Voice message transcription is a useful new function that WhatsApp is working on bringing to Android users.

Tipster AssembleDebug discovered the feature in the most recent WhatsApp beta version, 2.24.7.7. They discovered text strings indicating voice message transcripts and the prerequisites for enabling the feature on Android by delving into the app’s code.

The beta code indicates that in order to enable transcription, WhatsApp users would need to download an extra 150MB of app data. After it’s enabled, you can read accurate text transcripts of any voice communications you get without actually hearing the audio.

Additional information was provided by WABetaInfo, which also published a screenshot of what appears to be the speech transcription user interface. Their synopsis emphasises how the technology can improve accessibility, enable message reading in noisy settings, and offer a written backup for long audio notes.

One of the strings states, “WhatsApp uses your device’s speech recognition to provide end-to-end encrypted transcripts,” indicating that the transcription is done locally on your phone to protect your privacy.

WhatsApp has adopted a privacy-friendly strategy by using on-device speech recognition rather than uploading audio to the cloud. It guarantees that your voice transcripts never leave your phone and stay encrypted.

The code discoveries indicate that voice transcription for WhatsApp on Android is currently being developed, even if an official release date has not yet been announced. This capability looks like a handy addition, especially for people who use the site often to send and receive voice messages.

WhatsApp’s iOS version was the first to use this transcription feature, and it appears that Android smartphones will follow suit shortly.