How to read and fix voice message transcripts

iPhone 6 steps · Updated

Quick answer

In the chat:

  1. Tap the arrow on the voice message.
  2. Tap Transcript.
  3. Tap Edit. Type or fix the words.
  4. Tap the check mark.

The words then show under the voice message.

What you need

  • ✓TextPort on your iPhone
  • ✓A chat with a voice message saved on this iPhone
  • ✓iOS 26 or newer, for automatic transcripts

Steps

  1. Tap the arrow on the voice message

    It is at the right of the voice message. The voice message opens.

    A voice message in a chat with the arrow on the right highlighted

  2. Tap Transcript

    It is at the top (1). You see the words, or Not yet transcribed. Tap Edit to type a transcript.

    The voice message screen with the Transcript tab marked 1 and Edit marked 2

  3. Tap Edit

    It is at the bottom right (2). The keyboard opens.

  4. Type the words, then tap the check mark

    The check mark is at the bottom right. Tap the X to leave it as it was.

    The transcript with typed words and the check mark highlighted

  5. Check the chat

    Tap the back button. The words show under the voice message.

    A voice message in a chat with its words written under it

  6. Choose if PDFs show transcripts

    In Saved Chats, tap the gear, then Your Data, then Voice Messages. Use the switches.

    Include Transcripts in PDF Exports is for PDFs. Transcribe Voice Messages turns it all on or off.

    Voice Messages settings with the switches Transcribe Voice Messages and Include Transcripts in PDF Exports highlighted

Done

The voice message has the right words. Your PDFs show them if the switch is on.

Problems

There is no Transcript at the top.

Transcribe Voice Messages is off. Tap the gear, then Your Data, then Voice Messages. Turn it on.

Not yet transcribed. Tap Edit to type a transcript.

Keep TextPort open. It writes the words while it is open. Or tap Edit and type the words.

No speech detected. Tap Edit to type a transcript.

TextPort heard no words. Tap Edit to type them.

Needs iOS 26

Automatic transcripts need iOS 26. Update your iPhone. You can still type the words by hand.

Download didn’t finish

Connect to Wi-Fi. Tap Try Again on the Voice Messages screen.

Voice Messages says it is not available in your language.

Apple does not support this language yet. Tap Edit on the voice message and type the words.

This voice message isn’t saved on this iPhone, so it has no transcript.

The audio file is not on this iPhone. See Recover missing photos and attachments.

None of these match.

Email [email protected]. Say which step you were on. Say what you saw. We usually reply within a day.

Questions

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