![](https://help.apple.com/assets/6152762E9090F006D95E74E9/6152762F9090F006D95E74F0/en_US/c27c65b1266d94bf2a93a29bfed0578a.png)
Play a recording on Mac
Use Voice Memos playback controls to play, pause, or quickly jump forward or backward 15 seconds in your recording.
![The Voice Memos app shows the recordings in the library on the left. The selected recording appears in the window to the right of the list, as a waveform detail with a blue playhead in the center. Below the recording is the waveform overview. Click the playhead in the overview to select the starting position.](https://help.apple.com/assets/6152762E9090F006D95E74E9/6152762F9090F006D95E74F0/en_US/d1fb8d166af8609068bb39846b0399d0.png)
In the Voice Memos app
on your Mac, select the recording.
Tip: You can also search for the name of a recording. Just enter text into the Search field.
Click the Play button
(or use the Touch Bar).
Do any of the following:
To play the audio from a different location, drag the blue vertical line (playhead) in the waveform overview left or right. If you have a trackpad or a Magic Mouse, you can also swipe left or right with two fingers in the waveform detail.
Click the Rewind button
to go back (in 15-second increments) in the recording playback.
Click the Pause button
to temporarily stop the recording playback.
Click the Fast Forward button
to skip ahead (in 15-second increments) in the recording playback.
Tip: You can also press the Space bar to play, pause, and resume playing a recording.