The short answer
- 1Tap the button next to a voice or round video message and the speech appears as text.
- 2Use it where you cannot play sound, to skim long messages, and to keep notes.
- 3Transcription is processed off your device, so skip it in secret chats.
In this article
Reading instead of listening
With Telegram Premium, tapping the transcription button next to a voice message or a round video message turns the speech into text. Free accounts can try voice message transcription a limited number of times each week, as the official blog announced; the number is set by Telegram and can change. The feature is most useful wherever you cannot play sound, and for skimming a long voice message before deciding whether to listen. Everyday use is covered in transcribing voice messages.
- Voice-to-Text Conversion - the feature as Telegram describes it in Settings › Telegram Premium
Opened from Settings › Telegram Premium by tapping the feature. This is Telegram's preview page; the setting itself lives where the steps below say.
The transcript can be selected, so you can copy part of it or quote it in a reply. Round video messages work too, so you can read what someone said on camera without headphones; see video message transcription.
When voice-to-text earns its place
| Situation | How transcription helps |
|---|---|
| You cannot make a sound: a meeting, a library, next to someone asleep | Tap and read. It removes the voice messages that used to wait until you found headphones |
| A long message you are unsure about | Skim the text first and listen only to the part that matters. When tone matters, listen then |
| Numbers and names | Read them in the text, but transcription can mishear, so play back anything important |
| You want to find it later | Recordings are not searchable, but a transcript copied into Saved Messages is. A one-line note of a time or address saves a hunt |
| You would rather not receive voice at all | That is a privacy setting, not transcription; see restricting voice messages |
Transcribing a voice message
- Tap the transcription button to the right of the voice bubble. The text expands inside the bubble.
- Select and copy the part you need, or reply quoting it.
- Listen to anything that matters, especially numbers, names and tone.
- Leave secret chats alone.
FAQ
Can free Telegram users transcribe voice messages?
Yes, a limited number each week. Premium removes the limit.
Is Telegram voice-to-text accurate?
Mostly, but it can mishear names and numbers, so play back anything important.
Should I transcribe voice messages in a secret chat?
No. Transcription processes the audio off your device, which defeats end-to-end encryption.
Sources
At a glance
- 1What
Voice and round video messages turned into text.
- 2Free
A limited number per week without Premium.
- 3Care
Check numbers by listening; not in secret chats.
Updated
