![](https://help.apple.com/assets/5FDD16C34EB74318147EC965/5FDD16C34EB74318147EC96C/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 sidebar on the left. The recording appears in the window to the right of the sidebar, as a waveform detail with a blue playhead in the center. Below it is the waveform overview. Click the playhead in the overview to select the starting position.](https://help.apple.com/assets/5FDD16C34EB74318147EC965/5FDD16C34EB74318147EC96C/en_US/7a6408f9276290fcf9e87e58743bc226.png)
In the Voice Memos app
on your Mac, select the recording you want in the sidebar.
Tip: You can also search for the name of a recording. Enter text into the Search field, then press Return.
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.