Apple Watch has a microphone you already wear all day, so it can work as an all-day recorder. Here's how it works with Hinokoe, and the limits you should know about.
What you need
- Any Apple Watch that can run watchOS 26: Series 6 or later, SE (2nd generation) or later, or any Ultra.
- An iPhone on iOS 26 or later.
- Hinokoe is in an invite-only beta. Join the waitlist at hinokoe.com.
Steps
- Install Hinokoe on your iPhone. The watch app comes with it.
- Open Hinokoe on your Apple Watch and tap once to start recording. Recording doesn't start just because you're wearing the watch.
- Keep Hinokoe on your watch screen while you go about your day. The recording screen shows the time, so you can leave it up.
- Your watch keeps recording even when your iPhone isn't nearby, and sends the audio over when the two are back together. Transcription happens on your iPhone.
- To stop, press and hold Stop for a second, so it doesn't stop by accident.
- Tell the people around you that you're recording. You can show a notice card on your watch that explains it in their language.
Limits to know
- Interruptions: on any Apple Watch, an incoming call, Siri, or a timer or alarm stops recording for a moment. In our tests on Apple Watch Series 12 with watchOS 27.0.1, when Hinokoe was on screen it picked back up on its own after every interruption (13 out of 13). When Hinokoe is in the background, watchOS doesn't let it restart recording by itself, so your watch taps you within seconds and one tap resumes.
- Phone calls: when a call rings on your watch, recording stops for the call. Afterwards it resumes the same way as above: on its own if Hinokoe is on screen, or with one tap after your watch reminds you.
- Battery: we're measuring battery life on real devices during the beta and will publish the numbers afterwards. When the battery runs low, recording stops and what you've recorded is saved.
- The law: recording rules differ by country and state, and some places require everyone's consent. This page isn't legal advice.
Where your audio goes
Your audio is never uploaded to our servers. If you turn on cloud AI, only text is sent, with names and phone numbers replaced with placeholders on your iPhone first. Our servers don't keep it, and the AI provider keeps it for up to 30 days.