Official documentation
Manage audio recordings in your Web & App Activity
Google, n.d.
Read the originalRead on October 17, 2026
- What it is
- Google's help page on the Include voice and audio activity setting. It says audio from voice interactions with Search, Assistant and Maps is saved to a Google Account only when the setting is on, and it explains how to delete recordings and turn on auto-delete.
- How much weight it carries
- Google's own help page, the most direct statement of how Google handles voice audio in a personal account. Google does not give a fixed retention period for audio, and it says it may delete audio sooner than the period a user chooses.
Facts taken from this source
- Google says it may delete audio recordings from its servers sooner than the auto-delete period a user chooses, once the audio is no longer needed for improving its audio recognition.
“Google may delete your audio recordings from Google servers sooner than the timeframe you choose” (Delete your audio recordings automatically)
- Google says that if you turn off its voice and audio activity setting, audio already saved to your account is not deleted.
“If you turn this voice and audio activity setting off, previously saved audio is not deleted.” (Turn voice and audio activity on or off)
- Google says its voice and audio activity setting does not control audio saved and managed by other Google services, such as Google Voice and YouTube.
“This voice and audio activity setting does not affect: Audio saved and managed by other Google services, like Google Voice and YouTube.” (Other places audio recordings may be saved)
- Google says its voice and audio activity setting is off unless you choose to turn it on, so audio from voice interactions is not saved to your Google Account by default.
“This voice and audio activity setting is off unless you choose to turn it on.” (Turn voice and audio activity on or off)
Pages that rest on this source
- Does Google keep your voice recordings?Question
- Voice Data Retention: What Apple, Google and Microsoft KeepGuide
- Does voice typing save your audio recordings?Question
- How do I delete my voice recordings from Google, Apple, Amazon and Microsoft?Question
- What does Google's speech to text privacy policy say about your voice?Question