Voice Memos

On supported models, you can record a vocal layer on top of an instrumental recording without using headphones. This allows you to capture a musical inspiration: add vocals or a voiceover to an existing instrumental recording, try out lyrics, harmonize with instrumental music, and more.

After recording the second layer, you can mix the two layers or separate them to edit and play each one on its own. You can only create a layered recording on supported models, but you can play one on any device.

Here’s how to add a second layer to a Voice Memos recording on iPhone.

Add a second layer

1. Start the Voice Memos app (in the Utilities folder) on your iPhone.
2. In the list of recordings, tap the recording you want to add a vocal layer to and then tap the Edit Recording button to view the waveform.
3. Tap the Add a Vocal Layer button.

   

4. Tap the Record button and then record your second layer.

Layered recordings show the Layers button in the list of recordings.

A layered recording can play on any device, although you can only create one on supported models.

Note: Layered recordings use QTA (QuickTime Audio) format, so they won’t appear on devices running iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, macOS Sequoia 15.1, and earlier. Separate the layers, though, and you get each layer in .m4a format, which shows up on devices with iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, or macOS Sequoia 15.1 and earlier.

Transcription and recording in stereo or Spatial Audio work only on the first layer. Unless you separate them, you edit both layers of a layered recording together.

Mix the layers

When you’ve recorded the second layer, you can mix the two layers.

1. Start the Voice Memos app (in the Utilities folder) on your iPhone.
2. Tap the layered recording you want to mix.
3. Tap the Edit Recording button to view the waveform and then tap the playback options button.
4. Drag the Layer Mix slider to mix the layers.

Separate the layers

With the second layer recorded, you can separate the two layers to edit them or play them separately.

1. Start the Voice Memos app (in the Utilities folder) on your iPhone.
2. While viewing the waveform, tap the More button, then tap Separate Layers.
3. Tap Done to return to the list of recordings.

In the list, the two layers then appear as separate recordings that you can select, edit, and play separately.

Import layered recordings into Logic Pro

If Voice Memos is on in iCloud settings, an iPad that’s signed in to the same Apple Account can open a layered recording from your iPhone. Export the recording to Files there, and you can import it into Logic Pro for iPad for editing. In Logic Pro 11.1.1 or later, the two layers open automatically as two distinct tracks.

You can duplicate a recording in the Voice Memos app (in the Utilities folder) on your iPhone, which is useful when you need another copy of it. You can make changes to the copy, save it, and give it a new name.

The duplicate shows up right below the original version in the list of recordings, with “copy” added to its name. You can change that name to a new one, too.

1. Start the Voice Memos app (in the Utilities folder) on your iPhone.
2. In the list of recordings, tap a recording, tap the More Actions button, and then tap Duplicate.

The duplicate appears right below the original version in the list and has “copy” added to its name. To change the name, tap it, then type a new one.

You can mark audio recordings as favorites and organize your recordings into folders.

Recordings you mark as favorites automatically appear in the Favorites folder. Related recordings can go together into folders, so you can locate them easily, and you can delete or reorder folders later. You can also mark several recordings as favorites at once, and move recordings into a folder.

Here’s how to organize recordings in Voice Memos on iPhone.

Note: Smart Folders automatically gather files by type and subject matter, so Apple Watch recordings, recently deleted recordings, and favorites are grouped there.

Mark recordings as favorites

1. Start the Voice Memos app (in the Utilities folder) on your iPhone.
2. In the list of recordings, do any of the following:
   • Tap the recording you want to mark as a favorite, tap the More Actions button, then tap the Favorite button.
   • Tap Edit above the list of recordings, select one or more recordings, tap the Share button, tap Move to Folder, then tap Favorites. (If there isn’t a Favorites folder, create one by entering Favorites in the field.)

The Favorites folder automatically shows recordings marked as favorites.

Organize recordings into folders

To locate them easily, you can group related recordings together into folders.

1. Start the Voice Memos app (in the Utilities folder) on your iPhone.
2. Tap Edit above the list of recordings.
3. Select one or more recordings, tap the Share button, tap Move to Folder, and choose a folder.

To create a new folder, tap the New Folder button, type a name for the folder, then tap Save.

To view your folders, tap the Back button; tap a folder to check its contents.

To return to the list of recordings, tap All Recordings.

Delete or reorder folders

1. Start the Voice Memos app (in the Utilities folder) on your iPhone.
2. Tap the Back button to go to the list of folders.
3. Tap Edit above the folders and then do any of the following:
   • Delete a folder: Tap the Delete button next to the folder. Tap the Trash button.
   • Change the order of the folders: Drag the Reorder button next to any folder.
4. Tap Done.

You can play audio you recorded on your iPhone using the playback controls. You can also adjust the playback options to change playback speed, reduce background noise, and fill in silences.

Those options go further, too. You can enhance a recording, skip over gaps when playing back a recording, turn on Studio Sound, or reset the playback options, and none of it changes the recording itself.

Here’s how to play a recording in Voice Memos on iPhone.

Note: These settings don’t change the recording itself. Whatever you choose stays with that specific recording, which means it’s applied each time you play it but doesn’t apply to other recordings.

Control	Description
	Play
	Pause
	Skip backward 15 seconds
	Skip forward 15 seconds

Quick tip: You can tap its name to rename it any time the recording is open.

Change the playback speed

You can play a recording at a faster or slower speed.

1. Open the Voice Memos app (in the Utilities folder) on your iPhone.
2. In the list of recordings, tap the recording you want to play. Tap the More button.
3. Tap the Options button and drag the slider toward the tortoise for a slower speed, or toward the rabbit for a faster speed.
4. Tap the Done button and tap the Play button to play the recording.

