Audio Transcription converts your Goodnotes audio recordings into searchable text as you record. This FAQ explains transcription methods, requirements, supported languages, privacy, sharing, and troubleshooting.
Cloud Transcription requires Goodnotes Pro or AI Pass and an active internet connection. On-device Transcription requires supported hardware and a downloaded language model. Transcription stops after three hours, but the audio recording can continue.
General questions
What are the requirements for Audio Transcription?
Cloud Transcription is included with Pro and AI Pass subscriptions and works on all devices that can run the current version of Goodnotes. On-device Transcription is available to everyone on the following supported Apple devices:
- iPhone: iPhone 13 or later, or iPhone SE (3rd generation) or later.
- iPad Pro 11-inch: 3rd generation or later.
- iPad Pro 12.9-inch: 5th generation or later.
- iPad Pro 13-inch: All models.
- iPad mini: 6th generation or later.
- iPad Air: 5th generation or later.
- Mac: A Mac with Apple silicon (M1 or later).
Your device must also run the current supported operating-system version and the latest version of Goodnotes. See Goodnotes system requirements and device compatibility.
Goodnotes offers two transcription methods:
- On-device Transcription works on your device without sending audio to the internet. It uses more battery, requires a downloaded language model and supported hardware, and supports fewer languages.
- Cloud Transcription sends your audio to secure servers for processing. It uses less battery, requires an active internet connection, and supports all listed cloud-transcription languages without a model download.
If your device and subscription support both methods, Cloud Transcription activates while you are online. On-device Transcription takes over while you are offline.
| Feature | On-device Transcription | Cloud Transcription |
|---|---|---|
| Privacy | Audio stays on device | Audio processed in secure cloud |
| Battery usage | Higher consumption | Lower consumption |
| Internet requirement | Only for initial model download | Requires active internet connection |
| Language support | Limited languages (see next question) | 99 languages (see next question) |
| Setup | Requires downloading language model | No download required |
| AI Credit usage | None | Continuous usage throughout session |
| Device requirements |
iPad / iPhone: A15 chip or M1 and newer. Mac: Apple Silicon M1 or newer. See Goodnotes system requirements for the current minimum operating-system versions. |
Works on all compatible devices |
| Subscription requirements |
Free: 20-minute recording cap and three-document cap. Essential: No caps. Essential in China is treated as Pro. |
Pro, AI Pass, CN-Essential, and CN-Special Edition |
Learn how to identify your iPhone model or identify your iPad model.
Which languages are supported for transcription?
On-device Transcription supports:
- Deutsch — German
- Español — Spanish
- Français — French
- Nederlands — Dutch
- Italiano — Italian
- Português — Portuguese
- 日本語 — Japanese
- 한국어 — Korean
- ภาษาไทย — Thai
Cloud Transcription supports:
Afrikaans, Amharic, Arabic, Armenian, Assamese, Asturian, Azerbaijani, Belarusian, Bengali, Bosnian, Bulgarian, Burmese, Cantonese, Catalan, Cebuano, Chichewa, Chinese (Simplified and Traditional), Croatian, Czech, Danish, Dutch, English, Estonian, Filipino, Finnish, French, Fulah, Galician, Ganda, Georgian, German, Greek, Gujarati, Hausa, Hebrew, Hindi, Hungarian, Icelandic, Igbo, Indonesian, Irish, Italian, Japanese, Javanese, Kabuverdianu, Kannada, Kazakh, Khmer, Korean, Kurdish, Kyrgyz, Lao, Latvian, Lingala, Lithuanian, Luo, Luxembourgish, Macedonian, Malay, Malayalam, Maltese, Mandarin Chinese, Māori, Marathi, Mongolian, Nepali, Northern Sotho, Norwegian, Occitan, Odia, Pashto, Persian, Polish, Portuguese, Punjabi, Romanian, Russian, Serbian, Shona, Sindhi, Slovak, Slovenian, Somali, Spanish, Swahili, Swedish, Tamil, Tajik, Telugu, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Umbundu, Urdu, Uzbek, Vietnamese, Welsh, Wolof, Xhosa, and Zulu.
Do I need to pay to use Audio Transcription?
On-device Transcription is available at no extra cost on supported devices. Cloud Transcription is included with Pro and AI Pass subscriptions. See What are the requirements for Audio Transcription? for device and plan details.
Can I transcribe existing recordings or external audio files?
No. Audio Transcription currently transcribes audio as you record in Goodnotes. You cannot import an existing recording or external audio file for transcription.
How can I give feedback on Audio Transcription?
After receiving a transcription, use the available feedback option to submit feedback or suggestions. Goodnotes logs submitted feedback for future review.
Why can’t I use Audio Transcription?
If “Start recording” or the transcription controls are unavailable, follow these steps:
- Check that your device, subscription, and language meet the requirements above.
- Update Goodnotes to the latest version available for your device.
- For Cloud Transcription, confirm that you have an active internet connection and an eligible plan.
- For on-device Transcription, confirm that you downloaded the required language model.
- Force-close Goodnotes, then reopen it.
- If the issue continues, restart your device.
Can I search my audio transcript?
Yes. You can search audio transcriptions and summaries during a recording or after the recording ends, helping you locate key moments without replaying the full recording.
Will the audio transcript be shared when I share my notebook?
You can export documents with Audio Recordings and transcripts as .goodnotes files to share with other users. When sharing through collaboration links, collaborators cannot access audio recordings. To share audio content, export the document as a .goodnotes file instead.
Legal and privacy questions
Does Goodnotes use personal data, such as recordings or transcripts, to train its AI features?
Goodnotes does not access or collect data from your Notebooks to train its AI features. Users may voluntarily submit data through the ‘Feature Feedback’ option as set out in our terms and conditions under section 3.7.1. or by giving their feedback on the AI features. Goodnotes may utilize this information to enhance its services exclusively voluntarily. Our proprietary machine-learning model powers Audio Transcription and operates entirely on the device. This feature functions solely on the device. The recorded and transcribed data remains local, preventing access, including by Goodnotes. Consequently, no data is transmitted, and neither Goodnotes nor any third party can access it unless you consent to provide this as set out above.
For comprehensive details on Goodnotes’ data handling practices, please refer to our Privacy Policy here.
What happens to my outputs and data processed when I use Audio Transcription?
The data created using the Audio Transcription feature is only processed within the user's Goodnotes application. This data is essential to the user's note-taking content and is treated as such.
User data, including information generated by Audio Transcription, is kept highly confidential. Goodnotes does not access or store user note content unless explicit permission is given or such access is necessary for troubleshooting during customer support interactions.
Goodnotes strictly follows data protection standards to protect user information. User data, including that generated by Audio Transcription, is not shared or disclosed to third parties.
Learn more about using Audio Transcription.