Leave & check messages with Google Duo

If you call someone using Duo and they don't answer, leave a video or voice message. The message can be up to 30 seconds long. You can also create and send a personalized note.

As we continue to refine the overall Google Assistant experience, Assistant no longer supports underutilized features, such as video or audio messages. Learn how we’re refining Google Assistant features.

You need the latest version of Duo to leave or receive messages.

Leave a video or voice message

1. On your iPhone or iPad, open Duo. 
2. Tap a name to call.
3. After a call rings for 60 seconds, you can leave a message. Or, while the call is ringing, you can tap Leave video message or Leave voice message. 
4. Follow the instructions on the screen. 
5. When you're done recording, tap Stop . You can:​
   • Apply a filter, draw on, or add text to your video message.
   • Preview your message. 
   • Tap Re-record. 
6. Tap Send .

Note: If you add text or draw on your video message, you can make changes before you send it. To delete text, tap Text  Cancel. To delete a drawing, tap Draw  Undo.

Send a message without calling someone

1. On your iPhone or iPad, open Duo.
2. Search for a contact and tap it.
3. On the bottom right, tap Message .
   • If your iPad is horizontal, tap Record a message .
4. When you're ready to record, tap Record .
5. When you're done, tap Stop . You can:
   • Preview your message.
   • Tap Re-record.
6. Tap Next.
7. Select up to 32 contacts.

8. Tap Send .

Send photos or videos from your device

You can give Duo permission to send items from your iPhone or iPad's gallery app.

1. On your iPhone or iPad, open Duo.
2. Search for a contact and tap it.
3. Tap the photo thumbnail.
4. Select a photo or video.
   • Choose which part of the video you want to share. If your video is longer than 1 minute, you need to trim it.
5. Tap Done.
6. Select a contact.

7. Tap Send .

Send a note

1. Open the Google Duo app .
2. Search for a contact and tap it.
3. Tap Send note .
4. Create your message:
   • To move or rotate text, touch and hold, then drag.
   • To resize, pinch or pull the text.
   • To draw, at the top right, tap Draw .
   • To change the background color, at the bottom right, tap Palette .
5. Tap Next .
6. Select up to 32 contacts.
7. Tap Send .

Tip: To send a note, you can also open a contact and tap Send note.

Play a message you sent or received

Important: To play a message on a device, you need to have been signed into Duo on that device at the time the message was sent. After you play a message, you can revisit it at any time unless you changed your Duo settings to delete messages 24 hours after they play. When you delete a message, it's removed from all devices.

1. On your iPhone or iPad, open Duo. 
2. Messages will show next to your contact's name.
3. Tap Play   Video message. 
   • From here, you can save the message, share it, delete it, call the person, or send a message.

Delete messages after 24 hours

1. On your iPhone or iPad, open Duo.
2. In the top right corner, tap More Settings.
3. Turn off Save messages.

Download a message

When you download a message, it's saved to your device. If you back up data on your phone to a cloud account, like Google Drive, it'll also be saved there.

Turn on closed captions

Important: When you use closed captions, your audio clip is sent to Google's servers for transcription. The video isn’t included and the audio file isn’t stored. No personal information is shared.

1. On your iPhone or iPad, open Duo.
2. In the top right, tap More Settings.
3. Turn on Captions for messages.

Note: If you delete your Duo account, any unsaved messages will be deleted.