How to Fix “Cannot Send Audio Messages At This Time” Error on iPhone?

The “Cannot Send Audio Messages At This Time” error shows on iPhone when trying to send a voice note in the Messages app, stopping the audio from recording or sending. It means that the phone is blocked from making or sending an audio message because of a feature or system rule.

The most common cause is Sound Recognition being on, which gets in the way of audio recording, while other possible causes include bugs in the Messages app, old iOS versions, connection problems, or iMessage setup issues.

If you see the error while messaging an iMessage user, try the steps below.

1. Check iMessage Network Status

Start by checking iMessage’s service status. If Apple’s iMessage servers are having issues, audio messages may fail to send.

Visit Apple’s official System Status webpage to check the status of its services. Distinguishable by color, a non-green iMessage status suggests there are ongoing issues.

If iMessage is down, you’ll need to wait until Apple resolves the outage before audio messages will work again.

2. Check iMessage Phone Number

An incorrect phone number linked to iMessage can also cause this error—especially if you recently changed numbers and iMessage is still using the old one.

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Scroll down and select Messages.

   

3. Tap Send & Receive.

   

4. Make sure the correct phone number is checked under “You can receive iMessages to and reply from.”
5. If this was the issue, audio messages should send normally now.

3. Disable Sound Recognition

Sound Recognition can interfere with recording or sending voice messages because it constantly listens for specific sounds, which can block other audio features.

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Go to Accessibility.

   

3. Under the Hearing section, tap Sound Recognition.

   

4. Turn Sound Recognition off.

4. Restart iMessage

If iMessage isn’t working correctly, restarting it can refresh the connection and clear temporary glitches.

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Messages.

   

3. Turn iMessage off.

   

4. Wait a few seconds, then turn iMessage back on.
5. Try sending an audio message again.

5. Update iOS

Outdated iOS versions can sometimes cause iMessage issues, leading to errors like “Cannot send audio messages at this time.”

1. Go to Settings.
2. Tap General > Software Update.

   

3. Let your iPhone check for updates.
4. If an update is available, tap Update Now.

   

5. After the update installs, check if the issue persists.

6. Reset iPhone

If nothing else works, resetting your iPhone can clear deeper software issues that may be blocking audio messages.

Back up your important data before you reset, as a factory reset erases everything on your device. Follow our guide on how to back up your iPhone for help.

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap General.

   

3. Scroll to the bottom and select Transfer or Reset iPhone.

   

4. For a soft reset (does not erase your data), tap Reset and choose Reset All Settings.

   

5. For a full factory reset (erases all content), select Erase All Content and Settings.
6. Let the process complete and then test iMessage again.

If you’re still having trouble with iMessage, contact the official Apple support team for further assistance.