TikTok has started testing out a new feature that allows users to leave voice notes directly in the comment section of uploaded TikToks.
You can find posts on X and TikTok, where users are reporting seeing a microphone icon in the comment section. More reports explaining the feature can be found here and here.
To use the tool, tap the microphone icon at the right of the input bar, and then hold to record, following which you can send the voice note comment. There’s also a tiny indicator text that says “Add audio comment.” You can find the images shared on X by @jonah_manzano below.
The update is being rolled out either via the server-side or it’s tied to an app update. It’s not available for all accounts and all regions yet, suggesting phased or A/B testing.
Early testers are excited about the functionality, since it’s a different way of commenting alongside regular text, potentially boosting engagement. However, there will definitely be moderation challenges that need to be addressed for audio spam or inappropriate content.
TikTok hasn’t issued an official statement about the release of voice-note comments at the time of writing, so wider release is probably pending positive feedback from testers. We’ll update the article if TikTok updates its support pages with this information.
Previously, YouTube has also tested a similar feature, allowing creators to post voice notes as replies to comments, as reported by TechCrunch. But on TikTok, even users can leave voice notes, and not just the creators.
This isn’t the only major change hitting the app lately. While voice comments are receiving a warm welcome, TikTok’s recent rollout of AI Overviews, which slaps AI-generated summaries on videos, has faced a much colder reception from the community. You can read about that here.
Sudhanshu K
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I have been a consumer technology enthusiast for over 5 years. Thanks to my experience in software beta testing and product reviews, I've understood and learnt a lot about what bugs and issues bother people, and I spend time trying to simplify their solutions. I cover smartphones, software, social media, apps, AI, and most consumer tech gadgets. Actively pursuing a Computer Science bachelor’s degree. I'm mostly active on Twitter/X (@TechWhirlUlt), drop a DM or tag me if you want to share info or connect!