How to Transcribe Voice Memos Offline on iPhone

Most voice-to-text apps require an internet connection. You record something, the audio uploads to a server, and the transcription comes back. This works fine with good WiFi — but fails completely on airplanes, in basements, while hiking, or anywhere with spotty signal.

The good news: your iPhone can transcribe voice recordings entirely offline. No internet required. No data uploaded anywhere.

This guide explains how offline transcription works and which apps support it.

How Offline Transcription Works

Apple's Speech Framework

Since iOS 10, Apple has included on-device speech recognition. The Speech framework processes audio using neural networks that run locally on your iPhone's processor.

When you see "on-device transcription" or "offline transcription," this is typically what's happening:

1. Audio is captured by the app
2. The Speech framework processes audio locally
3. Text appears without any network activity

Your iPhone already has the language models downloaded. No internet needed.

Why Most Apps Don't Use It

If on-device transcription has existed since iOS 10, why do most apps still require internet?

Accuracy perception: Cloud transcription services like Google Speech or OpenAI Whisper are marketed as more accurate. For some languages and accents, they are. But Apple's on-device recognition has improved dramatically, especially for English.

Feature bundling: Many apps bundle transcription with cloud AI features (summaries, formatting). If AI processing requires internet anyway, developers use cloud transcription too.

Simpler development: Cloud APIs are often easier to implement than on-device processing.

Business model: Cloud processing creates ongoing costs that justify subscriptions. On-device processing has no marginal cost.

On-Device Accuracy in 2026

Apple's Speech framework now delivers accuracy comparable to cloud services for:

• English (all variants)
• Most major European languages
• Many Asian languages

For standard speech in supported languages, you won't notice a quality difference from cloud transcription.

Apps That Support Offline Transcription

Aside

Offline Support: Complete

Aside uses Apple's Speech framework for all transcription, meaning it works fully offline.

What works offline:

• Voice recording
• Automatic transcription
• Full-text search
• Viewing past thoughts
• AI summaries and tags (iOS 26+ with Foundation Models)

How to use:

1. Open Aside
2. Tap record
3. Speak
4. Stop recording
5. Transcription appears immediately — no internet needed

Even the AI features work offline on iOS 26+, because Apple's Foundation Models run entirely on-device.

Just Press Record

Offline Support: Complete

Just Press Record also uses on-device transcription via Apple's Speech framework.

What works offline:

• Recording
• Transcription
• Viewing past recordings

Apple Dictation

Offline Support: Partial

Apple's built-in dictation feature has an on-device mode.

To enable:

1. Settings → General → Keyboard
2. Enable Dictation
3. Check "On-Device Dictation" if available

Limitations:

• Only works in text fields (not for recording)
• Some advanced features may require internet
• Not a dedicated voice notes app

Voice Memos

Offline Support: Recording Only

Apple's Voice Memos records offline but doesn't transcribe at all — no transcription feature exists.

Apps That Don't Work Offline

These popular voice apps require internet:

Step-by-Step: Offline Transcription with Aside

Initial Setup

1. Download Aside from the App Store
2. Grant microphone permission when prompted
3. Download language models (happens automatically on first use when online)

Once language models are downloaded, everything works offline.

Recording Offline

1. Enable Airplane Mode (to verify offline functionality)
2. Open Aside
3. Tap the record button
4. Speak your thought
5. Tap stop
6. Watch transcription appear — no spinning indicator waiting for network

Verifying It's Actually Offline

To confirm transcription is happening on-device:

1. Enable Airplane Mode
2. Disable WiFi in Control Center (not just disconnected — fully off)
3. Record and transcribe
4. Check Settings → Cellular → Aside — data usage should be minimal/zero for the session

If transcription works with both WiFi and cellular disabled, it's genuinely on-device.

Common Questions

Does offline accuracy match online services?

For English and major languages, yes. Apple's on-device models have reached near-parity with cloud services for standard speech.

Challenges remain for:

• Heavy accents
• Technical jargon
• Rare languages
• Very noisy environments

For most users recording voice notes, offline quality is indistinguishable from online.

How much storage do language models use?

Apple's on-device speech models are efficient — typically under 100MB per language. They're usually pre-installed for your device's primary language.

Can I use multiple languages offline?

Yes. Download additional languages in Settings → General → Keyboard → Keyboards → Add New Keyboard → [Language] → Enable Dictation.

Once downloaded, switch languages within Aside or other apps.

Does this work on older iPhones?

On-device transcription works on iPhone 6s and newer. AI features (summaries, tags) require iPhone 15 Pro or newer with iOS 26+ for on-device Foundation Models.

What about Apple Watch?

When recording on Apple Watch, the audio syncs to iPhone for transcription. If iPhone has no internet but has the language models, transcription still works.

Why Offline Matters

Reliability

Cloud services fail. Internet connections drop. Servers go down for maintenance.

On-device transcription works regardless of:

• Network availability
• Service outages
• Server load
• API changes

Your voice notes app should work when you need it, not when infrastructure cooperates.

Privacy

Every cloud transcription sends your audio to external servers. Even with good privacy policies, your recordings exist on infrastructure you don't control.

On-device transcription means:

• Audio never leaves your phone
• No servers to breach
• No data to subpoena
• Complete privacy by architecture

Speed

Network latency adds delay. On-device transcription is nearly instant — typically completing within 1-2 seconds of stopping recording.

Battery and Data

Cloud transcription uses:

• Cellular/WiFi radio (battery drain)
• Mobile data (if not on WiFi)
• Processing power for upload compression

On-device processing uses only local CPU/Neural Engine, which is more efficient for short recordings.

The Limitation: Long-Form Content

On-device transcription works best for shorter content:

• Voice notes (10 seconds to 5 minutes)
• Quick thoughts
• Reminders
• Ideas

For very long recordings (hour-long meetings, interviews), cloud services may still have advantages:

• Better handling of multiple speakers
• More robust to long pauses
• Higher accuracy over extended duration

If your primary use is quick thought capture, on-device is superior. For meeting transcription, evaluate cloud options.

Setting Up for Success

Download Languages in Advance

Don't wait until you're offline to discover you need a language model:

1. Settings → General → Keyboard
2. Add any languages you might use
3. Enable dictation for each
4. Wait for downloads to complete

Test Before You Need It

Before relying on offline transcription during travel:

1. Enable Airplane Mode
2. Record a test thought
3. Verify transcription works
4. Disable Airplane Mode

Better to discover issues at home than at 35,000 feet.

Keep the App Updated

Apple improves on-device speech recognition regularly. Keep Aside and iOS updated for best accuracy.

The Bottom Line

Your iPhone can transcribe voice recordings without internet. On-device speech recognition has matured to the point where cloud transcription is no longer necessary for most use cases.

Apps that still require internet for transcription are either:

• Using cloud AI features that bundle transcription
• Built before on-device quality was sufficient
• Choosing cloud for business model reasons

For voice notes — capturing quick thoughts, ideas, and reminders — on-device transcription offers better privacy, reliability, and speed than cloud alternatives.

Aside uses on-device transcription because your thoughts shouldn't require an internet connection to capture.

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Capture Thoughts Anywhere

Aside works completely offline — record and transcribe without internet, wherever you are.

Why offline transcription matters:

• Works on airplanes, subways, hiking trails
• No waiting for network responses
• Complete privacy (nothing uploaded)
• Reliable regardless of connection quality
• AI features also work offline (iOS 26+)

Your thoughts don't wait for WiFi. Your voice app shouldn't either.

Download Aside — Think out loud. In private.