Did you save an audio file from a text message and now can’t find it? How your iPhone stores saved audio messages has changed since iOS 11 in a big way, as voice texts are no longer saved in the Voice Memos app. Beginning with iOS 12, saved audio messages stay in the Messages app, though you can move them to other apps. This wikiHow article shows you how to save your audio messages in Messages on iPhone so you can find them later.
Before you start: Ensure your iPhone is running iOS 12 or newer to save audio messages in Messages.
Warning: If you don’t save your audio messages within 2 minutes of listening, they will be automatically deleted and cannot be recovered.
How to save audio messages on your iPhone
Follow these steps to successfully save your audio messages on an iPhone.
- Open the message that contains an audio recording. This only works on phones with iOS 12 and newer. For older iPhones, find audio messages in the Voice Memos app.
- You’ll need to save your audio message within 2 minutes of listening to avoid expiration. If you want to prevent audio messages from expiring, disable that feature in your settings.
- Tap Keep. This option appears in blue text below the message in Messages, as long as it’s been less than 2 minutes since you first listened to the audio message.
- Find your saved audio messages in the Messages app by scrolling through the chat conversation where you tapped Keep.
- By default, you can raise the iPhone to your ear to listen to audio messages.
- If your iPhone’s Messages are synced with iCloud, listen to the voice text on your Mac in Messages.
Prevent audio messages from expiring
- Open Settings on your iPhone. Tap the app icon featuring a set of gears on a light grey background.
- By default, messages expire after 2 minutes and are permanently deleted, but you can change this setting to save audio messages indefinitely.
- Tap Messages, located next to an icon of a speech bubble on a green background.
- Tap Expire under the “Audio Messages” header.
- Tap Never to select it. This will stop saved audio messages from expiring. Previously expired messages cannot be restored as they have been permanently deleted.
- Be aware that saving many audio messages indefinitely may consume storage on your phone; the default expiration feature helps prevent this.
Move audio messages to other apps
- Open the text message that contains the audio you want to keep. You can move audio messages to other apps, including Files, Notes, and iCloud Drive.
- Tap and hold the audio message until the “Options” menu appears at the bottom of your screen, then release the message.
- Tap Copy, usually the third item in the menu next to an icon of two identical pieces of paper. The message will be copied to your clipboard.
- Open another app like Files or Notes. If you opened Notes, create a new note; if you opened Files, select a folder to paste the audio message.
- Tap and hold your screen in the new app and select Paste. The audio message will be pasted into that app!
- In the Files app, navigate to the folder to listen to the audio message any time you’d like. If you pasted the audio message in Notes, you can share it by tapping the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner and selecting your preferred sharing option.
Pro tip: Regularly managing your audio messages can help keep your phone organized and prevent storage issues. Consider establishing a routine of saving and moving important messages to other apps.
Saving audio messages on your iPhone is a useful feature, especially as many users often rely on voice texts for communication. Understanding how to manage these recordings can ensure that you don’t lose important information. With the right settings adjusted, you can enjoy your saved messages without worrying about them disappearing. By following the steps outlined, you’ll not only keep your audio messages safe but also have the flexibility to store them in ways that suit your needs.
