Transfer iPhone voice memos to your Mac or PC computer
Updated on Sep 23, 2026
Reading time ~4 minutes
The iOS Voice Memos app does not offer a direct way to export recordings to a computer. To retrieve your files, you can sync your library via iCloud, or locate them manually through Finder (macOS Catalina and later) or iTunes (Windows and macOS Mojave or earlier) after syncing. This process requires multiple steps and does not give you direct file access.
iMazing lets you browse and export voice memos directly from your iPhone or iPad to your Mac or Windows PC as audio files, without relying on iCloud or a full device sync.
Here's how to transfer iPhone voice memos to your Mac or PC computer.
Select Voice Memos
Click Data
In the Device Screen, click Data in the left sidebar.
Select Voice Memos
In the dataset list, click Voice Memos.
Tip: Voice Memos is also accessible from the Overview section of the Device Screen. Under Data Shortcuts, click Voice Memos to open it directly.
Choose how to load your data
iMazing needs to create a backup to extract data from your device. You can choose whether you only need access to your voice memos, or whether you want to create a full, restorable backup of the device. A partial backup uses much less storage, but both options take about the same amount of time because all files are streamed from your device to your computer during the process. iMazing cannot control which files are streamed.
Click Start to launch the operation. iMazing prompts you to enter the passcode on the device.
Important: The first time you back up a device with iMazing, the process may take 30 minutes or more, depending on how much data is stored on the device. USB speed (whether your device supports USB 3.1 or 2.0) and the backup location (for example, a NAS or external drive) can also affect the time it takes. Please be patient. Learn more about data access and full backup options. For more details on backup performance, see: Understanding & fixing slow iPhone or iPad backups
If a backup of the device already exists, iMazing shows the following prompt instead. Choose whether to open the existing backup or run a subsequent backup to refresh the contents.
Tip: Subsequent backups are incremental and much faster. You can request a newer backup at any time with the Refresh button (the circular arrow) in the top toolbar.
Browse your voice memos
Once iMazing finishes loading the data, it displays your recordings in the main window.
Browse an existing backup
You can browse your voice memos without connecting your iPhone, as long as iMazing already holds a backup of the device. iMazing can also open backups made with iTunes, Finder, or Apple Devices once you add them to iMazing.
- On the Home Screen, open the Backups section to see every backup iMazing manages.
- Select the backup you want to open. iMazing opens it so you can browse its content, no device connection is required.
- On the backup Overview, click Voice Memos in the datasets row.
Note: When browsing from a backup, iMazing reads only the stored backup, so no new backup is created. For more on browsing and extracting data, see the Manage your backups with iMazing guide.
Browse from a previous snapshot
Each time iMazing backs up your device, it keeps a timestamped snapshot, so you can open your voice memos as they existed at an earlier date. This works like macOS Time Machine, applied to your iOS or iPadOS backups.
By default, iMazing shows the current state of your device or the latest backup. To reach an earlier state:
- Select your device or a backup from the Home Screen.
- In the upper toolbar, click the Now button to open the Snapshot List.
- Select an earlier snapshot. iMazing reloads the Voice Memos view with the recordings contained in that snapshot.
A gray checkmark marks the state you are currently viewing. Select Now again to return to the current state.
Tip: For details on snapshot labels and management, see the Backup Snapshot List in iMazing guide.
Select recordings
Select the recordings you want to export.
Tip: Use Cmd (macOS) or Ctrl (Windows) to select multiple recordings individually. Use Shift to select a range.
Export your voice memos
Click Export
In the bottom toolbar, click Export. A save dialog opens.
Choose a destination folder
Select a destination folder, then click Choose. iMazing saves your voice memos to the selected location as audio files.
What to keep in mind
- To transfer voice memos to another device, back up your source device with iMazing, then restore that backup to the target device. Refer to our guides on backing up an iPhone or iPad and restoring from a backup for details.
- You can also sync voice memos between devices via iCloud by enabling the option in the iOS Settings app.