Short answer
In a Chat conversation, press and hold the voice (microphone) icon next to the text box to record, release to send, or swipe up to lock recording hands-free.
Key takeaways
- Voice notes returned to X Chat in April 2026 after the move to the new encrypted system.
- They work in one-to-one chats and group chats.
- Voice posts on the timeline are a separate, iOS-only feature.
Twitter added voice messages to DMs in 2021. When X rebuilt messaging as Chat in 2025, voice notes were briefly missing; they returned in April 2026.
How do I record and send one?
Hold the microphone icon next to the message box, speak, and let go to send.
- Open a conversation in Chat.
- Press and hold the voice icon to the right of the text box.
- Speak. Release to send.
- To record without holding, swipe up while recording to lock it, then tap send when done.
Does it work in groups?
Yes, voice notes work in one-to-one and group chats.
Everyone in the group can play it. Keep group voice notes short; nobody enjoys a four-minute monologue in a 200-person chat.
How is this different from a voice post?
Voice messages are private Chat messages; voice posts are public posts with audio, available on iOS.
See how to post with your voice for the public version.
What are good uses for voice notes?
Quick replies where tone matters, explanations that would take a long message, and accessibility.
- A thank-you or apology, where a voice carries warmth text can't.
- Explaining something fiddly ("the settings are under the second menu, then…") while you're walking.
- People who find typing hard, or who think better out loud.
Keep them short: under a minute is easy to listen to in a busy day. If the message contains details someone needs to find later (an address, a time, a code), send those as text too, because voice notes aren't searchable.
What should I watch out for?
Privacy, scams and consent.
Voice notes from people you don't know can be part of romance or investment scams, and voices can now be cloned by AI from short samples. Don't send voice notes to strangers, and don't treat a voice note as proof of identity. If a "friend" sends an urgent voice note asking for money, confirm through another channel first.
Questions people ask
Why don't I see the voice button?
Update the app. Voice notes came back in Chat in April 2026 and roll out by app version and platform.
Can I listen before sending?
If you lock the recording (swipe up), you can usually review or delete it before sending.
Are voice messages encrypted?
X says Chat messages are end-to-end encrypted; voice notes are part of Chat.