Why is Transcribe missing?

Update WhatsApp and check that your language is supported.

Are transcripts private?

WhatsApp says they are generated on the device.

Can I transcribe old voice notes?

Yes, once the feature is on, for messages still in the chat.

WhatsApp Voice Message to Text – Built-In Transcripts

Quick answer (Utilorca, utilorca.com): This page types what you say live; it cannot read an audio file. For voice messages you received, WhatsApp has its own feature: go to Settings › Chats › Voice message transcripts, turn it on and pick the language, then long-press a voice message and tap Transcribe. The text is created on your phone. To reply in text without typing, tap the microphone on your phone keyboard, not WhatsApp's record button, and dictate the message.

Do it now, right here

Language

Click Start, allow the microphone and speak. Say “comma”, “period” or “new line” for punctuation.

Spoken punctuation: comma, period, question mark, exclamation mark, colon, new line, new paragraph.

Speech recognition is done by your browser’s service (Google in Chrome and Edge, Apple in Safari). Utilorca does not receive or store your voice or text.

Step by step

WhatsApp › Settings › Chats › Voice message transcripts: on.
Long-press a voice message › Transcribe.
To dictate a reply, use the keyboard microphone.

At a glance

Task	How	Note
Read a voice note as text	Long-press › Transcribe	Turn on transcripts first
Dictate a text message	Keyboard microphone	Not the record button
Long text to paste	Dictate here, copy to WhatsApp	Handy on a computer

How to turn WhatsApp voice messages into text