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Can I type using my voice?

How to use dictation to turn your spoken words into text

Written by Alyssa

Overview and video tutorial

You can turn your spoken words into text with keyboard dictation. To use the dictation voice commands, your device’s microphone needs to be on and working.

Read Text Transcript

Windows 10

Enable Speech Recognition

  1. Choose the Start menu > Settings > Speech.

  2. Toggle the switch under Online speech recognition to On.

Microsoft settings menu showing an on/off toggle in the Speech options.

Use Speech Recognition

  1. Select a text field and press the Windows key + H to open the dictation toolbar.

    Microsoft keyboard highlighting the Windows and H keys.

  2. Start speaking.

    Short-answer question with the Speech Recognition toolbar open.

  3. To stop dictation, press the “x” or say “Stop dictating.”

Completed short-answer question with an arrow pointing to the X in the Speech Recognition toolbar.

After you start dictating, you can use commands to edit and format your document. Dictation commands for Windows

macOS

Dictation can be turned on in the Dictation screen of Keyboard preferences.

Enable Dictation

  1. Choose the Apple menu > System Preferences > Keyboard > Dictation.

  2. Click “On.” If prompted, click “Enable Dictation.”

    Dictation menu open with arrows pointing to the Dictation toggles and the Shortcut dropdown.

  3. Choose a keyboard shortcut to easily access the dictation tool.

Use Dictation

  1. Select a text field and enter your keyboard shortcut.

  2. This will cause a microphone icon to appear. You can then start talking, and your words will appear onscreen.

    Short-answer question with the Dictation tool showing.

  3. To stop dictation, press your keyboard shortcut again, press the return key, or click “Done” below the microphone icon.

Short-answer question with an arrow pointing to Done on the Dictation tool.

After you start dictating, you can use commands to edit and format your document.

Dictation commands for macOS

Tablet or touchscreen

If you’re using a tablet or touchscreen, you should be able to tap the microphone icon on the touch keyboard to start dictating. To stop dictation, say “Stop dictating,” tap “Done,” or tap the microphone icon again.

Android

iPhone

Screenshot of Android keyboard with an arrow pointing to the dictation button.

Screenshot of iPhone keyboard with an arrow pointing to the dictation button.

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