Level 1

33 points

Why do Voice Memos show up in my Music library?

Is anyone else bothered by the fact that Voice Memos sync from your iOS device into your Music library, instead of into their own section?? Under Media Kind, there is a tag for "Voice Memo" (just as there is a tag for Music/Audiobook/Podcast/Video etc), but even when it is tagged as Voice Memo, it still shows up in Music. Shouldn't ther be a separate section under Library in iTunes for Voice Memos? There is a separate section for Music, Movies, TV Shows, Podcasts, iTunes U, Books, Apps, Tones, and Radio - but not for Voice Memos!!!!! This a function I use all the time and it's annoying that it is not properly categorized. And it's especially annoying - not to mention embarassing! - when I am playing music from my library and a voice memo comes on! Some of those are private thoughts, like journals!!!!! Super awkward when there are people around.

I have resorted to changing the Media Kind to Audiobook so that it at least is grouped with other Spoken Word files, rather than with my Music. Apple, please fix this!!!

I found this post from another user who also agrees with me. Ceres1, if you're out there, any updates on this issue?

Ceres1

Helpful AnswerRe: Keeping Voice Memos Out Of My Music Library

Sep 15, 2009 9:55 AM (in response to XWiz)

This is a bit annoying!

If you examine the file info for the voice memo file within iTunes, it does have Media Kind correctly tagged as "Voice Memo" rather than "Music", but it still shows up under "Music".

I don't mind the files being in iTunes, but they should be treated separately like Video, Podcasts, Ringtones, etc....

Have sent feedback to Apple and suggest everyone else do the same.

MacBook Air, Mac OS X (10.7.2)

Posted on Feb 13, 2012 2:39 PM

36 replies

Mik B

Level 1

37 points

Aug 28, 2014 5:15 AM in response to ckuan

ckuan wrote:

jed23421353 wrote:

"Don't know what is there to complain about?"

Because a voice memo is not 'music'.

Is that not clear to you?

Voice memos are saved as .m4a no different than music and since iTunes do not read the content it will be stored as music.

Audio books and podcasts can also have .m4a extensions so your point is totally irrelevant.

arun.vbn

Level 1

10 points

Dec 21, 2014 6:04 AM in response to ilearn.jr

Hey Everyone..

Even I was facing this frustrating issue and was trying to figure out how to fix this..

As you had mentioned, I opened them in my iTunes Library, selected all the voice memos I had trouble with, right-click, Get Info, then went to the tab 'Options' changed the "media kind" to 'Voice Memo'.. Then synced them all back to the iPhone..

Now, on iTunes, they still show under Music, but when I checked my iPhone, it's not in Music, it's under Recordings, the voice memo app..

Not a great solution, but serves the purpose for now..

Cheers, and Merry Christmas!!

- Arun

Burner18

Level 1

4 points

May 20, 2016 6:01 AM in response to arun.vbn

Wow! Great to hear that I'm not the only one facing this issue. Can't believe that Apple hasn't addressed this now. Really annoying to have my voice memos play suddenly when i'm listening to music because they're part of the music library. C'mon Apple, please.

Jul 22, 2016 8:49 PM in response to ilearn.jr

Your sooo right this is pure bs and needs to be addressed by Apple asap I do t want to drive down the street and then here lesson one or whatever i recorded I want to hear Motley Crue - wild side it's a shame this has been going on this long and I thank the op for posting this and others for comments .. As others I too thought i was the the only one ..

Jowie

Level 2

222 points

Jul 13, 2012 12:43 PM in response to ilearn.jr

Doesn't make any sense. They even have their own folder in the Finder.

I have reported the issue - http://www.apple.com/feedback/itunesapp.html

🙂

Apr 24, 2012 5:13 PM in response to ilearn.jr

I agree this is annoying and apple must fix this.

ckuan

Level 10

120,926 points

Apr 24, 2012 6:09 PM in response to ilearn.jr

Voice memo is in Music section because iTunes doesn't have a Voice memo section under LIBRARY and also Voice memo is actually m4a encoded file like most music file.

Message was edited by: ckuan

Apr 25, 2012 1:38 PM in response to ilearn.jr

Probably because voice memos are audio as well as music files and are the same file format.

KiltedTim

Level 10

225,978 points

Apr 25, 2012 1:53 PM in response to ilearn.jr

ilearn.jr wrote:

...But Apple, if you're reading this...

They are not. This is strictly a user to user forum. Leave them feedback by following the "Contact Us" link at the bottom of the page.

ckuan

Level 10

120,926 points

Jun 2, 2013 2:23 PM in response to jed23421353

Don't know what is there to complain about?

Voice recordings are in .m4a format like any other music you have in your iTunes Library and of course it will be saved in Music.

KiltedTim

Level 10

225,978 points

Jun 2, 2013 2:26 PM in response to jed23421353

Did you bother reading this thread at all?

Jun 2, 2013 5:19 PM in response to ckuan

"Don't know what is there to complain about?"

Because a voice memo is not 'music'.

Is that not clear to you?

Jun 2, 2013 5:21 PM in response to KiltedTim

Yes I read this thread.

If you refer to the workaround to convert 'voice' memos into audio books then that is hardly satisfactory. Otherwise , do you have a solution? I hope so.

KiltedTim

Level 10

225,978 points

Jun 2, 2013 6:29 PM in response to jed23421353

Then talk to Apple about it. This is a user forum. We can not alter reality.

Cyberbro

Level 1

0 points

Dec 3, 2013 1:24 PM in response to ilearn.jr

Come on Apple this is so dumb, you got to be kidding this is not fixed after all this time.

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Why do Voice Memos show up in my Music library?