What Xcribe does
- Record in AAC or lossless WAV, with pause and resume and a live waveform.
- Keeps recording when the screen locks or you switch to another app.
- Crash-safe: a recording survives the app being closed or crashing mid-take.
- Organize while you record: type a title, pick a category and add tags on the Record screen.
- Library with live search, sorting and filters, grouped by date.
- Category colors: ten presets, or mix your own.
- Highlights: your favorite and Important recordings in one tab.
- Player with a seekable waveform, speed control, skip buttons and a mini player.
- Import audio files from the Files app, and share recordings as files.
- Quality presets: Voice for compact speech files, Standard, High, or Lossless for uncompressed WAV.
No account, no sign-in, no ads and no analytics. Recording, playback and organizing work without an internet connection.
Getting started
- Open the Record tab and tap the record button. The first time, iOS asks for access to the microphone.
- While it records, type a title, choose a category and add tags if you like. Tap pause to take a break.
- Tap stop to save. Find the recording under Record ▸ Recent or in the Library, and tap it to open the player.
Frequently asked questions
Where are my recordings stored?
In Xcribe's private storage on your iPhone. They aren't uploaded anywhere, and Xcribe has no servers, so we can't see or recover them.
The recordings don't appear in the Files app. To keep a copy outside Xcribe, share the recording and choose Save to Files. Settings ▸ Storage in the app shows how many recordings you have and how much space they use.
Does recording continue when the screen locks or I switch apps?
Yes. A recording keeps going when you lock the screen or switch to another app, and iOS shows its microphone indicator while Xcribe records.
If you pause a recording and then leave Xcribe, the app saves and finishes that recording, and tells you so when you come back. Start a new recording to continue.
A phone call, Siri or another app that takes over the microphone can interrupt a recording. Xcribe keeps what it has recorded, and if the recording had to stop, it's saved and you'll see a notice when you return to the app.
What happens if the app crashes or is closed while recording?
Xcribe writes recordings to storage as it goes, so a recording survives the app crashing, being force-quit or being closed by iOS. The next time you open Xcribe, the recording is back in your library with its start time, the title, category and tags you typed, and its waveform.
How do I import audio files?
Tap the import button at the top of the Library (a folder with an arrow pointing into it), or the folder button on the Record screen. Pick one or more audio files in the Files picker.
Xcribe copies the files into its library and leaves the originals where they are. Common formats such as M4A, MP3, AAC and WAV work. If a file can't be imported, Xcribe tells you.
How do I share or export a recording?
Touch and hold the recording and choose Share. You can also use Share in the recording's ⋮ menu or in the player. The iOS share sheet opens, and you can send the file with Mail, Messages or AirDrop, or save it with Save to Files.
The shared file is named after the recording's title. Recordings are AAC (.aac), or WAV when you record with the Lossless preset. Imported files keep their original format.
How do I delete recordings?
Swipe a recording left in the Library, or touch and hold it and choose Delete. To remove every recording, use Settings ▸ Delete all recordings; your categories and tags are kept.
Deleting a recording removes it from your iPhone permanently, so share a copy first if you want to keep it. Deleting the Xcribe app removes all its recordings, labels and settings.
Xcribe can't use the microphone. What do I do?
Xcribe needs microphone access to record. If you declined it, turn it on in Settings ▸ Privacy & Security ▸ Microphone (Settings ▸ Privacy on iOS 15), or open Settings ▸ Privacy ▸ Microphone inside Xcribe, which shows the current status and takes you to the right place.
If recording still doesn't start, another app may be using the microphone. Close that app and try again.
Are my recordings backed up?
Xcribe has no cloud service of its own, and it doesn't sync recordings between devices. Your recordings are part of Xcribe's app data, so they are included in your iPhone's backups (iCloud Backup or a backup to your computer) if you use them, and they come back when you restore that backup to an iPhone.
If you don't want Xcribe in your iCloud backups, turn it off in the list of apps in your iCloud Backup settings. For recordings you can't afford to lose, also keep a copy with Share ▸ Save to Files.
Does Xcribe transcribe recordings?
No. Xcribe records, organizes and plays back audio. It doesn't turn speech into text.
How do I change the recording quality?
Go to Settings ▸ Recording, or tap the gear on the Record screen. Choose Voice (smallest files, good for speech), Standard, High, or Lossless (uncompressed WAV, about 5.8 MB per minute).
Do I need an account or an internet connection?
No. There's nothing to sign up for, and recording, playback and organizing all work offline. The app itself only goes online to open this help page or the privacy policy from its Settings.
Which devices does Xcribe run on?
iPhone with iOS 15 or later. Xcribe is designed for iPhone; on iPad it runs in iPhone compatibility mode.
Contact us
Questions, problems or ideas? Email us and we'll get back to you.
It helps if you include your iPhone model, your iOS version and the Xcribe version (shown in Settings ▸ About). Please don't attach a recording unless we ask for one.
Read our Privacy Policy.