WhatsApp Voice Message Transcription Now Available in Hebrew for iPhone Users
WhatsApp has introduced a feature allowing users to transcribe voice messages into text directly within the app, enhancing convenience for those who cannot listen to audio messages at certain times. The feature requires users to enable 'Voice Message Transcriptions' in the chat settings and select their preferred language. Once activated, a long press on a voice message offers a 'Transcribe' option, displaying the text within the message bubble.
However, users in Israel face specific limitations. On iPhones, Hebrew transcription is supported starting with iOS 17. Users with iOS 16 can use the feature, but Hebrew is not among the supported languages, and Siri must be enabled for transcription to function. Android users currently have official support for only four languages: English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Russian. Therefore, Hebrew transcription is not yet available for Android users in Israel, even if the feature appears on their device.
WhatsApp states that transcriptions are processed locally on the device and are not sent to the company for analysis. Personal voice messages remain end-to-end encrypted, meaning WhatsApp cannot access the audio or its transcription. The transcription is also private to the recipient and is not visible to the sender. WhatsApp cautions that transcriptions may not always be accurate, especially with background noise, unclear speech, or misidentified words. It advises users to verify important information like addresses or monetary amounts against the original audio message.
For iPhone users with updated systems, the transcription feature is particularly useful and now functional in Hebrew. Android users in Israel will need to wait for official Hebrew language support.
