What Is Session Audio Playback?
PatientNotes allows you to play back the audio recording from any session. This feature is designed to support you in two ways:
Checking recording quality — confirm your microphone picked up clearly, that both voices were captured, and the recording wasn't cut short
Reviewing the audio file if needed — listen back to the session recording if you need to reference it before the audio is automatically deleted at 30 days
Your generated clinical note remains the record of the session — audio playback is there as a support tool when you need it.
How to Access Session Audio Playback
Open the session from your Sessions page.
Stay on the Context tab (the first tab) and scroll down to Recordings.
Click the recording to expand it. The audio player and the full transcript appear together — click Play to listen back.
Can't see a recording, or it's empty? See No audio or blank recording.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can other members of my team access my session audio?
No — session audio is only accessible to the clinician who recorded the session. Other team members or organisation admins cannot play back your recordings.
What should I use audio playback for?
Playback is there to support you in two ways — checking the quality of your recording, and reviewing the audio file itself if you need to reference it. It is a support tool; your generated clinical note is the record of the session.
What happens to the audio when the session is deleted?
If you manually delete a session, the audio is permanently deleted immediately along with it. There is no way to recover it after deletion.
What happens to the audio after 30 days?
All session recordings are automatically and permanently deleted 30 days after the session was created — regardless of whether you have played them back or not. After 30 days the Play button will no longer be available.
Why does my recording show "Duration: Unknown"?
This can happen when the recording was processed but the duration metadata wasn't captured. It doesn't mean anything is wrong with the audio — click Play to confirm whether the recording is intact.
The audio isn't playing — what should I do?
Check your device's volume and audio output. If it still won't play, try a different device or browser.
Is the audio stored securely?
Yes — all recordings are encrypted at rest and in transit, and are never shared with third parties or used for AI training. See: Understanding Privacy and Security of PatientNotes
Can audio playback be turned off?
Yes — go to Settings → Profile and toggle the audio playback option off. To turn it back on, use the same toggle.
Need Help?
Chat with us via the help widget inside PatientNotes, or email [email protected].