With this guide, I want to help you figure out the process of sending voice messages through WhatsApp without holding in the mic button.
Allow me to introduce myself: I am Frankie Caruso (author of the blog), an expert for messaging apps, and an enthusiasts of hacking techniques on mobile devices. Welcome and thank you for coming.
In this guide that I put together today, I want to show you how to record a longer voice message hands-free on your WhatsApp messaging service.
First, let me show you the ‘official’ method exploiting a feature that was introduced a few years ago through WhatsApp. You might not even be aware it exists. Then, I plan to reveal a ‘trick’ that you can use to send messages hands-free with Siri (iPhone) or with your Google on your Android device.
Recording voice messages with WhatsApp without holding down a record button might be useful on many different occasions. If you have to send a very long voice message or need to use both of your hands for something else while sending the message might be examples.
Let’s not waste any more time.
I want to show you what to do right now to help.
Recording Hands-Free WhatsApp Voice Messages
Let me begin by explaining how to record and send hands-free voice messages using the record key feature of WhatsApp, then I will move on to using Siri or Google.
Send Voice Messages on WhatsApp Hands-Free
This process is very easy, just follow these 5 simple steps:
- Open the chat thread on WhatsApp
- Tap the microphone button
- Slide your finger up on the screen
- When you release, it will begin the recording of your message.
- Sliding down on this same spot ends the recording and allows you to then send it normally.
These steps are the same whether you are using an iPhone or the various Android devices from multiple developers like Samsung, LG, and Google.
Frankie’s Take:
Want to delete your message during the recording for some reason? You can do this by tapping on the CANCEL button.
Send WhatsApp Messages Hands-Free with Siri and Google Assistant
I mentioned earlier that you can send messages of all sizes without holding down the microphone button through available prompts for Siri or your Google Assistant feature.
The primary difference between what is now the ‘official method’ and using your built-in assistant is the limitations of sending messages through Siri and Google. Neither one of these assistants can send voice messages through the application, but rather transcribe your speaking into text messages of varying length. Hopefully an audio function would be available soon.
Accomplishing this is similar on both your iPhone and Android device.
Let me show you quickly how to do this.
- For those with iPhones, start out by saying “Hey Siri”. Those with Androids prompt their assistants with “Ok Google” or “Hey Google”
- Now that the assistant is listening, say “Send a WhatsApp message to {CONTACT}“
- Begin speaking the message you wish to send and Google or Siri will begin writing it for you.
- You will be asked if you are ready to send the message, and if so, you can say “Send” or say “Cancel”.
Transcribing has come a long way in recent years, as these assistants can recognize pauses and phrasing to identify when punctuation is necessary. Rarely are there issues anymore.
Note: If you care to learn more about how you can use Siri with WhatsApp, here is a look at my official WhatsApp guide devoted to the topic.
Deleting WhatsApp Audio Messages You Sent By Mistake
You might have already experienced the stresses of sending an audio message to the wrong person. Maybe it was the right person, and the message came out wrong.
You might find that there are many compromising or offensive messages that you might send off and don’t know how to get back. This includes damaging situations like sending a compromising video to your boss, insults about or to your partner, an offensive mockery of someone. You might quickly regret something you send out.
Luckily, all is not lost.
The WhatsApp service allows you to delete messages you have sent in a chat before they get read (or heard). In case you quickly have second thoughts, or in case you sent messages to the wrong WhatsApp chat thread, you have the chance to eliminate it if you act quickly enough.
The feature is known as ‘Delete for Everyone’ allows WhatsApp users on all platforms to remove every WhatsApp Message you sent.
The only drawback is if the message gets read or viewed before you can delete it.
To delete a message, here is what you do:
- Open up WhatsApp and the chat where there is a message you wish to delete.
- Tap and hold the message. You can highlight multiple messages and delete them simultaneously.
- Tap “Delete” on the top of the screen and then “Delete for Everyone”
When this happens, a text will replace the removed message that reads ‘This message has been deleted’ on everyone else’s threads.
Similarly, if you encounter these words in a chat, you can assume that its sender thought better of it and retracted.
Remember, after sending, you have exactly 1 hour, 8 minutes, and 16 seconds to delete a message everyone could see. After this time (4096 seconds), you will not be able to delete it anymore.
I wrote a guide about deleting sent WhatsApp messages, you should take a closer look.
Remember:
- For messages to get deleted for everyone, the sender and recipients must be using the latest version of WhatsApp available for Android or iPhone.
- If either of these parties is not using the most current version of the app, the feature for deleting messages is not going to be supported.
- It is possible for anyone to read your message before you delete it, or if deleting was unsuccessful (unfortunately you do not receive a notification if deleting the message fails.)
Frankie’s Take:
You need to make sure that deleting a message for everyone happens before the blue double check mark appears. This signal indicates a message has been read. I have written an extensive guide describing everything one might want to know about WhatsApp ticks.
Conclusion
We have reached the end of this short guide. Hopefully now you have a better ideal about sending voice and text messages hands-free and deleting messages sent erroneously.
To give you a recap: You can send long voice messages through WhatsApp by pressing the mic button and sliding it upwards in the chat. This locks in hands-free recording.
It is also possible to utilize either Siri (iPhone) or the Google Assistant (Android) to send text messages through the service hands-free.
Have doubts, questions, or concerns? Know alternatives and want to share them with the group? Leave a comment below and I will get back with you as soon as possible.
Return soon for more tips and tricks.
A hug,
PS – Recording voice messages without holding a mic button is just one of many great WhatsApp tricks you should know. Check out the full guide of 40 magic WhatsApp tricks you should know.
