off until you turn it on, and only the person who receives a voice message can see its transcript. WhatsApp makes the transcript on your phone.
On Android
- In WhatsApp, tap ⋮ (More options) > Settings > Chats > Voice Message Transcripts.
- Turn it on, choose the language of the voice messages you get, then tap Set up now.
- Open the chat, tap and hold the voice message, then tap ⋮ > Transcribe.
The text appears in the voice message, and you can expand it to read all of it.
On iPhone
- In WhatsApp, tap Settings > Chats > Voice Message Transcripts, turn it on and choose the language of the voice messages you get.
- Open the chat and tap and hold the voice message.
- Tap Transcribe.
On iPhone, transcripts need iOS 16 or later, with Siri turned on.
Which languages WhatsApp can transcribe
- Android: English, Portuguese, Spanish and Russian. WhatsApp is testing more, including German, French and Italian, but they may not be on your phone yet.
- iPhone: 20 languages on iOS 17 and later, including German, French, Italian and Spanish, and 12 on iOS 16.
Choose the language the person speaks, not your own. If the language is wrong, the transcript won’t be accurate.
Step 2: translate the transcript
WhatsApp’s own Translate is for text messages. If it doesn’t offer to translate the transcript, translate the text another way.
On Android: drag the Swift Translate bubble onto it
Swift Translate puts a small floating bubble on your screen. Drag it onto the transcript in the voice message and a translation card appears next to the text, in your language. It works the same way in WhatsApp Business and in group chats, in over 100 languages. Tap the card to see the original and the translation together, with a copy button.
On iPhone: Swift Translate Keyboard
If you can copy the transcript, open any text box, switch to Swift Translate Keyboard and tap Paste. The translation appears above the keys, in over 100 languages.
When WhatsApp can’t transcribe the language: play it out loud
If the voice message is in a language WhatsApp can’t transcribe on your phone, translate the sound itself.
Swift Translate’s Audio on Android
- Tap the Swift Translate bubble, then tap Audio.
- Choose the language the person speaks and your language.
- Play the voice message on the speaker, in a quiet place.
A caption card shows what it hears, translated into your language as the message plays. Audio listens through the microphone, so keep the phone’s speaker loud enough. It needs Android 12 or later and isn’t available on some budget phones. The first time you use a language, it downloads what it needs.
Live Caption on Pixel
On Pixel 6 and later, Android’s Live Caption can caption a voice message in one of its languages and translate the captions. Choose your language under Settings > Accessibility > Live Caption > Languages & translation > Translate captions to, turn Live Caption on, then play the message. On other Android phones that have Live Caption, the captions stay in the original language.
Which option to use
| Your situation | What works |
|---|---|
| Android, WhatsApp can transcribe the language | WhatsApp’s Transcribe, then drag the Swift Translate bubble onto the text |
| Android, any other language | Swift Translate’s Audio, or Live Caption on a Pixel 6 or later |
| iPhone, the language is on WhatsApp’s transcript list | Transcribe; if you can copy the text, paste it into Swift Translate Keyboard |
| iPhone, the language isn’t on the list | No built-in way in WhatsApp; ask the person to send text instead |
| You need the meaning of a long message quickly | Transcribe it first, so you can read the translation at your own pace |
Transcribe not showing in WhatsApp? Why, and how to fix it
| Why it’s missing | What to do |
|---|---|
| Voice Message Transcripts is off. | Turn it on under Settings > Chats > Voice Message Transcripts. |
| You sent the voice message. | Only the person who receives a voice message can transcribe it. |
| The language isn’t supported on your phone. | Choose another transcript language if the message is in one, or play it out loud with Swift Translate’s Audio. |
| On iPhone, Siri is off or iOS is older than 16. | Turn Siri on and update iOS. |
| The transcript is in the wrong language. | Change it under Settings > Chats > Transcript language to the one the person speaks, then transcribe again. |
| Your WhatsApp is out of date. | Update WhatsApp from Google Play or the App Store. |
FAQ
Can WhatsApp translate voice messages?
Not directly. WhatsApp can turn a voice message into text with Transcribe, but it doesn’t translate voice messages. Translate the transcript with another tool, such as the Swift Translate bubble on Android.
How do I turn a WhatsApp voice message into text?
Turn on Voice Message Transcripts under Settings > Chats, then tap and hold the voice message and tap Transcribe. On Android, Transcribe is under ⋮.
Which languages can WhatsApp transcribe?
On Android: English, Portuguese, Spanish and Russian, with more in testing. On iPhone with iOS 17 or later: 20 languages, including German, French, Italian and Spanish.
How do I translate a German, French or Italian voice message on Android?
If WhatsApp can’t transcribe them on your phone yet, play the message out loud and use Swift Translate’s Audio, which shows live captions in your language. On a Pixel 6 or later, Live Caption with translation works too.
Can the other person see my transcript?
No. Only you see the transcripts of voice messages you receive, and WhatsApp makes them on your phone.
Can I reply with a voice message in their language?
Not with WhatsApp’s tools. Type your reply instead: on Android, write it in your own language and drag the Swift Translate bubble onto it, and it goes out in their language. See how to send a WhatsApp message in another language.
Related: How to translate WhatsApp messages · How to send a WhatsApp message in another language · WhatsApp translator
