Audio recording in Evernote

Introduction

You can record or upload audio directly in Evernote to capture ideas, conversations, or meetings without leaving your notes. This makes it easy to store, replay, and organize everything in one place — whether you’re documenting a class, brainstorming, or taking meeting notes.
 

Record audio

You can start a recording in several ways, depending on your device.

On desktop and web

• From the sidebar: Click the “…” menu and select Audio recording. This creates a new note and starts recording immediately.
• From the note editor: Open the Insert (+) menu and choose Audio recording, or type /audio and select In person or Remote, depending on what you’re capturing.
  • In-person meetings capture audio through your device’s microphone.
  • Remote meetings record internal system audio from your computer and any connected microphones.
    • On web, you’ll be prompted to select a browser tab to capture audio. Make sure to pick the specific tab you want, as recording of external apps or full-screen is not supported.
    • On the desktop app, you’ll need to grant screen recording permissions to Evernote in your system settings for remote audio capture to work. Rest assured, the video will be immediately discarded and only the audio will be used.

On mobile

• From the Create screen: Tap Audio to start recording in a newly created note.
• From an existing note: Tap the Insert (+) icon and select Record.

You can type and record at the same time. You can also pause, resume, or stop the recording anytime to save it into your note.

On desktop and web only, recordings continue even if you navigate away from the note, switch to a different section of the app, or resize the window. If you try to close the window, you’ll be prompted to stop and save your recording before exiting.
 

Upload an existing audio

You can also add a pre-recorded audio file to your note.

• In a note, open the Insert (+) menu and choose Attachment/File to add your audio file.

• On desktop and web, you can also drag and drop the file into a note, or use the / command and type Audio.

  Evernote supports common audio formats such as .mp3, .m4a, .wav, and .aac.
   

Manage, replay, and save your recording

Whether you’ve recorded your audio in Evernote or uploaded an existing file, you can:

• Replay it directly in the note using the built-in player.
• Rename or download it at any time from the “…” menu that appears when you click or tap on an audio file.
• Set it as your note thumbnail for quick access and visual context from the same “…” menu.
   

FAQ

I’m trying to record audio in the desktop app, but the recording doesn’t start. Why?

If you’re recording a remote meeting and nothing happens when you press record, check your system settings to ensure Evernote has screen recording permissions. Without them, your device can’t capture internal audio.

If you’re still having trouble, try quitting and reopening Evernote after adjusting the permissions.

Can I transcribe an audio file?

Yes. You can use AI Transcribe to automatically generate text from your audio and even summarize it. To learn more about these AI-powered options, visit AI Meeting Notes.

Are there any limits for audio recording?

The maximum recording length is limited by the total size of the note, which is currently set to 200MB per note for all existing plans.

Which file types are supported for audio attachments?

Evernote supports common audio formats such as .mp3, .m4a, .wav, and .aac.

You can upload or record files of any length. However, AI transcription currently supports audio up to 100 MB or 60 minutes per recording.

What format are my audio recordings saved as?

Some versions of the app save audio recordings as different file types. Refer to the table below.

Are there any limitations with audio recording playback?

Yes, there are a few limitations between operating systems. Audio recorded on Evernote for Mac or Windows (.webm) will not play back on Evernote for iOS at this time.

Updated November 20, 2025 13:23