Start with the app that holds your recording. iPhone Voice Memos, Google Pixel Recorder and Samsung Voice Recorder can transcribe recordings on supported devices and in supported languages. If your recorder does not offer a usable transcript, export the audio file and use a file transcription tool. If you need text in another language, check separately whether the tool translates: transcription and translation are different steps.
Choose a route
- iPhone Voice Memos: On an iPhone 12 or later, open the recording and look for its transcript. Apple lists ten language variants and says availability varies by region.
- Pixel Recorder: Open the Transcript tab. If your language is unavailable for live transcription, try “Transcribe again” and check Google's processing note before using it.
- Samsung Voice Recorder: On a supported Galaxy device, use Transcribe assist. It can also translate the finished transcript.
- Another recorder or unsupported language: Export the audio. MirrorCaption's desktop Transcriber accepts common audio formats and offers optional one-way translation in selectable languages.
Check the recorder and language first
A recorder's transcript feature depends on the device, software version, language and sometimes region. This table points to the official instructions for the three built-in paths. For any other Android recorder, check that particular app: Android devices do not all ship the same recording and transcription features.
| Recording app | Built-in path | Language check | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone Voice Memos | iPhone 12 or later; feature available in supported regions | Apple lists English, Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, French, German, Japanese, Korean and two Chinese variants | Voice Memos transcript is in the spoken language |
| Pixel Recorder | Real-time transcription from Pixel 3; available languages vary by model | Google lists separate live and “Transcribe again” languages; the latter may process audio on Google servers | No translation option described in Recorder help |
| Samsung Transcribe assist | Supported Galaxy devices through Voice Recorder | Samsung publishes the supported languages and lets you select one before transcription | Yes, after transcription |
| MirrorCaption Transcriber | Upload a recording in the desktop app after signing in | Choose a supported source language; a language absent from the product list is unsupported | Optional one-way translation to a different supported language |
How to transcribe an iPhone Voice Memo
- Open Voice Memos and tap the saved recording.
- Tap More, then View Transcript. To take all the text to another app, choose Copy Transcript.
- If there is no transcript, check the device, region and Apple's current language list. An iPhone 12 or later is required; the feature arrived with iOS 18.
Apple's support guidance also ties availability to a supported device language. Check your device language, the language spoken in the recording, and whether the feature is available in your region. A recording in a different language may produce an unusable transcript; changing settings cannot repair the original audio. If built-in transcription is unsuitable, export the original recording.
To export, tap the recording, More, Share, then Save to Files. Apple says the default export is .m4a; MirrorCaption's file picker accepts .m4a, so the normal export needs no conversion. If you choose Apple's editable sharing option instead, inspect the resulting file format before uploading.
How to transcribe a recording on Android
Google Pixel Recorder
Open the recording in Recorder and select Transcript. Google's help page separates real-time languages for Pixel 3–5a from those for Pixel 6 and later. On Pixel 6 and later, Recorder settings also let you choose a language for detection. If the live transcript is missing or in the wrong language, open the recording's menu, select Transcribe again, and choose a language from that feature's longer list. Google warns that this step may process the audio on its servers.
Samsung Voice Recorder
On a device with Transcribe assist, select the recording in Voice Recorder, tap Transcribe, choose the spoken language and tap Transcribe again. Once text appears, use the translation icon and choose a target language if needed. Samsung also offers a summary, with additional account and recording-length conditions. Feature support can vary by device and software version.
Other Android recorders
Open your recorder's menu and look for a transcript or export action. Capabilities vary by manufacturer and app, so a missing option in one recorder says nothing about another. If the app only saves audio, share the file to a computer or cloud folder and use the upload path below.
When you need an upload tool
Use this route for an unsupported recorder or language, or when you need optional translation of an existing file. Our foreign-language transcription guide compares broader service choices; these steps focus on a file you already have.
- Export the audio. Keep the original recording. For iPhone Voice Memos, Save to Files normally produces .m4a. On Android, use the recording app's Share or Export action.
- Move it to a desktop browser. In MirrorCaption, sign in and choose Transcriber from Other products. Select the file and its spoken language.
- Decide whether to translate. Leave translation off for a transcript in the spoken language. To read it in another supported language, enable translation and choose the target. The Transcriber UI sends a one-way translation request.
- Submit and review. Processing is asynchronous; the completed transcript appears in session history. Compare names, numbers and important statements with the audio before sharing.
The current uploader accepts .mp3, .m4a, .mp4, .wav, .webm, .ogg, .flac and .aac. The server limits each upload to 100 MB and 300 minutes. A file can still fail if the audio is unreadable or you lack enough transcription quota. Session exports are plain text, Markdown or JSON; the app does not currently export a finished SRT or VTT subtitle file.
Privacy check: Pixel Recorder's ordinary transcription can work on the device, while “Transcribe again” may use Google servers. Uploading to any separate transcription service also sends the recording for processing. Check your consent and data-handling requirements before moving someone else's recording.
Transcription versus translation
A transcript writes the spoken words in the source language. A translation renders those words in a different language. Apple's Voice Memos and Pixel Recorder instructions explain transcription; Samsung documents a separate translation action. MirrorCaption's desktop Transcriber offers an optional one-way translation alongside the transcript. If your language is not among its supported selectable languages, MirrorCaption cannot currently process that language.
For a recording with several speakers or technical vocabulary, review the output against the audio. If you need subtitles with timing or a certified record, choose a service that explicitly provides those deliverables. For a live conversation, use a live captioning workflow instead of uploading a finished file. Our guides to recording interviews and transcribing and translating audio cover those separate needs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I transcribe a voice memo for free?
If your device and language qualify, its built-in recorder may provide a transcript without a separate transcription purchase. An external upload service may use an allowance or paid quota; check your account's current balance before submitting a long recording.
Why is there no transcript in iPhone Voice Memos?
Apple requires an iPhone 12 or later, a supported device language and an available region; the recording must contain speech the feature can transcribe. Check Apple's current guide and try a clear recording with speech. If the feature still does not appear, export the audio and use a supported file transcription tool.
How do I transcribe a memo in a language my recorder does not support?
Export its audio and choose a file transcription tool that explicitly supports the spoken language. MirrorCaption's desktop Transcriber accepts the default .m4a export from iPhone Voice Memos, but languages absent from its supported list are not available.
Can I translate a voice memo transcript?
Samsung Transcribe assist documents a translation step after transcription. MirrorCaption's desktop Transcriber also offers optional one-way translation between supported languages. iPhone Voice Memos and Pixel Recorder instructions cover transcription, so use a separate translation tool when necessary.
Which file formats can I upload to MirrorCaption?
The desktop Transcriber file picker accepts .mp3, .m4a, .mp4, .wav, .webm, .ogg, .flac and .aac. The server limit is 100 MB and 300 minutes per recording. The file must contain readable audio and the account needs sufficient quota.
Have a recording that needs text?
Export the audio, choose a supported spoken language, and add translation only if you need it.
Open MirrorCaption