Send a text with your voice.

Before you start

Open your usual text messaging app and choose the person you want to message. Tap the box where you would normally type. The keyboard should appear.

Look for the microphone on or near the keyboard. This is different from a microphone next to the message box that may record an audio message. Dictation types words; an audio message sends a recording of your voice.

On an iPhone

1. Tap the keyboard’s microphone, usually near the bottom-right corner of the screen.
2. If your phone asks to enable dictation, read the prompt and choose whether to allow it.
3. Speak your message clearly. You can say “comma” or “period” to add punctuation.
4. Tap the microphone again or the keyboard button to stop dictating. The button can vary with your iOS version.
5. Read the message. Correct any mistaken names or words using the keyboard.
6. Tap Send only when the message says what you want it to say.

If the dictation microphone is missing, look in Settings → General → Keyboard for Enable Dictation. You can decide whether to turn it on.

On an Android phone

1. Look for a microphone on your keyboard, often near its top edge. The position depends on your keyboard app.
2. Tap it. If asked for microphone permission, read the prompt before deciding whether to allow it.
3. Speak your message. Watch the words appear in the message box.
4. Tap the microphone to stop. Check and correct the text.
5. Tap Send when you are ready.

If you cannot find the microphone, look in your keyboard’s settings for Voice typing. Different Android phones use different keyboards, so your screen may not match these steps exactly.

Try a short message first

Start with something like “I will call you after lunch.” Check it before sending. Dictation sometimes gets names, numbers, and punctuation wrong, especially in a noisy room.

Avoid dictating passwords or private information where other people can hear you. If a step does not match your screen, stop rather than changing unfamiliar settings at random.

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