WhatsApp has introduced a highly anticipated feature that enables users to transcribe voice messages into text, making it easier to stay engaged in conversations when listening isn’t an option. The feature, announced on Thursday, is rolling out globally over the next few weeks and will support a range of languages on both iOS and Android devices.
Designed for situations where users might be in noisy environments or prefer not to play voice messages aloud, the transcripts offer a discreet and efficient way to access voice content. The Meta-owned company emphasized that all transcripts are generated locally on the user’s device, ensuring privacy and security. “No one else can read them,” WhatsApp assured in its announcement.
How to Use the Feature
To enable voice message transcription, users need to navigate to their settings, select the “Chats” section, and toggle on the “Voice message transcripts” option. Once activated, a transcript can be generated for any voice message by long-pressing the message and selecting “transcribe.” The feature will not automatically transcribe all messages, giving users control over which messages they want converted.
Supported Languages
The feature supports multiple languages depending on the platform and operating system:
- iOS Users:
- iOS 16+: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Turkish, Chinese, and Arabic.
- iOS 17+: Additional languages include Danish, Finnish, Malay, Norwegian, Dutch, Swedish, Hebrew, and Thai.
- Android Users:
English, Portuguese, Spanish, and Russian are currently supported.
WhatsApp has announced plans to expand language support in the coming months, further broadening accessibility for its global user base.
Competition and Comparison
The new feature mirrors a similar function rolled out by Apple’s iMessage app with the release of iOS 17, signaling WhatsApp’s intent to stay competitive in the evolving messaging landscape.
With this update, WhatsApp continues to refine its platform, offering features that enhance user convenience and cater to diverse communication needs. Users are encouraged to check their app settings in the coming weeks to take advantage of this practical new tool.
