Wouldn’t it be great if you could just verbalize your thoughts and your iPad could transcribe what you said for you? Well, that is a thing! Read more if you’d like to use this feature!
Today’s Tip
Most apps on your iPad include a microphone that allows you to dictate what you are thinking and translates your audio into text for you. Typically you can dictate text anywhere you would normally type. This is a great alternative to using the on-screen keyboard, if that is fatiguing to anyone or fine motor skills are difficult.
The iPad keyboard can remain open while you are speaking, so you can switch back and forth between speaking, typing, or writing with your Apple Pencil. Check out the Scribble with Pencil email or blog post for guidance on using the writing features on your iPad.
Dictation can even recognize different languages and you can even highlight text and replace it using dictation!!
Enabling Dictation
Dictation is likely already enabled on your iPad, but you can enable the feature using the following steps:
- Open the Settings app.
- On the left-hand side of the Settings app, find the General option.
- On the right-hand side, select Keyboard.
- Toggle the Enable Dictation button on from the Keyboard settings.
- Select the Enable Dictation button in order to add this to your keyboard.
These steps will add a microphone icon to your keyboard where possible.
Using Dictation
You can follow these steps in most iPad apps.
- In a compatible app, select the location that you want to dictate text to. The keyboard should appear.
- To the left of the spacebar, choose the microphone key.
- Begin speaking what you want to transcribe.
- When you are done speaking, tap the microphone key again.
You may type on the keyboard while the microphone key is still depressed. If you use the Apple Pencil, the microphone key may be released. You’ll just have to press it again to continue speaking.
Additional Support
Check out some of the resources we’ve curated on this topic for more support:
