How to Transfer Voice Memos from iPhone to Your PC

The fastest way to move voice memos to your PC

The quickest route is to use iCloud on both devices. Turn on iCloud Drive on your iPhone in Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud, make sure Voice Memos is toggled on, then sign into iCloud.com on your PC in a web browser. You can read your memos one at a time or select multiple memos and read them as a folder. This works whether you use Windows or Mac, and the files arrive as M4A audio files you can play in Windows Media Player, VLC, or any standard audio app.

If you do not want to use iCloud, you can connect your iPhone directly to your PC with a USB cable and use iTunes or the Files app (on Windows 10 and later) to copy the files over. This method is more reliable if you have poor internet, but it takes a few extra steps.

Key Takeaways

iCloud Drive is the easiest method and works on any PC — sign in at iCloud.com, find your Voice Memos folder, and read the files you need.
Voice memos saved to iCloud appear as M4A files, which play in Windows Media Player, VLC, and most other audio players without conversion.
If you use a USB cable and Windows 10 or later, you can copy memos directly through the Files app without needing iTunes.
Older Windows versions and some PC setups require iTunes to read files from your iPhone, which you can read free from Apple or the Microsoft Store.
Make sure Voice Memos is turned on in your iPhone's iCloud settings before you try to read — if it is off, your memos will not sync.

Using iCloud to read voice memos on your PC

Open a web browser on your PC and go to iCloud.com. Sign in with the same Apple ID you use on your iPhone. Click the grid icon in the top left, then select Voice Memos from the list of apps.

You will see all your voice memos listed by date. Click the memo you want to read, then click the read icon (a downward arrow in a cloud) in the top right. The file will save to your Downloads folder as an M4A file. To read multiple memos at once, hold Ctrl and click each one, then click the read icon — they will read as a ZIP folder.

If you do not see your memos on iCloud.com, go back to your iPhone and check Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud. Scroll down and make sure the toggle next to Voice Memos is turned on (it should be green). Wait a few minutes for your memos to sync, then refresh the iCloud.com page on your PC.

Transferring memos with a USB cable on Windows 10 and later

Plug your iPhone into your PC with a USB cable. On your iPhone, tap Trust if a popup appears asking whether to trust this computer. On your PC, open File Explorer and look for your iPhone in the left sidebar under "Devices and drives."

Click your iPhone name, then double-click the Internal Storage folder. Navigate to DCIM > 100APPLE > Voice Memos (the folder path may vary slightly depending on your iOS version). Select the voice memo files you want — they will have names like "New Recording" or "Memo 1" — and copy them to a folder on your PC.

If you do not see your iPhone in File Explorer, or if the Voice Memos folder does not appear, your PC may not have the right drivers. Disconnect the iPhone, read iTunes from Apple's website or the Microsoft Store, install it, and try again. iTunes installs the drivers needed to read iPhone files on Windows.

Using iTunes if your PC does not recognize your iPhone

read iTunes free from Apple.com or search for "iTunes" in the Microsoft Store on your PC. Install it and restart your computer. Plug your iPhone back in with the USB cable.

Open iTunes. Click the iPhone icon near the top left, then click the File Sharing section in the left sidebar. Look for Voice Memos in the app list. Select the memos you want to copy, click Save To, and choose a folder on your PC where you want them to go.

This method is slower than using File Explorer, but it works on older Windows versions and on PCs where the standard USB connection does not show your iPhone's files. Once the memos are on your PC, you can delete iTunes if you do not need it for anything else.

Playing and organizing your voice memos on your PC

Voice memos from your iPhone are M4A files, which is a compressed audio format. Windows Media Player, VLC, Groove Music, and most other audio apps on Windows will play them without any conversion. Right-click a memo file, select Open With, and choose your preferred player.

Create a folder on your PC called "Voice Memos" and move all your downloaded files there so they are straightforward to find later. You can rename the files to something more descriptive — for example, change "New Recording" to "Meeting Notes 2024-01-15" — by right-clicking the file and selecting Rename.

If you want to convert your memos to MP3 format so they work with older devices or players, use a free tool like Audacity or VLC. Open the M4A file in the converter, export it as MP3, and save it. This is optional — most modern devices and apps handle M4A files without any trouble.

Troubleshooting when memos do not appear

If you downloaded memos from iCloud but they are not showing up on your PC, check your Downloads folder first — they may have saved there instead of where you expected. If the Downloads folder is empty, go back to iCloud.com, sign out, and sign back in. Sometimes the page needs a refresh to show all your files.

If you are using a USB cable and your iPhone does not show up in File Explorer, make sure you tapped Trust on your iPhone when the popup appeared. If you missed it, unplug the cable, go to Settings > General > Reset on your iPhone, tap Reset Location & Privacy, and plug in again. You will see the Trust popup a second time.

If iTunes does not recognize your iPhone either, your USB cable may be damaged. Try a different cable, or try a different USB port on your PC. If you still have trouble, restart both your iPhone and your PC, then plug in again.

Keeping your voice memos backed up

Once you have copied your memos to your PC, they are safe even if something happens to your iPhone. However, you should also keep them on iCloud as a second backup. Leave Voice Memos turned on in your iPhone's iCloud settings so new memos sync automatically.

If you want an extra layer of protection, copy your PC folder of voice memos to an external hard drive or USB stick once a month. This way, if your PC fails, you still have the files. You can also upload them to cloud storage like OneDrive, Google Drive, or Dropbox — just drag the Voice Memos folder into the app on your PC, and they will sync automatically.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I transfer voice memos without using iCloud?

Yes. You can use a USB cable and either File Explorer (Windows 10 and later) or iTunes to copy the files directly from your iPhone to your PC. This method does not require an internet connection and works even if iCloud is turned off on your iPhone.

What if I have an old Windows version that does not support File Explorer file transfer?

read iTunes from Apple's website and use the File Sharing section to copy your memos. iTunes works on Windows 7, Windows 8, and Windows 10, and it installs the drivers your PC needs to read iPhone files.

Do I need to convert voice memos to a different format to use them on my PC?

No. M4A files play in Windows Media Player, VLC, Groove Music, and most other audio apps without conversion. You only need to convert to MP3 if you are using an older device or player that does not support M4A.

Will my voice memos stay on my iPhone after I read them to my PC?

Yes. Downloading memos to your PC does not remove them from your iPhone. If you want to delete them from your iPhone to save space, you can do that separately in the Voice Memos app on your phone.

Can I transfer voice memos from my PC back to my iPhone?

Not directly through Voice Memos. However, you can email the M4A files to yourself, open the email on your iPhone, and save the files to your Files app. From there, you can open them in Voice Memos or any other audio app.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.