Guide · Voice Memos

How to save voice memos on iPhone (to Files, your Mac, or a backup)

A voice memo that only lives in the Voice Memos app is one lost phone away from gone. Here is how to save them properly.

1. Save one memo to Files

In Voice Memos, tap the recording, tap the three dots, then Share, then Save to Files. Choose On My iPhone or iCloud Drive and a folder.

2. Save several at once

Tap Edit, tick the recordings you want, then Share, then Save to Files.

3. Back them all up with iCloud

Open Settings, tap your name, then iCloud, and turn on Voice Memos. Your memos then sync to your other Apple devices, including a Mac.

4. Get them onto a computer

On a Mac, with iCloud on, they appear in the Voice Memos app, or you can AirDrop them. On Windows, save them to Files or iCloud Drive first.

5. Do not rely on Recently Deleted

Deleted memos wait in Recently Deleted (30 days by default), then they are gone for good. Save anything that matters before you tidy up.

6. Name them before you save

Saved files keep their names. "Chorus, sad, Am" is easier to find later than New Recording 212.

Questions

Where do saved voice memos go on iPhone?
Wherever you chose when you saved them: On My iPhone or iCloud Drive, in the folder you picked. Open the Files app to find them.

Does saving to Files delete the memo?
No. It makes a copy. The memo stays in Voice Memos.

Can I save voice memos without iCloud?
Yes. Save them to Files on your iPhone, AirDrop them to a Mac, or share them by email or message.

Related guides

• Where to find voice memos on Mac
• How to get iPhone voice memos on a Windows PC
• Voice Memos storage full? Free it up safely