Enhance a recording

When you play Mono and Stereo recordings, turning on Enhance Recording reduces background noise and echo.

1. Open the Voice Memos app (in the Utilities folder) on your iPhone.
2. In the list of recordings, tap the recording you want to enhance and tap the More button.
3. Tap Options, then turn on Enhance Recording.
4. Tap the Done button and tap the Play button to play the recording.

Skip over gaps when playing back a recording

For Mono and Stereo recordings, Voice Memos can analyze them and automatically skip over gaps during playback.

1. Open the Voice Memos app (in the Utilities folder) on your iPhone.
2. Tap the recording you want to play and tap the More button.
3. Tap Options and turn on Skip Silence.
4. Tap the Done button and tap the Play button to play the recording.

Turn on Studio Sound

In a Spatial Audio recording, Studio Sound adjusts the levels of background sound and reverb so the voice sounds more like it was recorded in a studio.

Only Spatial Audio recordings work with Studio Sound.

Studio Sound also recognizes music, rather than treating it as background sound. But music is properly isolated only if you’ve made the recording in Spatial Audio on iPhone 18 Pro models. Other iPhone models reduce music along with background sound.

1. Open the Voice Memos app (in the Utilities folder) on your iPhone.
2. Tap the recording you want to play and tap the More button.
3. Tap Options and turn on Studio Sound.
4. Drag the slider to increase or decrease the effect.
5. Tap the Done button and tap the Play button to play the recording.

Reset the playback options

At once, you can return a recording’s playback options to their original settings.

1. Open the Voice Memos app (in the Utilities folder) on your iPhone.
2. Tap the recording you want to turn off playback options for. Then tap the More button.
3. Tap Options, then tap Reset.

You can share one or more audio recordings with others, or send them to your Mac or another device, using AirDrop, Mail, Messages, and more.

You can share a single recording from its More Actions menu, or select more than one recording and share them together.

Here’s how to share a recording in Voice Memos on iPhone.

Share a recording

1. Start the Voice Memos app (in the Utilities folder) on your iPhone.
2. In the list of recordings, tap the recording you want to share. Then tap the More Actions button.
3. Tap Share. Tap Options and choose one of the following:
   • Rendered: Create a single .m4a file with all audio effects and layers mixed in.
   • Editable: Share a file that lets a recipient with a compatible device and software update configure effects and layers.
4. Choose a sharing option, select or enter a recipient, and tap the Done button or the Send button.

Share more than one recording

1. Start the Voice Memos app (in the Utilities folder) on your iPhone.
2. Tap Select above the list of recordings and then select the recordings you want to share.
3. Tap the Share button, tap Options, and then choose a file option (Rendered or Editable.)
4. Choose a sharing option, select or enter a recipient, and tap the Done button or the Send button.

You can fine-tune your recordings using the editing tools. Remove parts, record over parts, or replace an entire recording.

You can trim a recording to keep or delete a section, and save the edited version as a new recording, so the original stays as it was. You can also delete a recording, and recover or erase a deleted one later.

Here’s how to edit or delete a recording in Voice Memos on iPhone.

Edit a voice recording

1. Open the Voice Memos app (in the Utilities folder) on your iPhone.
2. In the list of recordings, tap the recording you want to edit and tap the More button. Then tap the Trim button.
3. Drag the yellow trim handles to enclose the section you want to keep or delete.

   You can pinch open to zoom in on the waveform for more precise editing.

   To check your selection, tap the Play button.

4. To keep the selection (and delete the rest of the recording), tap Trim, or to delete the selection, tap Delete.
5. Tap Apply and then tap Done.
6. Tap Save Recording to overwrite the original recording, or tap Save as New Recording to save the edited version as a new recording (leaving the original as it was).

Replace a recording

1. Open the Voice Memos app (in the Utilities folder) on your iPhone.
2. In the list of recordings, tap the recording you want to replace and tap the More Actions button. Tap Edit Recording.
3. Drag the waveform to position the playhead where you want to start recording new audio.

   You can pinch open to zoom in on the waveform for more precise placement.

4. Tap Replace to begin recording (the waveform turns red as you record).

   Tap the Pause button to pause; tap Resume to continue.

5. To check your recording, tap the Play button.
6. Tap Done and tap Save Recording to replace the original recording, or tap Save as New Recording to save the changes as a new recording (leaving the original as it was).

Delete a recording

1. Open the Voice Memos app (in the Utilities folder) on your iPhone.
2. Do any of the following:
   • In the list of recordings, tap the recording you want to delete, then tap the Delete button.
   • Tap Edit above the list of recordings, select one or more recordings, then tap the Delete button.

Deleted recordings move to the Recently Deleted folder, where they’re kept for 30 days by default. To change how long deleted recordings are kept, go to Settings > Apps > Voice Memos > Clear Deleted, then select an option.

Recover or erase a deleted recording

1. Open the Voice Memos app (in the Utilities folder) on your iPhone.
2. Tap the Recently Deleted folder. Then tap the recording you want to recover or erase.

   If you don’t see the Recently Deleted folder, tap the Back button.

3. Do any of the following:
   • Recover the selected recording: Tap Recover.
   • Delete the selected recording: Tap Delete.
   • Recover everything in the Recently Deleted folder: Tap Edit above the Recently Deleted list, then tap Recover All.
   • Delete everything in the Recently Deleted folder: Tap Edit above the Recently Deleted list. Tap Delete All.