How to Convert WhatsApp Voice Messages to Text

You have a long WhatsApp voice message from a client, a colleague, or a family member. Maybe you are in a meeting and cannot listen. Maybe it is in a language you do not fully understand. Maybe you just need to search for something said in it later.

Converting WhatsApp voice messages to text is easier than most people think. Here is the complete guide.

Converting WhatsApp Voice on Android

WhatsApp saves voice messages as OGG files on Android devices. Here is how to access them:

Method 1: Save from the Chat

1. Long press the voice message in the chat
2. Tap the three dots menu (⋮)
3. Select Save to Downloads or Forward to save
4. The file saves as a .ogg file to your Downloads folder

Method 2: Find the File Directly

1. Open your phone file manager
2. Navigate to: Internal Storage → WhatsApp → Media → WhatsApp Voice Notes
3. Voice notes are organised by date in subfolders
4. Find and copy the relevant .ogg file

Converting WhatsApp Voice on iPhone

iPhone is slightly trickier because WhatsApp stores files in a sandboxed location. Here is the easiest method:

Method 1: Share to Files

1. Open the voice message in WhatsApp
2. Tap and hold the voice message
3. Tap More then Share
4. Choose Save to Files
5. The file saves as an .m4a or .mp4 file

Method 2: Forward to Email

1. Long press the voice message, tap More, select Share
2. Choose Mail and send it to yourself
3. Open the email on your computer and download the attachment

Transcribing the Voice Message

Once you have the audio file, converting it to text takes about 30 seconds:

1. Go to boloaurlikho.com
2. Click Upload Audio and select your OGG or M4A file
3. Select the language of the voice message (or use Auto-detect)
4. Click Transcribe Now
5. Your text transcript appears in seconds
6. Copy it or click Download to save as a text file

No sign up required, no credit card, completely free. The transcription works in 99+ languages, so even if the voice message is in Hindi, Urdu, Arabic, or any other language, it will be accurately transcribed.

Doing Multiple Messages at Once

If you have many voice messages to transcribe, the most efficient approach is:

1. Export all voice notes from the WhatsApp folder at once (Android method above)
2. Transcribe them one by one on Bolo Aur Likho — there is no daily limit
3. Name each transcript file with the date and sender for easy organisation

For business use cases with very high volume, tools like Otter.ai or Rev.com offer bulk upload features, though these come with monthly costs.

Why This Is So Useful

Beyond the obvious "I could not listen right now" use case, there are several powerful reasons to convert WhatsApp voice messages to text:

• Searchability — Text can be searched. Voice cannot. Convert a long message from a client and Ctrl+F for the relevant part.
• Documentation — For business or legal purposes, text is easier to document and share than audio files.
• Accessibility — For deaf colleagues or team members, converting to text makes voice communication inclusive.
• Language barriers — Transcribe and then paste into Google Translate for a quick translation of messages in other languages.
• Noisy environments — In a crowded office or on public transport, reading a transcript is easier than listening with earphones.