WhatsApp, the widely used messaging app owned by Meta, has introduced a long-awaited feature that allows users to convert voice messages into text. This new update, which is gradually being rolled out globally, aims to improve user experience, especially in situations where listening to audio is not possible or convenient.
The feature, first announced in November last year, uses on-device processing to ensure user privacy throughout the transcription process. Initially supporting multiple languages, including English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian, the transcription tool is expected to expand to more languages in the future. However, regions such as South Asia currently do not have full support for local languages like Hindi and Urdu.
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To enable the transcription feature, users must update to the latest version of WhatsApp and turn on “Voice Message Transcripts” from the “Chats” menu in settings. Once activated, transcribing a voice message is simple: just long-press the message and select the “Transcribe” option from the “More Options” menu.
Although the feature enhances accessibility, it may not work perfectly in noisy environments or with unclear voice messages. As the feature is still new, WhatsApp is expected to refine it further in future updates, making communication more flexible and inclusive for all users.
