WAV to text: how to transcribe .wav files on iPhone

You have a professional recorder, a DAW export, or dictation hardware — and you need the words in it as text. You don’t need a converter, an mp3 tool, or a desktop app: transcription apps accept .wav directly.

Short answer: Import the file into AI Transcribe — tap Import, choose Audio File, pick your .wav file — and the transcript appears with timestamps and speaker labels. Files up to 3 hours are supported, and the format is converted internally, so no preparation is needed.

What is a .wav file?

WAV is uncompressed audio: highest fidelity, largest files (roughly 10 MB per minute). Field recorders, studio exports and courtroom/dictation systems produce it. File size doesn’t matter for transcription — duration does.

WAV to text, step by step

1. Get the file onto your iPhone (Files, Downloads, or shared from another app).
2. Open AI Transcribe and tap Import → Audio File.
3. Select the .wav file. It’s converted and transcribed automatically — keep the app open while it processes.
4. Use Summarize or any of the 15+ AI tools on the result, or export the transcript as text or PDF.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to convert .wav to another format first? No. Conversion happens inside the app; any common audio format works.

How long can the file be? Up to 3 hours per file. Transcription takes minutes, not the file’s duration.

Which languages are supported? 32 languages with automatic language detection — the file’s language doesn’t need to be set manually.

What does it cost? AI Transcribe is free to download and try; the Pro subscription (weekly or annual) unlocks up to 3 hours of transcription per day.