Voice memos are recordings you make on your phone that you can save and share

A voice memo is an audio file you create by opening the Voice Memos app on your phone, pressing record, and speaking. When you stop recording, your phone saves that audio as a file. You can then read it — which means copying it from your phone to your computer, cloud storage, or sending it to someone else — so you have it in a place where you can use it, back it up, or share it.

The steps differ slightly between iPhones and Android phones, but the basic idea is the same: find the recording in your Voice Memos app, choose a way to move it, and pick where it goes.

Key Takeaways

  • On an iPhone, open Voice Memos, tap Edit, select the recording you want, tap the share icon, and choose where to send it or how to save it.
  • On Android, open the Recorder or Voice Memos app, long-press the recording, tap Share or Export, and select your destination.
  • You can send voice memos to your email, save them to cloud storage like Google Drive or iCloud, or move them to your computer using a file manager.
  • Voice memos are usually saved as .m4a files on iPhones and .mp3 or .wav files on Android, and most computers and phones can play these formats.

How to read a voice memo on iPhone

Open the Voice Memos app on your iPhone. You will see a list of all your recordings, with the newest ones at the top. Find the recording you want to read and tap it to play it back and confirm it is the right one.

Tap the three dots (or the menu icon) next to the recording name. A menu will appear with options including Share, Duplicate, and Delete. Tap Share. Your phone will show you a list of places you can send the file: Mail, Messages, Notes, AirDrop, iCloud Drive, Google Drive, Dropbox, or other apps you have installed.

Choose where you want the file to go. If you tap Mail, your phone opens a new email with the voice memo attached, and you can send it to yourself or someone else. If you tap iCloud Drive or Google Drive, the file saves directly to that cloud storage. Once the file is in cloud storage or your email, you can read it to your computer later by logging into that service on your computer and saving the file.

How to read a voice memo on Android

Open the Recorder app or Voice Memos app — the name depends on your phone brand. Samsung phones usually have a Voice Recorder app; Google Pixel phones have a Recorder app. You will see a list of your recordings.

Long-press (hold your finger on) the recording you want to read. A menu will appear with options like Share, Rename, and Delete. Tap Share or Export. Your phone will show apps and services you can send the file to: Gmail, Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive, or messaging apps.

Select your destination. If you choose Gmail, the recording attaches to a new email. If you choose Google Drive, it saves directly to your cloud storage. If you want the file on your computer, send it to your email first, then read it from your email on your computer, or save it to Google Drive and read it from there.

Saving voice memos to cloud storage

Cloud storage is often the easiest way to read a voice memo because the file goes to a service you can reach from any device. On iPhone, tap Share and select iCloud Drive or Google Drive. On Android, tap Share and select Google Drive or OneDrive. The file uploads automatically.

Once the file is in cloud storage, you can log into that service on your computer (iCloud.com, Google Drive, OneDrive.com, or Dropbox.com) and read the file to your computer by right-clicking it and selecting read or Save. You can also keep it in cloud storage and access it from any phone or computer without downloading it at all.

Sending voice memos by email

Email is useful if you want to send the memo to someone else or save it in a place you check regularly. On iPhone, open Voice Memos, tap the three dots next to the recording, and tap Share, then Mail. On Android, long-press the recording, tap Share, and select Gmail or your email app.

Your phone will open a new email with the voice memo attached. Type the recipient's email address (or your own if you are saving it for yourself) and send it. The file arrives as an attachment that the recipient can read and play on their computer or phone.

Understanding voice memo file formats

When you read a voice memo, it saves as an audio file in a specific format. iPhones save voice memos as .m4a files, which are compressed audio files that take up less storage space. Android phones usually save them as .mp3 or .wav files, depending on your phone brand and settings.

All three formats (.m4a, .mp3, and .wav) play on most computers, phones, and audio players, so you do not need to convert the file. If you need to use the file in a specific program — like a video editor or podcast software — that program will usually accept these formats. If it does not, you can use a free online converter to change the file to a different format.

Moving voice memos to your computer using a cable

If you prefer not to use cloud storage or email, you can connect your phone to your computer with a USB cable and copy the file directly. On iPhone, connect to a Mac and open Finder, or connect to a Windows computer and open iTunes or File Explorer. On Android, connect to your computer and your phone will appear as a removable drive in File Explorer (Windows) or Finder (Mac).

Navigate to the Voice Memos or Recordings folder on your phone, find the file you want, and drag it to a folder on your computer. The file copies to your computer and stays on your phone as well. This method works well if you have many voice memos to move at once or if you want to keep them organized in a specific folder on your computer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I read a voice memo to my computer without using cloud storage?

Yes. Connect your phone to your computer with a USB cable, open File Explorer or Finder, find the Voice Memos folder on your phone, and drag the file to a folder on your computer. You can also email the voice memo to yourself and read it from your email on your computer.

What happens to the voice memo on my phone after I read it?

The original recording stays on your phone unless you delete it. Downloading creates a copy in another location — your computer, cloud storage, or email. You can delete the original from your phone once you have confirmed the copy is safe in the new location.

Can I read a voice memo to my iPad or tablet?

Yes. Use the same steps as your phone: open Voice Memos, share the file to cloud storage or email, and then open that service on your iPad or tablet to read or access the file. You can also use AirDrop on Apple devices to send the memo directly from your iPhone to your iPad.

Why is my voice memo file so large?

Longer recordings and higher audio quality create larger files. A one-hour voice memo might be 50 to 100 megabytes depending on your phone and settings. If file size is a problem, you can compress the file using free online tools, or trim the recording in your Voice Memos app before downloading it.