🎤 Using Voice Notes

Blink's Voice Notes feature makes communication even more flexible and personal. Whether you're on the go, need to share something quickly, or just prefer speaking over typing, voice notes have you covered.

With transcripts, voice notes work for everyone, even when listening isn't an option. Voice notes are transcribed automatically, so you can read what was said instead of playing it, whether you're somewhere noisy, in a meeting, without headphones, or deaf or hard of hearing. The sender doesn't need to do anything extra.

🔍 What Are Voice Notes?

Voice Notes let you record and send audio messages in chats or channels from your mobile device. Recipients can listen, pause, scrub, and reply—just like any other message. They can also read a transcript of the voice note.

🎙 How to Record a Voice Note

Open a chat or channel on your mobile device
Tap or click the microphone icon

3. Start recording your message

4. Stop recording when you’re done

5. Choose to playback, send, or delete the recording

Voice notes can be up to 15 minutes long

▶️ How to Play a Voice Note

When someone sends you a voice note:

Tap Play to listen (playback available on web and mobile)
Use the pause button anytime
Scrub through the recording to jump ahead or replay
You can also reply, forward, or report the voice note, just like any other message

📝 Read a Voice Note as a Transcript

Voice notes are transcribed automatically when they're sent, so anyone in the chat can read them when they can't listen. It's also quicker to skim a transcript than to play back a long voice note.

Open the voice note's menu: long-press it on iOS or Android, or click the three dots on web
Choose View transcript
The transcript appears inside the message, under the waveform
To put it away, open the menu again and choose Hide transcript

Long transcripts start collapsed with a View more link, so they don't fill up the conversation. Right-to-left languages such as Arabic are shown in the correct direction.

Don't see View transcript? Voice note transcripts are being rolled out to organisations gradually. If you don't see the option, check your app is up to date and contact your Customer Success Manager.

If a transcript shows as unavailable

The voice note was only just sent. Transcription runs in the background, taking a few seconds for a short note and around 1–2 minutes for a 10-minute one. Try again a little later.
The voice note was sent before transcripts were turned on for your organisation. Older voice notes aren't transcribed.
The recording has no speech in it, or transcription wasn't successful.

💡 Good to Know

Question	Answer
How long can a voice note be?	Up to 15 minutes.
Can I speed up playback?	Not yet, but we plan to add it.
What platforms can I record on?	iOS, and Android.
What platforms can I playback on?	Web, iOS and Android.
Is it on by default?	Yes. This is an out-the-box feature.
Are transcripts available for my organisation?	Transcripts are being rolled out to organisations gradually. If you don't see View transcript, contact your Customer Success Manager.
Which app version do I need to see transcripts?	iOS 3.274.0 or later, or Android 2.256.34 or later. On web, no update is needed. Older app versions still work but won't show the View transcript option.
Does the sender need to turn on transcription?	No. When transcripts are on for your organisation, every voice note is transcribed automatically. People just choose whether to view it.
Which languages can be transcribed?	The language is detected automatically and the transcript is in the language spoken. Transcripts aren't translated. Names and brand names may be less accurate.
Can transcripts be edited?	Not yet.
Can older voice notes be transcribed?	No. Only voice notes sent after transcripts were turned on for your organisation are transcribed.
Do transcripts show in notifications or search?	Not yet. Transcripts only show inside the conversation.

Need help or feedback on Voice Notes? Reach out to your Blink Admin or contact our support team, support@joinblink.com.