How to Dictate Text on iPhone (Built-in + Keyboard App)

Dictating on iPhone is the fastest way to answer messages when your thumbs are busy. You have two practical options: Apple’s built-in Dictation, or a voice dictation keyboard that stays available in every app.

Option 1 — Apple Dictation (built-in)

1. Open Settings → General → Keyboard
2. Turn on Enable Dictation
3. In any text field, switch to the Apple keyboard
4. Tap the microphone key next to the space bar and speak
5. Tap the keyboard icon (or say “stop dictation”) when you are done

Tips: Say “period”, “comma”, “new line”, or “new paragraph” for basic formatting. If the mic key is missing, make sure you are on the Apple keyboard (not a third-party one) and that Screen Time is not blocking Siri & Dictation.

Built-in dictation is perfect for short bursts. If it keeps stopping when you pause, or you want dictation inside a third-party keyboard workflow, use option 2.

Option 2 — Voice dictation keyboard (Voicetation)

A keyboard-based app puts voice dictation in WhatsApp, Slack, Mail, and everything else that uses the system keyboard.

1. Install Voicetation from the App Store (free, no account)
2. Open the app and follow the prompt to Settings → General → Keyboard → Keyboards → Add New Keyboard → Voicetation
3. Enable Full Access for Voicetation (required for voice input; typing still works without it)
4. Open any app, tap a text field, tap the globe key until Voicetation appears
5. Tap the mic — or press and hold space — speak, then stop

Your words appear as clean text in the field you already had open.

First-session note

iOS does not allow keyboard extensions to use the microphone directly. The first time in a session, Voicetation may open briefly to start listening, then send you back. After that, Floating Window or Voice Standby keeps dictation ready without bouncing you around.

Which should you use?

Need	Use
Occasional short texts	Apple Dictation
Long replies, pauses while thinking	Voicetation
Dictate in Slack / WhatsApp with rewrite on the keyboard	Voicetation
Absolute zero install	Apple Dictation

More detail on the keyboard approach: voice dictation keyboard for iPhone.

Get started

Download Voicetation free or try dictation in your browser.