Voice memo does not play via bluetooth

This is NOT the solution— this problem occurs on my BeatsX where I am playing out fine from any source, but voice memos will not play through my Bluetooth device.

The only reason I could think of is this is intentional to avoid feedback while recording if playing through a Bluetooth speaker. This problem could occur through a headphone-line speaker too though so even this doesn’t make sense..

Apple please provide a bug fix, this is frustrating as a music producer.

I had the same issue, i realized see that if I save my voice memo, I could play it through QuickTime over Bluetooth.

To save, you have to click on share and then save it in your folders. Once saved, you can retrieve it and play it over Bluetooth.

I think this may be a voice memos issue. Other things on my phone will play on my blutooth device, but my voice memos will not. I select the blutooth option from inside voice memos and it allows to select, but then pops right back over to the iphone option. The blutooth device is definitely connected to my phone...I can play songs on it. My phone is a 7 plus and on the lastest iOS.

Any other insight would be appreciated.

I'm having the same issue. All of my apps will playback audio over bluetooth except Voice Memos. When i hit play on Voice Memos the audio auto switches from my bluetooth speaker to the speaker on my iphone.

Same here, haven't updated to iOS 11 yet, hanging onto 10, but has this same issue. From memory, think Garageband exhibits the same issue - can anyone else verify?

Can't imagine if I'd upgraded to an iPhone 7 or later with the same issue & wanted voice memos routed elsewhere except the iphone speaker!!

Hi Nyousha,

The easiest way to find a file is to do a search (swipe to the left from the home screen and type in the file name). Once you've typed in the filename, choose the one that is located in your Files rather than Voice Memos.

In the screenshot below, the file I want to save is called Test Audio

Swiped to the left from my Home Screen and search test audio

You could also find the recently saved voice memo by clicking on the Files app and and select the Recents tab.

If this does not work, try saving again by clicking on the share icon, then save to files and select another path.

Two workarounds....and I just tried them both and both work.

Workaround #1 - - When you're in Voice Memo, click on the specific file you want to hear through your bluetooth speaker. When you get the drop down, you'll see the trash can on your right, the "Edit" in the center, and the box with the arrow pointing up on the left. Click on that. You'll want to click on "add to Notes", which converts the voice memo to an m4a file. Go to Notes, click on the four square icon on the bottom left and you'll find the audio file. At that point, you can play the file through your bluetooth speaker.

Workaround #2 - - in Voice Memo, email the voice memo to yourself. Again it will convert to an m4a music file. Click on the music file in the email and it will play through your bluetooth speaker.

I just did it and BOTH worked.

It's an extra step, and yes, it stinks, but at least you can now play the file through your bluetooth speaker.

I was just trying to do this last night and get exact same thing. I have an iphone 7 plus and I just upgraded to the most recent iOS on Saturday. I'm thinking it might be a problem with voice memos???

This is an interesting workaround - but I saved my voice memo somewhere and now I have no idea how to retrieve it! Any help would be appreciated! Thanks

Hopefully Apple will fix this soon. The problem just started for me in the past week.

I am noticing similar issue with my iPhone 6 but with Voice Memos it plays when I have either my Bluetooth hearing aids connected or my headphones but when it comes to playing through the speaker on my phone voice memos doesn’t work I have to hold it up to my ear as I would a phone call. Music app and games play through the speaker it’s just Voice Memos that does

I’ve found that saving your voice memos to the “files” app or iCloud will allow you to play the files back via Bluetooth.

1. Click “share” button.

2. Click “save to files”

3. Click “iCloud drive”

4. Go to “files” app and play memo

I have the exactly the same problem on iPhone 6. All other Apps can play on paired bluetooth speaker except the voice memo! I think it is a software bug, Apple, please fix it.

If you swipe up on your phone it should give you an option for audio input. You have to switch it from the iPhone to the headphones