One of the perks of using iMessage to chat with another iPhone user is that you can send audio messages in addition to texts, emojis, and photos.
Apple treats these audio messages like top secret communications — by default, they expire and are permanently deleted after two minutes once you have listened to them, with no option to get them back.
If you want to keep those audio messages around for longer, there are a few ways to do that. Here's what you need to know:
How to save audio messages on iPhone
When you receive an audio iMessage and play it for the first time, a clock starts counting down from two minutes. When the timer runs out, the audio clip is unceremoniously deleted without warning.
But you can save it — after you listen to it, tap Keep under the message. When you keep it, it will always be available in Messages to playback.
How to stop audio messages from expiring on iPhone
Rather than using the Keep button to save audio messages, you can change the Messages app's settings so audio messages no longer expire after two minutes.
1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap Messages.
3. In the Audio Messages section, tap Expire.
4. Tap Never.
How to save audio messages to your Mac computer
If you don't trust your phone to keep the audio messages for as long as you'd like, you can import them onto your computer.
1. Set up your iCloud account so your iMessages show up on both your iPhone and Mac.
2. Open the Messages app on your Mac, and go to the conversation that has the voice message you want to save.
3. Find the voice message and right-click on it.
4. In the right-click menu that opens, click Copy.
5. Right-click on your Desktop.
6. In the right-click menu that opens, click Paste Item.
