Voice messages on Friendstime: record, play, put in context
In one-to-one and group chats of the Android app you hold the microphone button, speak and let go. The web messenger records voice messages too. This topic covers the controls, the limits and the protection.
Recording in the Android app
Hold the microphone icon in the chat and speak; the message is sent when you let go. Swipe left to cancel the recording. Swipe up to lock it and speak hands-free until you tap send; while locked you can pause and resume (pausing needs Android 7). During the recording you see the time and a live waveform.
Length and file size
A voice message must be at least one second long, otherwise the app reminds you to hold the microphone button. In the app up to 30 minutes are possible; when the limit is reached the message is sent automatically. It is recorded as an AAC file at 64 kbit/s in mono, which suits speech and keeps files small; the server accepts files up to 20 MB.
Listening and speed
In the app each voice message shows a waveform with progress; drag it to jump to a spot. A tap on the speed symbol switches between 1×, 1.5× and 2×. The speed applies to all voice messages and is remembered. In the browser the browser’s normal audio player plays the message.
In the web messenger
On the web you record in a one-to-one chat with the microphone icon: one click starts the recording, then you choose “Cancel” or “Send”. In the group chat of the web messenger a recording lasts at most 10 minutes. Gestures, locking and the speed choice exist only in the Android app.
Who sees what and how long the message stays
In the app the other person sees “is recording a voice message…”, in groups with your name in front; the push notification shows only “Voice message”. Blocks and your setting for who may write to you also apply to voice messages in one-to-one chats. The file sits in a protected store and is delivered only after a permission check, namely to the sender, the recipient or members of the group. If a chat has an expiry time, it also applies to voice messages sent from the app.
When voice messages are end-to-end encrypted
In one-to-one chats, voice messages are end-to-end encrypted (ML-KEM-768 with AES-256-GCM) when both accounts have a key; the server then sees sender, recipient, time, size and type, but not the content. If the other person has no key yet, the voice message goes out unencrypted. We do not promise end-to-end encryption for group chats. So for anything particularly confidential, it is safer to write text in a private chat when in doubt.
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Frequently asked questions
How long can a voice message be?
In the Android app at least one second and at most 30 minutes. In the web group chat a recording is at most 10 minutes.
Can I play voice messages faster?
Yes, in the Android app at 1.5× or 2×. A tap on the speed symbol switches; the choice applies to all voice messages and is remembered.
Are voice messages end-to-end encrypted?
In one-to-one chats yes, when both accounts have a key; otherwise they go out unencrypted. We do not promise end-to-end encryption for group chats.
Can I cancel a recording?
Yes. In the Android app you swipe left while recording, on the web you choose “Cancel”.
Are there voice messages in groups too?
Yes, in the Android app in one-to-one and group chats, on the web in both as well.