How to use the voice recorder
- Press Record (or the Space bar) and allow microphone access when the browser asks.
- Speak. The waveform and level bar show that sound is coming in. Use Pause to take a break without starting a new file.
- Press Stop. The recording appears below with a player, its length and size.
- Rename it if you like, then download it. Record as many takes as you want; each gets its own entry.
Because this voice recorder online runs entirely in your browser, the audio never reaches a server. The flip side: recordings live only in this tab until you download them, so the page warns you if you try to close it with unsaved recordings.
WAV or compressed: which download?
Download WAV converts the recording to uncompressed 16-bit audio that opens in practically any program, from Windows Media Player to Audacity and video editors. It's the best choice for editing, but large: roughly 5–6 MB per minute. The other button saves the browser's own compressed format, WebM or Ogg in Chrome and Firefox and M4A in Safari, which is many times smaller and fine for sending as a voice message or keeping as a memo.
Tips for a clearer recording
- Distance: keep the microphone about a hand's width to a forearm's length from your mouth. Closer sounds boomy and catches breaths; farther picks up the room.
- Level: when you speak normally, the bar should sit in the green and only touch yellow on loud words. If it hits red, move back or lower the input volume.
- Room: soft furnishings absorb echo. A small room with curtains, a sofa or clothes sounds far better than a bare kitchen.
- Voice enhancement: leave it on for speech; it reduces background noise and echo. Turn it off to capture the room exactly as it sounds, for example to record a noise your device or car is making.
- Choose the microphone: a headset or USB mic usually sounds clearer than a laptop's built-in one. Pick it from the Microphone list.
What people use it for
Quick voice memos and ideas, practicing a presentation or interview answers and listening back, recording pronunciation when learning a language, leaving a voice message for an app that doesn't record, or capturing a strange noise to show a mechanic or repair shop. If you're not sure your microphone works, check it first with the webcam and mic test; to measure how loud a room is, use the decibel meter.
How we tested this tool
In a desktop browser we replaced the microphone with a generated tone and checked that recording, pause and resume (the paused time is left out of the length), stop, playback, renaming and deleting work, that the compressed download and the WAV download both produce files, that the WAV file decodes back to audio of the right length, and that the page warns before closing with unsaved recordings. We also checked the layout at a 375 px phone width.
Frequently asked questions
Are my recordings uploaded anywhere?
No. Recording, playback and the WAV conversion all happen in your browser. Recordings stay in this tab until you download them and are gone when you close or reload the page.
Which format should I download?
WAV opens in almost every program and is best for editing, but it's large. The other button saves the browser's compressed format (WebM or Ogg in Chrome and Firefox, M4A in Safari), which is much smaller and fine for sharing.
How long can I record?
There is no set limit, but recordings are kept in memory, so very long sessions use more RAM. For recordings over an hour, stop and download in parts.
Does it work on iPhone?
Yes, in Safari and Chrome on iOS. Keep the screen on and the page in front while recording, because iOS can pause recording when the browser goes to the background.
Can it record sound playing on my computer?
No. It records only from a microphone, which is what keeps it simple and private. Recording system audio needs a dedicated app.