# Feature request: Native Voice Message Recording & Automatic Audio Transcription

**URL:** https://meta.discourse.org/t/feature-request-native-voice-message-recording-automatic-audio-transcription/384719
**Category:** Feature
**Tags:** accessibility
**Created:** [October 5, 2025, 12:19pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/feature-request-native-voice-message-recording-automatic-audio-transcription/384719 "2025-10-05T12:19:32Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Showing post:** 1

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### Author: ![Suelen\_Calonga](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/meta/user_avatar/meta.discourse.org/suelen_calonga/32/523975_2.png) [@Suelen\_Calonga](https://meta.discourse.org/u/Suelen_Calonga)
#### Post date: [October 5, 2025, 12:19pm UTC](https://meta.discourse.org/t/feature-request-native-voice-message-recording-automatic-audio-transcription/384719/1 "2025-10-05T12:19:32Z")

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Hi Discourse team,

I’d like to suggest a new feature that would make a huge difference for accessibility and engagement in the Discourse platform: **native support for recording and posting audio messages directly in topics and replies, along with automatic audio-to-text transcription** (similar to what Instagram and WhatsApp offer). I saw some discussions about plugins and components for this capability, including the information that the one available it is not working now. As I do not have the expertise to even install a plugin from github myself and try, a native tool embedded in the system just with an enable/disable toggle would be wonderful for lay end users like me =)

### Why this feature?

For many people, typing is not always the most effective or accessible means of communication. This may include:

- People with disabilities or temporary injuries that make typing difficult.

- Community members who prefer speaking due to literacy levels or comfort.

- Users on mobile who want faster, hands-free communication.

Allowing users to record and post audio (voice notes) including in comments directly would dramatically reduce participation barriers and make Discourse communities more inclusive.

### Why is transcription important?

Automatic transcription of voice messages would ensure that all users—including those who can’t listen to audio (for example, due to hearing impairments or when they’re in a quiet environment)—can still participate and engage fully with content on the platform.

Integrating this natively (as Instagram, WhatsApp, or Google Messages do), would bring Discourse platforms closer to state-of-the-art inclusivity and accessibility standards.

### What has been tried so far?

I saw there have been previous community solutions:

- [Voice Recorder Component](https://meta.discourse.org/t/voice-recorder-component/215621)

- [Discourse Audio Message plugin](https://meta.discourse.org/t/discourse-audio-message/270432)

- [Voice to text integration discussion](https://meta.discourse.org/t/voice-to-text-integration/285110)

However, most of these are either not actively maintained, not fully integrated, or lack transcription features. There is clear ongoing interest from the community regarding audio features and integrated voice-to-text.

### Suggested functionality

- Allow direct recording of audio (voice notes) in the composer for topics and replies.

- Support uploading audio files as an alternative.

- Integrate with a speech-to-text service to automatically generate and display a transcript with each audio post.

- Option to edit or correct transcriptions before posting.

- Moderation controls to manage and review audio content.

### Closing

This feature would set Discourse apart as an inclusive, modern platform that supports a diverse range of users and situations.

Thank you for considering this! I (and others in the community) would be really excited to see any movement in this direction.

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_[View the full topic](https://meta.discourse.org/t/feature-request-native-voice-message-recording-automatic-audio-transcription/384719)._