How to turn an iPhone voice memo into text

To turn a voice memo into text, open it in the Voice Memos app, tap the More button (⋯) or Share, and choose HiText. In a few minutes you get the full transcript, an AI summary and, if the memo is in another language, a translation. It works for hour-long memos too, and your first 30 minutes are free.

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Idea for the pitch

Voice memo · 12:40

SummaryTranscriptQuiz

Memo recorded on the walk home:

Main idea: Open the pitch with the customer story.
To check: Q3 numbers before Thursday.
Next step: Send the draft to Marta.

12:40

Transcript ready

Voice memo to text, step by step

1
Open the memo
In the Voice Memos app, tap the recording you want to transcribe.
2
Share it to HiText
Tap the More button (⋯) and then Share, and pick HiText from the list of apps. If you prefer, choose Save to Files and later open the file from HiText.
3
Read, summarize and translate
The transcript shows up in the app within a few minutes, with an AI summary of what matters. Copy it, share it or keep it in a folder.

Doesn't the iPhone already transcribe voice memos?

Since iOS 18, Voice Memos can show a transcript on iPhone 12 and later, but not in every country, region or language. For a short memo in a supported language, that may be enough. HiText helps when the built-in option falls short:

Your iPhone doesn't show a transcript (older model, region or language not supported)
Long memos: a lecture, an interview or a brainstorm of an hour
Memos in another language that you want to read translated
You want a summary of the key points, not just the raw text
Many memos you want to keep organized in folders

What file is a voice memo?

Voice Memos saves recordings as M4A files. HiText reads them directly, whether you share them from the app or pick them from Files. More about the format in M4A to text.

Tips for memos that transcribe well

Hold the phone 20-30 cm from your mouth and away from wind
In a meeting or class, place the iPhone in the middle of the table
If the memo mixes languages, choose the main language in HiText instead of automatic detection

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to transcribe voice memos with HiText?

You start with 30 free minutes of transcription, no card needed. To keep transcribing you can subscribe to Pro inside the app; you see the price before paying and can cancel any time from your App Store or Google Play subscription settings.

HiText doesn't appear when I tap Share. What do I do?

Scroll the row of apps to the end, tap More and turn on HiText. If you've just installed it, open it once first. You can also choose Save to Files and pick the memo from inside HiText.

Can I transcribe several voice memos?

Yes. Share them one by one and each becomes its own transcript, which you can sort into folders by project, subject or client.

What happens to my recordings?

Your audio is used only to transcribe it and is deleted from our servers when it's done (at most within 7 days if something fails). The transcript and summary are kept on your device and on our servers until you delete them in the app. We don't use your content to train AI models. Details in our privacy policy.

Can I do it from my Mac?

Yes. If Voice Memos syncs with iCloud, the memo is also in Voice Memos on your Mac: drag it to the desktop and upload the M4A file at app.trytiro.app, in your browser, with nothing to install.

More tools

Your memos, in writing

Download HiText and transcribe your first 30 minutes of voice memos for free.