It’s easy to troubleshoot iOS 17 Audio Message Transcription feature if it’s not working.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- If iOS 17 voice message transcription is not working properly, there are a number of simple tricks you can try to get it working quickly.
- The first thing you should try is to set English as the primary language.
- You can also try speaking slowly to help your iPhone transcribe your message better.
- You can also make sure your iPhone is up to date, restart the Messages app, and check Apple System status page to see if there is a known issue.
Audio Message Transcriptions, also known as voice notes, enables you to read your audio messages without listening to them. Audio message transcriptions are automatically enabled after you downloaded iOS 17. After you send the message, the transcript will appear below the audio bars. But what do you do if Audio Message Transcription doesn’t work? In this article, I’ll explain why audio message transcription is not working on your iPhone or iPad and show you how to fix the problem.
Why is iMessage unable to transcribe the audio messages on your iPhone or iPad?
Y
The iOS 17 audio message transcription not working issue is possibly caused by the following:
- If you speak quickly your words might be transformed or combined in weird ways.
- You need a Wi-Fi connection or cellular data to transcribe audio messages.
- The transcription also may not be compatible with your language.
- A software glitch on your iPhone or iPad may be preventing the audio transcription feature from working properly.
You may need to try a few different troubleshooting methods to fix a Audio Message Transcription that isn’t working on your iPhone or iPad.
How to Fix Audio Message Transcription Not Working in Messages on iPhone and iPad
1. Make Sure English is Set As the Primary Language
According to Apple, audio message transcription only works for select languages. For example, I tried to use Spanish in an audio message and it transcribed it, but only when my iPhone’s language was set to English. When I set my iPhone’s language to Spanish and used Spanish to send an audio message, it didn’t transcribe at all. I also tried to send a message in English while my iPhone was set to Spanish and it didn’t transcribe that message, either. I tried this with German, as well, and had similar results. To solve this problem, youll need to set your iPhone’s language to English. Here’s how:
- Go to Settings .
- Tap General.
- Select Language & Region.
- Set the preferred language to English.
2. Ensure That the Audio Message is Short and Clear
The reason why iOS 17’s audio message transcription is not working could simply be that the software could not understand what was being said in the message and thus could not provide a transcription. There were times when my iPhone understood everything I said and transcribed it correctly, and other times when it totally butchered what I was saying.
If you’re having problems with the transcriptions, you or the sender will need to resend the audio message while speaking slowly and enunciating every letter to help your iPhone transcribe your message better.
Tip: If you receive a long audio message, the transcript might be cut off. If it is, you’ll see an arrow that you can tap to go to a new screen with the full transcript.
3. Close And Reopen Messages
Audio message transcription may not be working on your iPhone due to a minor glitch. Closing and reopening the Messages app can quickly fix the glitch.
First, you’ll have to open the app switcher on your iPhone. On an iPhone SE (2nd generation) or newer, double-press the Home button. On an iPhone XR or newer, swipe up from the bottom to the center of the display.
If you have an iPad with a Home button, double-press it to open the app switcher. If your iPad doesn’t have a Home button, swipe up from the bottom to the center of the screen. It doesn’t matter if you’re holding your iPad in Portrait or Landscape mode.
Now, swipe Messages up and off the top of the screen to close it. Tap the app icon to reopen it.
Now, take a look at the sent message to check if the transcription has appeared. If it has, you’ve fixed the problem.
4. Make sure you have a working internet connection
As we’ve already mentioned, the audio message transcription only works with a Wi-Fi or cellular data connection, so let’s make sure your iPhone or iPad is actually connected to the internet. Open up Safari on your device and try navigating to a website like geeksmodo.com. Does our website load? If the website doesn’t load or Safari says you’re not connected to the internet, Audio Message Transcription won’t work on your iPhone either.
Tip: If the internet isn’t working on your iPhone, you might be connected to a Wi-Fi network that doesn’t have a good internet connection. Try turning off Wi-Fi and use cellular data instead. If Audio Message Transcription starts working, the problem was with Wi-Fi, not with Audio Message Transcription.
5. Make sure your software is up to date
Whether it’s Audio Message Transcription feature or your phone is acting up in some other way, it’s a good idea to ensure your iPhone is running the most up-to-date version of iOS 17. Apple routinely pushes out updates to address issues.
Head to Settings -> General -> Software Update and check to see if there is an iOS update for your iPhone.
6. Turn iMessage Off, Reboot, And Then Back On
If your iPhone is up to date and Audio Message Transcription is still not working, toggling the entire iMessage service off and back on again might solve the problem.
Head to Settings -> Messages and tap the button next to iMessage to turn iMessage off on your iPhone or iPad. Next, go to Settings -> General -> Shut Down and slide your finger across the power slider to turn off your iPhone or iPad. Turn your device back on, head back to Settings -> Messages, and turn iMessage back on.
7. Sign Out Of iMessage and Sign Back In
If Audio Message Transcription is still not working, head back to Settings -> Messages and tap to open ‘Send & Receive’.
Next, tap where it says ‘Apple ID: (your Apple ID)’ and choose ‘Sign Out. Sign back in using your Apple ID and check if your Voice Message Transcription problem is fixed.
8. Check if iMessage is down
If iMessage is down, the audio transcription feature won’t work. To check this, visit Apple’s System Status page. Here, you can check to see if iMessage service is having known technical issues.
9. Reset Network Settings
Issues with network connectivity can also cause problems with Audio Message Transcriptions, and often times restoring your iPhone’s network settings back to factory defaults can resolve the issue you are experiencing. To reset your iPhone or iPad’s network settings, go to Settings -> General -> Transfer or Reset iPhone -> Reset and tap Reset Network Settings.
A word of warning: Before you do this, make sure you know your Wi-Fi passwords, because Reset Network Settings will erase all of the saved Wi-Fi networks on your iPhone. After your iPhone reboots, you’ll have to re-enter your Wi-Fi passwords at home and at work. Your iPhone’s APN and VPN settings will also be reset to factory defaults.
10. Contact Apple Support
If the iOS 17 audio transcription is not working even after checking all of the above, it’s time to check in with the geniuses. Check out our help article for more information on how to contact Apple Support.