To save every voice message in a chat, export the chat with media. They come out as audio files, usually in a format called .opus. To save just one, forward it to the Files app on iPhone, or find it in WhatsApp’s folder on Android. They won’t show up in your photo gallery, because they’re audio files.
Save all the voice messages in a chat
This is the method WhatsApp’s own help pages support, and it works on both kinds of phone.
- iPhone: open the chat, tap the contact’s name, tap Export chat, then With all media.
- Android: open the chat, tap the three dots, then More, Export chat and Include media.
Save the ZIP, then open the export file. Voice messages have names like PTT-20260113-WA0003.opus from Android and 00000042-AUDIO-2026-01-15-14-23-01.opus from iPhone. The name tells you the date, and the text file shows where each one sits in the chat.
On a very long chat, WhatsApp says the most recent media is added, so older files may be missing. Our guide to exporting a chat has more on what to choose.
Save one voice message on iPhone
- Press and hold the voice message, then tap Forward.
- Tap the share icon.
- Tap Save to Files and choose a folder.
These steps come from a third-party guide, because WhatsApp doesn’t document them, so they may change.
Save one voice message on Android
WhatsApp says voice messages you receive are downloaded automatically, and that the folder is hidden but reachable with a file explorer.
- Open your phone’s file manager and turn on hidden files if you need to.
- WhatsApp’s help page gives
WhatsApp/Media/WhatsApp Voice Notes. On newer Android phones, the folder is usually atAndroid/media/com.whatsapp/WhatsApp/Media/WhatsApp Voice Notes. The exact path can differ between phones. - Copy the file you want somewhere easy to find. Copy it instead of moving it, so the note keeps working in the chat.
Files are named by date, so it helps to know roughly when the note was sent.
Play .opus files
Your phone or computer may not open these straight away. Windows Media Player’s list of file types doesn’t include .opus.
The free VLC player plays them on Windows and Mac, and it has phone apps too. You can also open your whole export on Chatonfile.com and play the notes in your browser, in their place in the chat. That’s free, and nothing is uploaded. Some browsers can’t play them, and those notes can still be written out in your PDF.
Convert them to MP3
Some apps only accept MP3. VLC can convert a file for free: use Media, then Convert / Save on Windows, or File, then Convert / Stream on Mac. If you’re comfortable with the command line, ffmpeg does it in one go:
ffmpeg -i note.opus note.mp3
Keep the original .opus file. Converting changes the file, and if you ever need the note as proof, you’ll want the file as WhatsApp made it. Be careful with online converters too, because you’d be uploading a private recording.
What you can’t save
- View once voice messages. WhatsApp says you can’t forward, copy, save, star or share them, and they don’t appear in exports.
- Deleted or disappeared notes. Once they’re gone from your phone, only a backup or the other person’s phone may still have them. See whether deleted messages can be recovered.
Turn them into text
WhatsApp can write out voice messages on your phone. Go to Settings, Chats, Voice Message Transcripts, then tap and hold a message and choose Transcribe. It runs on your device.
It’s useful for a quick read, but it has limits:
- On Android, the help page lists only English, Portuguese, Spanish and Russian. iPhone covers more languages.
- WhatsApp says you can’t copy and paste transcripts.
- Each transcript shows under its own message, so you can’t get every note in one place.
To get every note in a chat written out in one place, you can order a PDF from your export on Chatonfile.com. Our page on WhatsApp voice notes to text explains how accurate that is and what happens to the audio.
Common questions
Where are WhatsApp voice messages stored?
On Android, in a hidden WhatsApp Voice Notes folder that you can open with a file manager. On iPhone, they stay inside WhatsApp, so you save them by forwarding them to Files or by exporting the chat.
Can I save a WhatsApp voice message as an MP3?
Yes, by converting it. Save the .opus file first, then use a free program such as VLC to convert a copy to MP3. Keep the original too, because the conversion changes the file.
Why won't my WhatsApp voice message play on my computer?
Voice messages usually come out as .opus files, and some default players don't open them. Windows Media Player's list of supported file types doesn't include .opus. VLC is free and plays them on Windows and Mac.
Are voice messages included in a WhatsApp backup?
Yes, a backup includes messages and media, and you can restore it to WhatsApp. You can't browse a backup like a folder, so export the chat if you want the audio files themselves.
