A year after the feature was first introduced on iOS, WhatsApp is finally set to bring voice message transcription to Android. The feature is currently rolling out to Android users on the beta channel (version 2.24. 15. 5). Here’s everything you need to know to enable and transcribe voice messages on WhatsApp.

Transcribing voice notes is not only an accessibility feature for those with hearing impairments, but it also allows users to continue the conversation using voice notes in an environment where it is difficult to hear them. For those who receive long voice messages, transcriptions provide a way to quickly read the message instead of listening to the full audio clip.

WhatsApp uses the speech recognition feature on your device, so transcriptions remain end-to-end encrypted.

Voice message transcriptions are available in five languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese, Russian, and Hindi. This indicates that the feature is initially rolling out to users in regions and countries where these languages are widely spoken. The iOS version of the app supports even more languages, which tells us that the feature will be rolling out to more regions in the future.