How to use dictation on iPhone
4 minute read · updated October 28, 2026
2 sources: 2 product documentation
Go to Settings > General > Keyboard and turn on Enable Dictation. Then tap in any text field, tap the Dictate button (the microphone) on the keyboard, and speak. Say "comma" or "new paragraph" to add them, and tap the button again, say "Stop dictation," or stay silent for 30 seconds to stop.
Dictation turns speech into text anywhere you can type on an iPhone. The keyboard stays open while you dictate, so you can switch between speaking and typing without stopping.[1] It suits messages, notes and first drafts, where getting ideas down quickly matters more than spelling each word by hand.
Turn on Dictation and start talking
Dictate text on iPhone
- Open Settings, tap General, then tap Keyboard.
- Turn on Enable Dictation. If a prompt appears, tap Enable Dictation again.[1]
- In any text field, tap where you want the words to go.
- Tap the Dictate button (the microphone) on the keyboard. When it appears next to the cursor, start speaking.[1]
- To stop, tap the Dictate button, say "Stop dictation," or stay silent for 30 seconds.[1]
Apple says Dictation is processed on the iPhone in many languages without an internet connection, but text dictated into a search field may be sent to the search engine. It also warns that cellular data charges may apply.[1]
Commands worth learning
| Say | What happens |
|---|---|
| "Comma", "Period", "Question mark", "Colon" | Inserts that punctuation mark[2] |
| "New line" or "New paragraph" | Starts a new line or paragraph[1] |
| "Cap" before a word | Capitalizes the next word[2] |
| "No space on" ... "No space off" | Runs words together, for example in a username[2] |
| "Let's invite Steven S-T-E-P-H-E-N" | Spells a word the way you want it[1] |
| "Change tea to T-E-E" | Corrects a word you already dictated[1] |
| "Select" or "Delete" plus a phrase | Selects or deletes that phrase[1] |
| "Undo" or "Redo" | Reverses or repeats the last command[1] |
Settings worth trying
- Auto-Punctuation. Where the language supports it, iPhone puts in commas, periods and question marks by itself. If you prefer to say every mark yourself, turn it off under Settings > General > Keyboard > Auto-Punctuation.[1]
- Another language. When you switch to a keyboard for another language, Dictation works in that language too.[1]
- Text Replacement for tricky words. If dictation keeps writing a name the wrong way, a text replacement shortcut can type the right spelling for you when you key in a short code.
Troubleshooting
- There is no microphone key. Go to Settings > General > Keyboard and turn on Enable Dictation.[1]
- Dictation keeps stopping. It stops on its own after 30 seconds of silence. Tap the Dictate button to start again.[1]
- Commas appear where you did not want them. Turn off Auto-Punctuation and say punctuation out loud instead.[1]
- A word comes out wrong every time. Spell it out letter by letter as part of the sentence, or say "Change [wrong word] to" and spell the right one.[1]
Words that dictation or autocorrect keep mangling can go into our word list tool, which turns them into a study list plus shortcut entries ready for Text Replacement.
Quick answers
Does iPhone dictation need the internet?
Apple says Dictation is processed on the iPhone in many languages without an internet connection, though dictating in a search field may send the text to the search engine.[1]
How do I add punctuation when dictating on iPhone?
Say the name of the mark, such as "comma" or "question mark." In supported languages Dictation also adds commas, periods and question marks automatically unless you turn off Auto-Punctuation.[1]
How do I turn off dictation on iPhone?
Go to Settings > General > Keyboard and turn off Enable Dictation.[1]
Review status
Source-checked, not expert-reviewed
Drafted with AI assistance. Each factual claim was checked against the source it links to on 2026-10-28. No clinician, psychologist or dyslexia specialist has reviewed this page. See the claims register.
Sources
- [1]Dictate text on iPhone. Apple, 2026. Accessed 2026-10-28. Product documentation
- [2]Commands for dictating text on iPhone. Apple, 2026. Accessed 2026-10-28. Product documentation
Related reading
- How to use dictation on a MacTurn on Dictation in Mac Keyboard settings, start it with the Microphone key or a shortcut, add punctuation by voice, and fix words underlined in blue.
- How to set up text replacement shortcuts for words you often misspellMake a short code expand to a word you often misspell: Text Replacement on iPhone and Mac, Office AutoCorrect on Windows, and the Gboard dictionary.
- How to turn on text to speech on iPhoneTurn on Speak Selection and Speak Screen on iPhone, pick a voice and speaking rate, and use Accessibility Reader. Menu names for iOS 26, 27 and iOS 18.
- How to use voice typing on Android with GboardUse Gboard voice typing on Android: tap the microphone, say punctuation, replace a word by voice, and turn on advanced voice typing on Pixel.