Import an audio or video file into Otter: the steps, the formats, the limits and the fixes
By Ryleigh Newman · Published
To transcribe a recording you already have in Otter, click Import in the upper right of the home page, then browse to the file or drag it in. Otter uploads it, transcribes it, and adds a summary. Each file can be up to 5 GB and counts toward your plan's minutes. On the free Basic plan you get 3 imports per account in total, not per month.
I built YapToText, a dictation app for the Mac, so read what I say about Otter with that in mind. Every fact about Otter here comes from its own help center, read on October 11, 2026.
This app is completely free. You don't have to make an account. There are no subscriptions, no difficult downloads, and nothing is locked. Made for Apple silicon Macs. Source on GitHub.
Import a file
- On the home page, click Import in the upper right and select Browse.
- Browse to the file, or drag it in.
- Wait for the upload. You can close the pop-up and keep working.
- Track progress in the lower left corner. The transcript is ready when processing finishes.
On a phone, tap the plus button and choose Import audio or video file. From another app, such as Apple Voice Memos, share the file and pick the Otter app. Business and higher plans can also import from Dropbox.
Formats and limits
From Otter's help articles on importing and on Basic plan limits, read October 5 and 11, 2026.
| What Otter's help center says | |
|---|---|
| Audio formats | AAC, MP3, M4A including Apple Voice Memos, WAV, WMA, OGG |
| Video formats | AVI, MOV, MPEG, MP4, WMV, MPG, MKV, M4P, 3GP |
| File size | Up to 5 GB each |
| Minutes | Imports count toward your plan's transcription limits |
| Free plan | 3 file imports per account, in total |
| Processing time | Depends on your connection for the upload, then up to about the length of the recording |
The free plan's limit is 3 imports ever, not 3 a month, which is the first wall most people hit. The Otter pricing page has the paid plans.
If the import fails
Otter's troubleshooting article says a failed import is usually a browser or connection problem.
- Connection. It recommends upload speeds of at least 3 Mbps, and trying another network such as a phone hotspot.
- Sleep. For a file over 200 MB, stop the computer from sleeping during the upload, because sleep can break it.
- Browser. Try another browser. Otter recommends Chrome and also supports Firefox and Safari.
- Private window. If the import works in a private window, a cookie, site data or an extension is the cause.
When you do not have the file
Otter can transcribe playback. Its help center recommends the desktop app for this, because the desktop app records the computer's audio while you wear headphones. In a web browser you have to take the headphones off so the sound comes through the speakers, and Safari does not support recording playback on the same computer. The Otter Chrome extension can capture a browser tab's audio directly. The Otter Mac app page covers the desktop app.
Speakers on an imported file
If Otter has already learned a speaker, it labels that person automatically in an imported recording. A new speaker has to be named by hand after processing, and Otter then recognizes them in later recordings.
A file transcribed without uploading it
YapToText, the free app I built, transcribes a file on the Mac. Drop any audio or video file macOS can decode onto its Transcribe a file card and you get plain text, in 29 languages, with no upload, no account and no minutes to count. It gives text only: no speaker names, no timestamps, no summaries and no subtitles, all of which Otter has. Transcribe an audio file on a Mac for free walks through it, and the Otter alternative page compares the two.
This app is completely free. You don't have to make an account. There are no subscriptions, no difficult downloads, and nothing is locked. Made for Apple silicon Macs. Source on GitHub.
The short version
- Import. Home page, Import, Browse or drag.
- Size. Up to 5 GB a file.
- Free plan. 3 imports per account, in total.
- Fails. Connection, sleep settings, then another browser.
- No file. Record the playback with the desktop app.
If Otter changes its import limits, open an issue on GitHub and I will update this page. Every one gets read.
This app is completely free. You don't have to make an account. There are no subscriptions, no difficult downloads, and nothing is locked. Made for Apple silicon Macs. Source on GitHub.
Related
Sources
- https://help.otter.ai/hc/en-us/articles/360047733574-Import-an-audio-or-video-file (checked 2026-10-11)
- https://help.otter.ai/hc/en-us/articles/360051342914-Fix-problems-importing-files-to-Otter (checked 2026-10-11)
- https://help.otter.ai/hc/en-us/articles/360059448294-Transcribe-an-existing-conversation-recording (checked 2026-10-11)
- https://help.otter.ai/hc/en-us/articles/360047538094-Conversation-import-and-app-limits-on-the-Basic-free-plan (checked 2026-10-11)
- https://github.com/ryleighnewman/YapToText (checked 2026-10-11)
- https://apps.apple.com/us/app/yaptotext/id6786382289 (checked 2026-10-11)
Questions
How do I upload an audio file to Otter?
On the home page click Import in the upper right, select Browse, and choose or drag the file. Otter uploads and transcribes it.
What file types can Otter transcribe?
Otter lists AAC, MP3, M4A, WAV, WMA and OGG audio, and AVI, MOV, MPEG, MP4, WMV, MPG, MKV, M4P and 3GP video.
How many files can I import on Otter's free plan?
Three per account in total, not per month, by Otter's help center.
What is the maximum file size for Otter?
Up to 5 GB per imported file.
Why is my Otter import failing?
Usually the connection or the browser. Check upload speed, stop the computer from sleeping for large files, and try another browser or a private window.