How do I save an audio message to my phone?

Privacy matters a lot to Apple. That’s why there’s no native call recording feature on the iPhone to date. Similarly, by default, all audio messages in iMessage are set to expire automatically after two minutes.

But, from time to time, you may want to save audio messages that bring a smile to your face or explain important details. Here’s how to save audio messages on iPhone and iPad.

Something to understand before we start…

There are two ways to save (or keep) iMessage audio messages. Frankly speaking, the term ‘save’ here does not mean you can save it in Files or export it to any other app. ‘Save’ here simply means preserving the audio messages from being deleted automatically.

One method is to keep only the audio messages that you choose, and the rest are deleted after two minutes. Another method is to keep all audio messages forever. Take a look at both and use the one you prefer.

• How to save specific audio messages on iPhone Messages app
• How to save all audio messages on iPhone and iPad

This feature will only work if your iPhone audio message settings are set to expire after 2 minutes of playing it (which is the default).

How to save specific audio messages on iPhone Messages app

1. Open Messages and tap on a conversation.
2. Send an audio message. Immediately you’ll see Keep below the audio note you just sent. Tap it, and this particular audio message will not be deleted after two minutes.
   
   
   

Now, let’s talk about the audio messages that you receive. Once you get an audio message, play it by tapping the triangle button. After you play it, you will see the word Expires in 2m. Once around 30 seconds pass, you’ll see an additional option—Keep. Tap it to save this audio message.

Now, after two minutes, this particular audio message will not get deleted.

How to save all audio messages on iPhone and iPad

1. Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad.
2. Tap Messages.
   
   
   
3. Under AUDIO MESSAGES, tap Expire.
4. Choose Never.
   
   
   

Now, all audio messages that you send and receive will not be deleted. They will be ‘saved’ in the conversation, just like other texts, images, and videos. You can play it anytime.

That’s all, mate!

Now, you may be wondering about the Save option that appears if you long-press an audio message. Well, before iOS 12, you could tap it, and the audio message would get saved in the Voice Memos app. Now, it’s just as vestigial as your appendix.

By default, iPhone audio messages will delete after a set period to save storage space. If you want to save your audio messages instead, follow this guide.

Audio messages are a quick and effective way to share a lot of information without typing out a long message. This is especially true on mobile devices like your iPhone, where recording a quick audio message can take a fraction of the time than typing the same message. Although audio messages take up more space than text messages, your iPhone will automatically delete audio messages two minutes after you’ve sent them or listened to them.

What if you decide you want to keep some or all of your messages, however? The good news is that you can save individual audio messages on an iPhone with just a single tap. You can also change your settings so that all of your audio messages save by default.

If you’re unsure, here’s how to save audio messages on an iPhone.

How to Save Audio Messages That You Send on an iPhone

As we’ve explained, audio messages that you send or receive on an iPhone are usually deleted after two minutes. You’ll need to change this setting if you want to keep them.

To save an audio message you’ve sent on an iPhone:

1. Send your audio message using the Messages app.
2. Underneath the audio message, you’ll see the word Keep.
   
   
   
3. Tap this—your audio message will no longer be automatically deleted.
4. To listen to the message in the future, open the conversation containing the audio message and press the Play button.
   
   

How to Save Audio Messages That You Receive on an iPhone

If you want to save an audio message that you’ve received from someone else, you can do so in a similar way. You’ll need to wait for the Keep option to appear.

To save an audio message you’ve received on an iPhone:

1. Play the audio message by tapping the Play icon in the Messages app.
2. You’ll be informed that the message expires in two minutes.
   
   
   
3. After a short wait, the Keep option will appear.
   
   
   
4. Tap this to stop the message from automatically being deleted.
5. If you want to listen to the message in the future, return to the same conversation and tap the Play icon to listen to it.

How to Save Audio Messages in Notes

Finding an audio message in a long conversation can take a lot of scrolling. If you want to save audio messages somewhere they are more immediately accessible, it’s possible to copy and paste an audio message into the Notes app.

To save audio messages in Notes:

1. Tap and hold the audio message you want to copy.
2. Select Copy.
   
   
   
3. Open the Notes app and open the note where you want to save the audio message or create a new note.
4. Tap and hold an empty section of the note and select Paste.
   
   
   
5. Your audio message will be inserted into your note.
   
   
   

You can copy and paste as many audio messages as you wish. You can’t rename the files, so you may want to make a note by each audio message to remind you of what it is.

How to Save All Audio Messages on iPhone

If you would rather keep all of your audio messages on an iPhone, you can turn off the option to have them automatically deleted. This ensures all of your audio messages will be saved in your conversations.

You should be aware that if you have a lot of longer messages, they may start to eat up your precious storage space.

To automatically save all audio messages on an iPhone:

1. Open the Settings app.
   
   
   
2. Tap Messages.
   
   
   
3. Scroll to the bottom of the screen.
4. Under Audio Messages, tap Expire.
   
   
   
5. Tap Never.
   
   
   
6. Exit the menu.

Your audio messages (both sent and received) will save at this point. If you change your mind, repeat the steps above, and select After 2 Minutes.

Configuring Your Messages on iPhone

Learning how to save audio messages on an iPhone ensures that you don’t lose any precious or important audio messages that you’d rather keep. There are some other useful Messages skills that you might want to learn, however.

For example, you can make it easier to navigate your past conversations by deleting messages that you don’t need. You can also filter messages from unknown senders to stop your messages from filling up with spam.

If you use other Apple devices, you can enable Messages in iCloud to sync your messages across all of your devices.

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