You can now get transcripts of voice messages on WhatsApp
WhatsApp rolled out a new feature on Thursday that should make sharing voice messages easier. It introduces voice message transcriptions on WhatsApp for Android and iOS platforms, allowing users to see a text-based transcription of the voice message they received from others. The feature is said to come in handy while you are on the go or in a loud environment. This development comes after WhatsApp recently released a draft label for unread messages in chats and a new widget for the home screen of its iOS app.
WhatsApp voice message transcriptions
In a blog afterWhatsApp emphasized that transcripts of voice messages are generated on the device and that no one else can hear or read the content of the transcripts. Voice messages are still protected by the instant messaging platform’s end-to-end encryption, the company points out.
The function must be enabled before use. Once switched, a transcript will automatically appear below the voice message in the selected language. According to the company, only the recipient can see a transcript of the voice message and not the sender.
WhatsApp says it currently only supports English, Portuguese, Spanish and Russian on the Android platform, while the iOS app will gain support for a few more languages including Arabic, Chinese, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Norwegian, Thai, Turkish, and Swedish.
How to use this feature:
- Open WhatsApp Settings > Chats
- Switch Transcriptions of voice messages on or off and select the desired language.
- Tap and hold a voice message, then tap Transcribe.
- Tap the expand icon in the voice message to view more of the transcript.
WhatsApp says it may take some time for the transcript to appear. If the users encounter the ‘Transcript not available’ error, it may be due to unsupported transcription language, background noise of unrecognizable words or unsupported voice message language. The company also advises caution as transcripts of voice messages may be inaccurate.
