New in v3.0

Just speak. It's a memo.

Tap the mic in the bottom-right, or auto-start on launch, then just speak — your voice becomes text and a memo on the spot. Powered by Apple's latest on-device speech recognition, so neither audio nor text leaves your device. No extra cost, zero impact on app size. Capture a thought even when your hands are full.

Download on the App Store See how to use it

By AI ATAKA

In one sentence

Simple Memo's voice input turns what you say into text and a memo on the spot. Tap the mic in the bottom-right of the memo field, speak, and tap again to stop. Transcription runs entirely on-device via Apple's on-device speech recognition (iOS 26) — no audio or text leaves your device. Turn on "Auto-start voice input on launch" in settings and you just open the app and speak — that's voice auto-input.

What this changes

🙌 Even hands-free
Cooking, holding a child, walking. When you can't type, capture it by voice instead.
🔒 Private, on-device
Transcription stays on the device — no audio or text sent to external speech servers. It's privacy-first by design.
💸 Zero extra cost
No metered external API, so speak all you like at no added cost. App size doesn't grow either.

How it works

Tap the mic and recording starts; your speech becomes live text inserted at the cursor. While recording, a real waveform follows your voice level, showing "I'm listening" and "tap again to finish" without any words.

🎙️ Tap the mic → 🗣️ Speak → ✍️ Live text → 📤 One-tap send
Mix voice and typing
The keyboard stays up while recording. Dictate the gist, then fix names or numbers by hand.
Auto-stops on send
Sending while recording stops it automatically and clears the field. The "write → send → clear" rhythm is unchanged.
Tech note

Transcription uses Apple's SpeechAnalyzer / SpeechTranscriber (the new on-device API in iOS 26). Language models are stored on-device as shared system assets separate from the app bundle, so app size doesn't grow. A not-yet-installed language downloads once on first use, showing "Preparing…" meanwhile.

"Voice auto-input" — speak from the moment it opens

Turn on "Auto-start voice input on launch" under Advanced settings in Settings, and voice input begins the instant you open the app. No hunting for the mic — launch from your home screen and just speak. It's the lowest-friction way to catch a thought.

Combine it

Keep the app/widget on your Home or Lock Screen and "launch → speak → send" takes seconds. Turn on Obsidian integration too, and voice-written memos flow straight into your Obsidian notes.

How to use it

  • iPhone (iOS 26 or later, on a supported device)
  • Simple Memo installed from the App Store
  • Microphone and speech-recognition permission on first use (on-device, nothing uploaded)
  1. Tap the mic (bottom-right)
    Tap the mic icon at the bottom-right of the memo screen. On first use, you'll grant mic/speech permission and download the language model if needed (shows "Preparing…").
  2. Speak
    Just talk. Interim text appears live, and finalized words are inserted at the cursor. You can also type with the keyboard at the same time.
  3. Tap again to stop
    Tap the waveform (stop button) again to end voice input.
  4. Send
    Send with one tap as usual. If you're still recording, it stops automatically and the field clears.
To start automatically

Turn on Settings → Advanced settings → "Auto-start voice input on launch" and recording begins the moment you open the app next time (supported iOS 26+ devices only).

Ways to use it

While doing chores
When your hands are busy, use your voice. Add to a shopping list or capture a to-do in a flash.
Long thoughts, fast
Speak your thinking to dump it quickly, then refine later — faster than typing it all out.
Catch ideas instantly
Idea capture is about freshness. Auto-start + voice lets you save it before it slips away.
When typing is a pain
For input-heavy languages, speaking is often faster. Dictate, then fix only what needs it.

Requirements & caveats

Requires iOS 26+ on a supported device and language

Voice input depends on Apple's new on-device speech recognition (iOS 26). On unsupported devices the mic icon isn't shown — keyboard memos and one-tap send still work as before.

First use may download a language model

A not-yet-installed language downloads once on first use, showing "Preparing…" meanwhile. Use it first where you have a good connection.

Microphone and speech permission needed

A permission dialog appears on first tap (or right at launch if auto-start is on). If you decline, you can grant it later via "Open Settings" in the alert.

FAQ

Does voice input cost extra?

No. It uses Apple's on-device speech recognition (iOS 26), so transcription never calls a metered external API. There's no added cost to you or to us.

Is my spoken audio sent anywhere?

No. Transcription happens fully on-device; neither audio nor text is sent to external speech servers. Only when you send the finished memo does it go to your destination email.

What are the requirements? What if my device isn't supported?

It works on iOS 26+ supported devices and languages. On unsupported devices the mic icon doesn't appear, and keyboard memos with one-tap send keep working as before.

Does it increase app size?

No. Language models are stored on-device as shared system assets, separate from the app bundle. A not-yet-installed language downloads once on first use (shown as "Preparing…").

What is "voice auto-input"?

Turn on "Auto-start voice input on launch" under Advanced settings, and voice input begins the moment you open the app — no need to find the mic, just open and speak (supported iOS 26+ devices only).

Can I type while voice input is on?

Yes. The keyboard stays up while recording, so you can mix voice and typing — e.g., fix a misheard word by hand on the spot.

Do voice-written memos go to Obsidian too?

Yes. Voice input and integrations are independent. A voice-written memo, once sent, is appended to your Obsidian notes as usual (when Obsidian integration is on).

Speak, and it's the fastest memo.
Free to download. Voice input on supported iOS 26+ devices.
Download on the App Store

Related Pages

The 5-Second Memo (recommended workflow) Obsidian Integration Apple Watch × Obsidian Obsidian Voice Input — 4 Ways Draft Auto-save Turn Your Inbox into a To-Do List Idea Capture Memo App Privacy Note to Email Voice memos with Siri & AirPods

References

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