Listen to WhatsApp Voice Messages Without Sender Knowing (and More)
This guide is for you if you want to listen to a voice message on WhatsApp without the sender knowing.
Here, you’ll see the different methods to do this and how to fix the WhatsApp voice message not working issue.
Also, you’ll see where the audio files and voice notes of WhatsApp are stored on Android (First section, Method 4) and how to save both of them. Let’s start.
Listen to WhatsApp Voice Messages Without Sender Knowing
Pick the method you prefer. I use here an Android phone and iPhone.
Method 1
Disable read receipts on WhatsApp.
You can listen to WhatsApp voice notes without the sender knowing if you do that. You, too, don’t know who listened to your WhatsApp voice notes.
Method 2
You can hear WhatsApp voice notes without the sender knowing by forwarding them.
Forward the voice message to the people you trust. Listen to it on their device or ask them to forward it to you and listen on your device.
Alternatively, you can follow these steps:
Create a group with only one contact of yours. And to this group chat, forward the voice message and listen to it.
Method 3
Open WhatsApp and enable airplane mode. Open the chat and listen to the voice note. Close the WhatsApp app and disable airplane mode.
If you’re using Android, the sender will get notified now. The sender will only get notified when you open WhatsApp on your iPhone.
Method 4 (Android only)
Open the “Files” app and ensure you are in the “Browse” tab.
Hit the “Internal storage” and open these folders: Android > media > com.whatsapp > WhatsApp > Media > WhatsApp Voice Notes. The latter is where you can find all your voice messages.
Find the voice note you prefer and open it.
Note: Tap “WhatsApp Audio,” where you can find all your audio files.
Method 5
Export the chat with your preferred voice message to yourself.
Download the ZIP file from your email if you’re using an iPhone and the former has the voice message. If you’re using Android, you can see the voice note in the email and download it.
Now play and listen to that WhatsApp voice note.
Save WhatsApp Audio and Voice Messages
Try any of the below methods you prefer.
Using Files App (Android Only)
Go to the “WhatsApp Audio” folder to save audio files. For voice messages, go to the “WhatsApp Voice Notes” folder. The steps are in the above section (Method 4).
For voice messages, tap the folder with your preferred one and select it. For audio files, long press the one you like.
Hit the three vertical dots at the top right and select “Copy to.” Choose your preferred location and tap “Copy here.”
Using Gmail App
You can email the audio or voice note and download it from the email. Let’s see how.
In WhatsApp, hit the chat and long press the one you want.
On Android, tap the three vertical dots at the top right and select “Share.” On iPhone, tap “Forward” and hit the “Share” icon at the bottom.
Select “Gmail.” Provide your email address in the “To” field and tap the “Send” icon. Open the “Gmail” app and the email you send to yourself.
If you’re on Android, tap the “Download” icon in the file, and you’ll find it in the “Download” folder.
If you’re on iPhone, tap the file, hit the “Share” icon at the bottom, and select “Save to Files.” Choose the location, and tap “Save” at the top right.
Save to Files (iPhone Only)
Open the WhatsApp chat and long-press the voice message or audio file.
Tap “Forward” and select “Share” at the bottom. Hit the “Save to Files” option. Choose the location and tap “Save” at the top right.
Export Chat (iPhone Only)
In the WhatsApp chat, hit the name at the top. Tap “Export Chat” between “Share Contact” and “Clear Chat.”
Tap “Attach Media” and hit the “Save to Files” option.
Choose the location and hit “Save” at the top right. Find the ZIP file in your chosen location and tap it.
You can see a folder with the contents of the ZIP file. You can see all the conversation’s voice messages and audio files in that folder.
Web or Desktop
In the Web or Desktop app, click on your preferred chat.
On the Web, hover the mouse over the voice message or audio file you like to save. Click on the “Down arrow” and select the “Download” option.
In the Desktop app, right-click the voice message or audio file you like to save. Select the “Save as” option. Choose the location, provide a file name if you want to change it, and hit the “Save” button.
Fix WhatsApp Voice Messages Not Working Issue
Is a voice message can’t download on your device? Don’t you hear the voice message? Can’t you record voice notes?
If your answer is “Yes,” follow the below solutions. I use Android and iPhone here.
Solution 1
Check your internet connection.
Solution 2
Restart your Android phone or iPhone.
Solution 3
If you can’t record the voice notes, make sure the WhatsApp app has permission to access the microphone. Please click the link and check the first section of that post.
Solution 4
Check your device volume if you can’t hear the WhatsApp voice message. If it is low, increase it.
Solution 5
If the storage space is full, WhatsApp can’t download voice messages. So, check the storage space available on your device.
Solution 6
If you can’t record a voice message, it may be because of an app using the microphone.
Close the apps which have microphone access and try recording a voice message.
You can try disabling them and recording the voice note if that doesn’t work.
To disable the app on your Android device, launch the “Settings” app. Hit Apps > See all (number) apps.
Find and hit the app. Select “Disable” and hit “Disable app” in the popup.
Solution 7 (Android only)
Clear the WhatsApp cache on your Android device.
Solution 8
Uninstall WhatsApp and reinstall it. I suggest a backup before proceeding with this.
