WhatsApp introduces transcriptions for voice messages with support for multiple languages

WhatsApp continues to make changes to meet the needs of its users.

This time, it’s about the introduction of a feature that many users wanted: the transcription of voice messages.

Why is it important?

This allows users to see the text of an incoming voicemail directly on their phone, whether they’re using Android or iOS.

The function proves useful in situations where listening to a voice message is not possible, such as noisy places or those times when discretion is important.

How it works

Transcripts are generated exclusively on the user’s device for total privacy.

WhatsApp emphasizes that the feature does not compromise data security, with voice messages still protected by the same end-to-end encryption they do every day.

Users must manually enable this feature. After activation, the transcript appears automatically under the voice message, in the selected language.

Another thing to note is that only the recipient can see the transcript, not the sender.

What languages ​​are supported?

Currently, on Android devices, WhatsApp only supports transcription in four languages. These are English, Spanish, Portuguese and Russian.

On iOS, the range of available languages ​​is much more extensive, including but not limited to French, Italian, Dutch, Swedish, German, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Norwegian, Thai, and Turkish.

The company promises that other languages ​​will be added in the future to cover a wider range of users.

Limitations and possible errors

While the feature is welcome, users should be aware that they may experience issues with transcripts.

If the voice message language does not match the one selected for transcription, or if the message contains background noise or unclear words, the transcription may be inaccurate or unavailable.

For this reason, WhatsApp recommends caution in interpreting the results, stressing that the feature is an additional tool, not a solution free of any kind of errors.

Global availability

The feature is rolling out globally and will be available to all users in the coming weeks.

The activation process

Users just had to go to Settings > Chats > Transcribe voice messages, turn on the feature and choose the desired language.

In order to transcribe a specific voicemail, they just need to press and hold on it and select the Transcribe option.

For optimal use, it is recommended to check the language download settings when you first activate the function, choosing between downloading immediately or waiting for a Wi-Fi connection.