ChatGPT's voice feature — now called GPT-Live — lets you have a spoken conversation with ChatGPT. You talk, it listens, and it talks back. Because GPT-Live is full-duplex, you can also interrupt or speak over it naturally, just like in a real conversation, without waiting for it to finish a sentence. You need the free ChatGPT app on your phone. Free accounts get GPT-Live-1 mini as the default voice experience; paying subscribers (Plus and Pro) get the larger GPT-Live-1. No typing involved at all.
If typing on a small phone screen feels frustrating, Voice Mode is the feature you have been waiting for. You simply speak your question out loud, and ChatGPT answers — out loud. No typing, no tapping, just conversation.
This guide walks through getting Voice Mode set up on your phone, step by step. If you have not yet downloaded the ChatGPT app, start with our ChatGPT app setup guide first, then come back here.
Make sure you have the ChatGPT app installed
Voice Mode only works in the ChatGPT phone app — not on the chatgpt.com website on your phone's browser.
Open your phone and look for the ChatGPT app icon. It is a simple white shape on a dark background, made by OpenAI.
If you do not have the app yet, go to the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play Store (Android), search for ChatGPT, and install the one made by OpenAI. It is free to download.
Once the app is installed and you are logged in, come back to this guide.
Open a new conversation in the app
Tap the ChatGPT app to open it. You will see the main screen with a text box near the bottom for typing messages.
Before starting Voice Mode, begin a fresh conversation. Look for a button that opens a new chat — it is typically near the top of the screen, often shown as a pencil or compose icon. Tap it.
You will see a clean, empty conversation screen. This is where you will start your voice conversation.
Find and tap the Voice Mode button
Near the text box at the bottom of the screen, look for a small waveform icon on the right side of the message bar. This is the Voice Mode button.
Tap it once.
The screen will change. The interface will switch to a dedicated voice conversation view — you will see a Live label at the top and the text bar will disappear. This means Voice Mode is active and listening.
Allow microphone access when asked
The first time you use Voice Mode, your phone will pop up a message asking: "Do you want to allow ChatGPT to access your microphone?"
Tap Allow or OK.
Without this permission, ChatGPT cannot hear you. If you accidentally tapped "Don't Allow," you can fix this:
- iPhone: Go to your phone's Settings → scroll to ChatGPT → tap Microphone → switch it to On.
- Android: Go to Settings → Apps → ChatGPT → Permissions → Microphone → Allow.
After allowing the microphone, try tapping the Voice Mode button again.
Speak your question out loud
Once the Voice Mode screen is active, just speak. You do not need to press any button to start or stop — ChatGPT listens automatically. GPT-Live is full-duplex, meaning it is listening even while it is speaking. So if ChatGPT starts going in the wrong direction, you can simply speak up and redirect it without waiting for it to finish its sentence.
Speak at your normal pace and volume, as if talking to someone in the room. Here are a few things you might try your first time:
- "What is a good way to lower my blood pressure naturally?"
- "Explain my Medicare plan in simple terms — what does it cover?"
- "Tell me a short joke."
- "What should I make for dinner tonight if I have chicken and potatoes?"
ChatGPT will think for a moment and then speak its answer back to you through your phone's speaker. Make sure your phone volume is turned up.
Have a back-and-forth conversation
You do not need to start over after each answer. Voice Mode is designed for a real back-and-forth conversation, just like talking to another person.
You do not need to wait for ChatGPT to finish before you speak. GPT-Live is full-duplex — it listens and speaks at the same time, so you can jump in naturally mid-sentence, just like in a real conversation. If ChatGPT says something you did not understand, cut in and ask right away. You can respond to what it said, ask a follow-up question, or change the subject entirely.
Examples of natural follow-ups:
- "Can you say that again more slowly?"
- "What did you mean by that last part?"
- "Give me one more suggestion."
- "Okay, now explain the second option."
If the voice is speaking too fast, say "Can you speak more slowly?" It will adjust.
End the voice session when you are done
When you want to stop the voice conversation, look for an X button or a stop/end button on the Voice Mode screen. Tap it to go back to the regular text chat screen.
Your voice conversation is saved in the chat — you can scroll up and read everything that was said, in text form. This is useful if you want to copy down something ChatGPT told you.
To use Voice Mode again later, just open the app, start a new chat, and tap the voice button again. It remembers your microphone permission, so you will not need to allow it a second time.
Tips for Getting the Best Results
Speak in complete sentences. "What are the side effects of ibuprofen?" gets a better answer than just "ibuprofen."
Say exactly what you need. "Explain this to me simply, I am not a doctor" helps ChatGPT use plain language.
Ask it to slow down or repeat. ChatGPT will not mind — just ask.
Use earbuds or headphones if you are in a public place or want more privacy.
Live Translation During Voice Conversations
GPT-Live can translate between languages in real time during a voice conversation. A few situations where this can come in handy:
- Talking with a relative abroad. If a family member speaks a different language, ChatGPT can relay what each of you says — you speak in English, it speaks in their language, and vice versa.
- Traveling. Ask for help at a hotel, restaurant, or pharmacy abroad by speaking in English and having ChatGPT speak back in the local language.
A fair note on quality: Live translation is a brand-new feature and the quality is still catching up. Early users noticed that the translated speech can carry a noticeable accent — think American-accented Hindi, for example. It works well for simple, casual situations, but do not rely on it for anything high-stakes like a medical appointment. No separate setting or menu is needed — once you are in a GPT-Live voice conversation, simply ask ChatGPT what you want, for example: "Please translate everything I say into Spanish." It will start right away and keep translating for the rest of the conversation. Think of it as a helpful bridge, not a replacement for a professional interpreter.
What to Try Next
If you want more ideas for what to ask once you are comfortable with Voice Mode, 25 things you can ask ChatGPT today gives you copy-ready prompts across a wide range of topics. All of them work in voice — just speak them instead of typing.
