How to use Online Voice Recorder
- Allow microphone access when prompted.
- Record a few seconds of silence first, then speak.
- Stop, listen back, and download.
- Requires HTTPS and microphone permission; the browser shows a recording indicator.
- Output format is chosen by the browser — WebM/Opus, or MP4/AAC on Safari.
- Audio stays on your device and is not uploaded.
Permissions and what the indicator means
The browser asks before granting microphone access, and shows a recording indicator in the tab while it is active — both are enforced by the browser, not by the page. Microphone access requires a secure context, so this only works over HTTPS. If the prompt never appears, permission was likely denied previously and is remembered; reset it in the site settings rather than reloading repeatedly.
Getting a usable recording
Room acoustics matter more than equipment. A hard-surfaced room produces reflections that no processing fully removes, so record somewhere with soft furnishings — a wardrobe full of clothes genuinely outperforms an empty office. Keep the microphone close, around a hand’s width, and slightly off-axis so plosives do not hit it directly. Record a few seconds of silence at the start: it gives noise-reduction tools a profile to work from.
Formats and what the browser gives you
Browsers record to WebM with Opus, or on Safari to MP4 with AAC — you do not choose, and the format depends on the browser. Both are lossy and both are fine for speech. If you need WAV for an editing workflow, convert afterwards, accepting that the quality lost at recording cannot be recovered. For speech, the default is entirely adequate.
Recording other people
Consent law varies and matters. Many US states require all parties to consent to recording a conversation; others require only one. The EU and UK treat a recording of an identifiable person as personal data. The practical rule that works everywhere: say you are recording and get agreement on the recording itself, which takes five seconds and removes the question entirely.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the recording go?
Why does the browser ask for microphone permission?
What format is the recording?
Why will my microphone not work?
What format does it record in?
Is it legal to record a conversation?
How do we know nothing is uploaded? Test it yourself on the privacy proof page.