How to use ChatGPT voice mode

ChatGPT voice mode lets you speak to ChatGPT out loud and hear it reply in a natural voice, rather than typing. To start, tap or click the voice icon in the message bar, allow microphone access, and begin talking. It works on the ChatGPT website and phone apps, and free users get a daily allowance.

In this guide, you will learn how to have your first voice conversation, what voice is useful for, and what happens to what you say. If you are brand new to ChatGPT, start with our guide on how to use ChatGPT.

What is ChatGPT voice mode?

Typing to ChatGPT is like swapping text messages. Voice mode is more like a phone call: you talk, it listens, and it answers out loud. Behind the scenes, ChatGPT turns your speech into words it can work with, a process called speech-to-text, then speaks its reply back to you.

OpenAI’s current version, called Live, is built for natural back-and-forth. It can listen and talk at the same time, so you can interrupt it, change your mind mid-sentence, or ask it to slow down. It can also search the web and show visual results on screen while you talk.

How do you start a voice conversation?

1. Open ChatGPT on the website or in the phone app, and sign in.
2. Find the voice icon in the message bar where you would normally type.
3. Allow microphone access if your phone or browser asks for it.
4. Choose a voice the first time you use it.
5. Start talking. Speak as you would to a person, then pause and listen.
6. End the conversation when you are done. A written transcript stays in your chat history, so you can scroll back through it later.

On a phone, you can also turn on background conversations in the voice settings, which keeps the conversation going while you use other apps or lock your screen.

Here is a good first thing to say out loud:

I have a job interview on Thursday for a receptionist role. Can you
play the interviewer, ask me one question at a time, and give me
friendly feedback after each answer?

Speaking your answers out loud is far closer to the real thing than typing them, which is exactly why voice suits this kind of practice.

What is voice mode good for, and what is it not good for?

Good for	Not so good for
Practising interviews, presentations, or a new language	Long documents you need to read and edit carefully
Thinking out loud while cooking, walking, or doing chores	Copying precise details such as addresses or figures
Getting quick explanations without looking at a screen	Private topics in a shared or public space
People who find typing slow or tiring	Situations where you need a written record straight away

Voice answers can still be wrong while sounding completely sure of themselves, an error known as a hallucination. A confident voice can make that easier to miss, so check anything important afterwards.

What about video and screen sharing?

Some voice features vary by plan and device. OpenAI says the newer Live experience does not support video or screen sharing. Those remain available to eligible paid subscribers in the phone apps through the previous voice experience, called Advanced. If you do not see them, your plan or app version is the likely reason.

What happens to your voice conversations?

It helps to know where your words go. According to OpenAI:

• A written transcript of each voice conversation appears in your chat history.
• Audio clips are stored with that transcript and kept for 30 days.
• If you delete the chat, its audio is deleted within 30 days, unless OpenAI must keep it for security, safety, or legal reasons.
• Archiving a chat only hides it from your sidebar. It does not delete it.
• The audio is not used to train OpenAI’s models unless you choose to share it. If the “Improve the model for everyone” setting is on, transcripts may be used.

Our guide on whether AI learns from your conversations explains these settings in more detail.

A gentle note on privacy

Speaking aloud is lovely and easy, but other people can hear you. In an office, on a train, or at home with family around, think twice before discussing health, money, or anything personal. The same goes for ChatGPT’s replies, which play through your speaker unless you wear headphones.

If a topic feels private, switch to typing, or wait until you are somewhere quieter. For more on keeping personal details safe, see our guide on protecting your privacy with AI.