What's actually happening
When you tap a link inside Instagram, Facebook, Messenger, TikTok or LINE, the page doesn't open in your normal browser. It opens in a stripped-down browser built into that app, so you stay in the app rather than switching away.
Those in-app browsers routinely block microphone access. The frustrating part is that they usually block it without telling you. You tap record, no permission prompt appears, nothing happens, and there's no error explaining why. It looks like the website is broken when it isn't.
How to fix it
Open the page in your real browser. In most apps there's a menu button — usually three dots or an arrow, in a corner of the screen — with an option like Open in browser, Open in Safari or Open in Chrome.
- Tap the menu button in the corner of the in-app browser.
- Choose “Open in Safari” or “Open in Chrome”.
- Record as normal — the microphone prompt will appear this time.
If you can't find that option, copy the link and paste it into your browser's address bar manually. Same result.
How to tell if this is your problem
This site checks for in-app browsers and shows a notice instead of letting you tap a record button that was never going to work. If you see that notice, this page is why.
Other signs it's the in-app browser and not your device:
- No microphone permission prompt appears at all
- The recorder works fine on the same phone in Safari or Chrome
- You arrived by tapping a link inside a social or messaging app
Which apps do this
Instagram, Facebook, Messenger, TikTok and LINE are the common ones. Behaviour varies by app version and platform, and it changes without notice — an app that allowed recording last month may block it after an update. iOS tends to be stricter than Android.
It isn't only microphones. In-app browsers often restrict downloads, file uploads, camera access and some payment flows too. If any website behaves strangely after you tapped a link inside a social app, opening it properly is worth trying first.
If it still doesn't work in a normal browser
Then it's a permission rather than the in-app browser. Check that your browser is allowed to use the microphone in your phone's settings, and that you haven't previously denied this site access — tap the icon at the left of the address bar to review it.
Our microphone troubleshooting guide walks through every layer in order, from site permission down to hardware.
Good to know
- Recordings can be up to 2 minutes.
- Links expire automatically after 30 days.
- Links are unlisted, not private — anyone you send it to can listen, and can pass it on.
- You can delete a recording yourself at any time from the player page.
- This records new audio in your browser. It doesn't accept uploads of existing files.