How to Record Voice Notes on Android (Samsung, Pixel & More)

Android handles voice notes differently depending on your phone and app. Here’s how to record and send voice notes on any Android device.

Voice Notes in Messaging Apps

WhatsApp (Most Popular)

1. Open any chat
2. Tap and hold the microphone icon (right side)
3. Speak your message
4. Release to send

Hands-free: Swipe up while recording to lock, then tap send when done.

Google Messages

Google’s default messaging app supports voice:

1. Open a conversation
2. Tap and hold the microphone icon
3. Record and release to send

Note: Voice notes only work with RCS chats (Google’s iMessage competitor). Regular SMS doesn’t support audio.

Telegram

Same pattern:

1. Hold the mic icon
2. Talk
3. Release

Telegram also has video notes — hold the camera icon for circular video messages.

Signal

1. Hold the microphone icon
2. Record
3. Release to send

Signal’s voice notes follow your disappearing message settings.

Recording Voice Notes for Yourself

Google Recorder (Pixel & Most Android)

The best voice recording app on Android:

1. Open Recorder app (pre-installed on Pixel, download on others)
2. Tap the red button to start
3. Tap again to stop
4. Optionally get automatic transcription

Why it’s great:

• Free automatic transcription
• Search recordings by words spoken
• Backup to Google account
• Clean, simple interface

Samsung Voice Recorder

Built into Samsung phones:

1. Open Voice Recorder from apps
2. Tap record button
3. Tap stop when done
4. Save and optionally share

Modes:

• Standard: Normal recording
• Interview: Two microphones for conversations
• Speech-to-text: Live transcription

Other Recording Apps

• Easy Voice Recorder — Simple, reliable
• Hi-Q MP3 — High quality audio
• ASR Voice Recorder — Many export options

Where Voice Notes Are Saved

In Messaging Apps

Voice notes stay in the chat. To find them:

1. Open the conversation
2. Scroll or tap the contact name → Media
3. Look for audio files

In Recording Apps

Usually in internal storage:

• Google Recorder: Internal → Recorder folder (or backed up to Google)
• Samsung Voice Recorder: Internal → Voice Recorder folder
• Other apps: Usually Internal → [App name] folder

Accessing Files

1. Open Files app
2. Browse to Internal Storage
3. Find the app’s folder

Or just share directly from the recording app.

Samsung-Specific Features

Voice Recorder Modes

Standard Mode
Basic recording. Good for quick notes.

Interview Mode
Uses two microphones — one for each person. Best for conversations.

Speech-to-text Mode
Transcribes as you speak. Useful but less accurate than Google Recorder.

Sharing Samsung Voice Recordings

1. Open Voice Recorder
2. Tap the recording
3. Tap Share
4. Choose WhatsApp, Messages, email, etc.

Samsung Notes + Voice

Samsung Notes can include voice recordings:

1. Open a note
2. Tap the attachment icon
3. Select Voice recording
4. Record directly into your note

Google Pixel Features

Recorder App Transcription

Pixel’s Recorder automatically transcribes:

• Works offline
• Search by words spoken
• Mark important moments
• Share transcript or audio

Google Assistant Voice Notes

“Hey Google, take a note” — saves to Google Keep as text, not audio.

For actual voice notes, use Recorder app.

Voice-to-Text on Android

Live Transcription

• Google Recorder: Automatic, searchable
• Samsung Voice Recorder: Speech-to-text mode
• Gboard: Tap mic on keyboard for speech-to-text

After Recording

• Google Recorder: Tap any recording for full transcript
• Otter.ai: Import audio for transcription
• Upload to ChatGPT: Transcribe and summarize

FAQ

Android gives you plenty of options for voice notes — the challenge is that they’re scattered across different apps. Whether you’re using WhatsApp, Google Messages, or a dedicated recorder, the basics are the same: find the mic button, hold it, and talk.