M4A and voice memo to text

Choose an M4A file or a Voice Memo from your iPhone and read it as text.

How to transcribe an iPhone voice memo

1. On iPhone, open Voice Memos, tap the recording, tap the three dots and choose Save to Files.
2. Open this page in Safari and choose the file from Files.
3. Read, copy or download the transcript.

About M4A

M4A is the AAC audio format Apple uses for Voice Memos and many Android recorder apps also use. It is small and good quality, so it transcribes well. Keep the tab open while it works; if the screen locks, Safari may pause the page.

Frequently asked questions

Is my recording uploaded to a server?

No. The speech model is downloaded to your browser once and the audio is transcribed on your own phone or computer. The file never leaves your device.

Why is the first transcription slower?

The first time, your browser downloads the speech model (about 40 MB for Quick, 80 MB for Balanced, 250 MB for Accurate). After that it is cached and starts in seconds, even offline.

How long can the recording be?

There is no fixed limit. An hour-long lecture works on most laptops; on a phone, recordings under about 30 minutes are more comfortable. Lines appear while it works, so you can stop at any point and keep what is done.

Does it work in Safari on iPhone?

Yes, on recent iOS versions. Quick and Balanced modes are the most comfortable on a phone.