Recording issues
Fixes for common recording and transcription problems.
"No voice heard" warning
TellDone shows No voice heard when the microphone hasn't picked up your voice for about a minute. The warning appears in the Dynamic Island, on the Lock Screen and on the Record screen. You also get a No voice heard notification that offers to stop the recording (touch and hold it to see Stop recording). In the Dynamic Island and on the Lock Screen, the red recording indicator turns orange. While the silence continues, the notification repeats every 5 minutes, and each one replaces the last. Silence alone never ends a recording.
If you stop a recording that had no speech, you'll see Couldn't hear any speech, please try again.
That's a separate check, made after the recording is uploaded. A recording with no voice or no recognizable words never becomes a note and never uses one. The first 3 such recordings each day (your local day) don't use an upload or transcription minutes, and if one of those 3 lasts 10 seconds or more, you get a notice in your Inbox. From the 4th that day, they count as an upload and can use minutes, and no notice is sent.
If you see this warning while you're talking:
- Check that TellDone has microphone permission - open the iPhone Settings app, tap Apps > TellDone and turn on Microphone
- Make sure you're not covering the microphone with your hand or a case
- Hold the phone at a natural distance - about 15-30 cm (6-12 inches) from your mouth
- Try recording in a quieter environment
If you just granted microphone permission, restart TellDone and try again.
"Recording was damaged. Please record again."
Something went wrong while the recording was being saved.
- Try recording again
- Check that your device has enough free storage space
- If the problem repeats, restart TellDone and try once more
- If it keeps happening, contact support
"Recording exceeds your plan limit"
Each plan has a maximum recording length:
| Plan | Max duration |
|---|---|
| Free | 5 minutes |
| Basic | 10 minutes |
| Pro | 60 minutes |
| Ultra | 90 minutes |
TellDone stops a recording automatically when it reaches your plan's limit, and that recording is processed normally. If you're close to your monthly transcription minutes, the recording stops when they run out. The part you recorded is kept and processed.
If you see Recording exceeds your plan limit, the recording was longer than your plan allows (for example, it was recorded offline or before a plan change), so no note was created from it.
Need longer recordings? Upgrade your plan, or split your thoughts into multiple shorter recordings.
Transcription minutes used up
You've used all your transcription minutes for the month. Before you start recording, TellDone shows Usage limit reached. Upgrade your plan for more. If a recording is refused after it was sent, you see You've reached your plan limit. Minutes reset at midnight on the 1st in your time zone.
If a recording waiting to upload is refused because of the limit, TellDone doesn't delete it. You get a notification that a queued voice note couldn't be processed, and TellDone sends it again automatically after your minutes reset or you upgrade (it checks when you open the app).
| Plan | Transcription minutes/month |
|---|---|
| Free | 60 |
| Basic | 300 |
| Pro | 600 |
| Ultra | 1,500 |
What you can do:
- Type a text note instead - tap Text note on the Record screen. Text notes go through the same AI analysis and don't use transcription minutes.
- Wait until your minutes reset on the 1st
- Upgrade your plan for more minutes
Monthly notes used up
You've reached the maximum number of notes for your current plan this month. Before you start recording, TellDone shows Usage limit reached. Upgrade your plan for more. If a recording is refused after it was sent, you see You've reached your plan limit. If a recording was waiting to upload while you were offline, you get a notification that it couldn't be processed. TellDone keeps it and sends it again automatically after the reset or an upgrade.
| Plan | Notes/month |
|---|---|
| Free | 50 |
| Basic | 300 |
| Pro | 1,000 |
| Ultra | Unlimited |
Your existing notes are safe - you just can't create new ones until your notes reset on the 1st, or you upgrade.
A recording didn't turn into a note
Something went wrong while processing your recording, and you may see Empty message.
- Check your internet connection - processing always needs one, even with Apple Speech Recognition turned on (the text is analyzed on our servers, and the audio is uploaded too)
- Try recording again
- If the error persists, restart TellDone
If you're offline, TellDone keeps the recording on your iPhone and uploads it automatically when you're back online.
Recording is too short or empty
If a recording is too short or has nothing in it, your iPhone doesn't upload it and shows Recording too short, No speech detected, please try again or Empty recording. This keeps accidental taps from creating empty notes.
Record again and speak for a little longer.
Mixed language in one recording
TellDone works best when you stick to one language per recording. Mixing languages in a single recording reduces transcription accuracy.
If you regularly speak in two languages:
- In Settings, under Recording & AI, tap Content language and pick your main language
- Record separate notes for each language
- You can change the content language anytime - it applies to future recordings
Your content language and your app language are separate. For example, you can use the app in English while recording in Spanish.
My summaries come out in the wrong language
Your app language and your content language are separate, so you can use the app in English and record notes in Spanish (or any other combination).
- In Settings, under Recording & AI, tap Content language
- Pick the language you actually speak in. The change applies right away
Future notes will be transcribed and summarized in that language. The app itself stays in your iPhone's language.
Reports also follow your Content language setting. See Report issues for more.
My recording is stuck processing
After you stop recording, the Record screen shows Saving…, then Uploading…, then Processing…. While it processes, you see Transcribing speech…, Analyzing content… and Extracting tasks & events…. Without a connection, you see Saved offline, will upload automatically instead.
Once the upload has finished, a few minutes of audio usually takes under a minute to process, a 30-minute recording about 1 to 2 minutes, and a one-hour recording 2 to 4 minutes. Add the time it takes to upload the recording on your connection.
If processing seems stuck:
- Your phone may have lost its connection (for example, it went to sleep or switched networks), or processing is taking longer than usual
- If nothing comes back for 30 seconds, a No result yet card appears. Tap Check Status
- Close TellDone (swipe it up) and reopen it
- If it's still stuck, contact support from Settings > Help & Support > Contact Support
Apple Watch stops recording at 10 minutes
If you're on Free, 5 minutes is the plan limit. On Basic, it's 10 minutes. Neither plan supports chained segments.
Pro and Ultra record up to 60 minutes total on the Watch through chained 10-minute segments. Before each segment ends, the Watch shows Recording ending with Continue and Finish. If a segment stops on its own, you see Continue recording? with Continue recording and Finish. At your plan's limit, Plan limit offers only Finish. Even on Ultra the Watch is limited to 60 minutes; the full 90-minute length is iPhone only.
If you're on Pro and up and don't see the Continue / Finish prompt near the end of a segment:
- Update TellDone on your iPhone and Apple Watch to the latest version
- Force-quit the TellDone app on the Watch
- Reopen it from the Home Screen on your Apple Watch
- Try recording again
Recording doesn't start with the Action Button
If your iPhone has the Action Button and TellDone doesn't start recording when you press it:
- Open the iPhone Settings app and tap Action Button
- Swipe to Controls and tap Choose a Control
- Search for or scroll to TellDone and tap it
- To record, press and hold the Action Button
Open TellDone at least once after installing it, or the Action Button can't start a recording.
Background noise affecting accuracy
For the best transcription results:
- Record in a quiet environment when possible
- Speak clearly and at a normal pace
- Hold the phone closer to your mouth in noisy settings
- Avoid recording near loud music, machinery, or crowds
- Consider using earphones with a microphone for better voice isolation