How to activate the audio transcription feature? We tell you step by step
The voice-to-text transcription feature, now available on WhatsApp after months of testing, allows you to convert audio to text directly on your device, ensuring the privacy of your content.
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Unlike third-party services that required installing additional apps or sharing information with external contacts, this works entirely within the platform, providing end-to-end encrypted messages.
Privacy and simplicity: transcription directly on your device
WhatsApp ensures that this process is carried out exclusively on the phone, so even the app will not be able to access your voice messages. Once enabled, the system allows you to transcribe both new voice messages and old audio messages without the need to resort to external solutions.
To activate the feature, you must perform the following steps:
Initial settings:
- Go to Settings in WhatsApp.
- Select the “Chats” option.
- Access to “Voice Message Transcriptions”.
- Select the language in which you want to make the transcription.
Audio transcription:
- Touch and hold a voice message.
- Select the “Transcribe” option from the drop-down menu.
When you receive new audio with the feature enabled, a notification will appear under the player indicating that the message can be transcribed. Once accepted, the system will load the transcription engine needed to process the audio. From now on, each voice message will be displayed along with the corresponding text.
Transcription of old audios and deactivation of the function:
If you want to convert old messages to text, simply select the voice message, tap the three-dot menu, and select the Transcribe option. The generated text will be integrated into the audio message in your story.
If you don’t want to use this tool, you can deactivate it at any time in Settings > Chats.
With this update, WhatsApp not only makes it easier to manage voice messages, but also strengthens its commitment to the privacy and security of its users.
La Nación (Argentina) / GDA
*This content was rewritten using artificial intelligence based on information from La Nación (GDA) and verified by a journalist and editor.