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CAPTURE YOUR DAY

Record voice journal entries

Record a thought when you would rather speak than type. A voice entry keeps the words and the way you said them. See the [voice journal overview](/voice-journal-app) for everyday uses and recording choices.

How to get started

  1. Open the waveform action in the composer. Allow microphone access if you want to record.
  2. Speak into the microphone. Watch the recording controls and use pause or resume when available.
  3. Stop the recording, review the audio and any recognized text, then save the entry.
  4. Use the play button beside a saved waveform to listen again.
Voice Notes journal with a saved recording, waveform and written sample entry.
A voice memory in its journal. The audio remains available through its play control; review recognized text separately. View full screenshot

Return to the recording

Open the saved entry and use its playback control to listen again. You can add written context so the memory is easier to recognize later.

This guide covers saving and playing audio. Converting a recording to text is a separate feature.

Voice entry with play control, waveform, a 28-second duration and sample text.
Listen to a saved recording. Use the play control beside the waveform to hear the saved audio. View full screenshot

If recording or playback does not work

Check microphone permission in the device settings and make sure you have enough storage for new media. For playback, check volume and whether sound is routed to headphones or another device.

If a recording should have arrived from Apple Watch, check the companion connection and the Watch guide. Do not delete your original recording while investigating a transfer.

Transcripts are worth checking

Speech Recognition permission is separate from microphone access. Review names and words before relying on a transcript; keep the original audio when the text is incomplete.

See voice transcription for permissions and Watch recordings, or Apple Watch to capture from your wrist.

Apple Watch recording screen with a 42-second timer, waveform, pause, stop and cancel actions.
A voice entry on Apple Watch. Use the Watch’s recording controls, then check the transferred entry on your iPhone. This is a sample recording. View full screenshot

Screenshots use sample content. Labels and available controls can vary by app version and device.