Finally – WhatsApp now lets you read voice messages in Hebrew as well! The messaging app has rolled out an update that includes voice message transcription, aiming to help users when they are unable – or unwilling – to listen to an audio recording. This new update is gradually being introduced in various countries and is expected to be available in Israel, supporting Hebrew as well.
WhatsApp emphasizes that the transcription process takes place directly on the user’s device, with no data sent to external servers. This ensures that only the user can view the transcript. This feature resembles the enhancement introduced by Apple in its iOS 17 update, where voice messages in Apple’s Messages app can also be transcribed.
To activate the transcription feature, go to WhatsApp’s settings, select the "Chats" category, and enable the "Voice Message Transcripts" option. After activation, you can select the desired transcription language.
To transcribe a voice message, press and hold the message, then select the "Transcribe" option. It’s important to note that transcription is not automatic for all messages but is available only upon user request.
The service will be gradually rolled out over the coming weeks to users worldwide, in selected languages only. On iPhone devices running iOS 16 and above, transcription is available in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Russian, Turkish, Chinese, and Arabic. With iOS 17, additional languages have been added, including Danish, Finnish, Malay, Norwegian, Dutch, Swedish, Hebrew, and Thai. On Android devices, the service supports English, Portuguese, Spanish, and Russian.
Recently, WhatsApp introduced several other updates to the app, such as the ability to edit sent messages, send high-quality photos and videos, and use one WhatsApp account on multiple devices simultaneously. Additionally, the new "Chat Lock" feature enables users to protect specific conversations with a password or fingerprint. These tools aim to enhance the user experience and ensure privacy while using the app.