How to Use Voice Typing on Google Docs on Mobile and Desktop

While Google Docs is commonly used for drafting formal letters, invitations, meeting notes, and table of contents, it’s also versatile enough to serve as a tool for jotting down ideas or keeping a journal. Google Docs offers various features, including Voice Typing, which enhances the convenience of putting thoughts into writing.

The Voice Typing feature helps overcome writer’s block by enabling users to jot down rough and unstructured ideas. Rather than wasting time crafting perfect sentences, you can simply voice your thoughts, no matter how scattered they may be. Here’s how to enable and use the feature on both your mobile device and desktop.

Use Voice Typing on Google Docs on Mobile

The Google Docs mobile app allows you to manage your documents while on the go. You can edit your documents and even save them as PDF files on your iPhone or Android phone. Let’s explore how you can use the Voice Typing feature with the mobile app.

On iPhone:

iPhone users can utilize the Speech-to-Text feature available with the iOS Keyboard to access Google Docs’ Voice Typing feature. Here’s how:

1. Open the Google Docs app and then open a new or previously created document.
2. Tap on the page to bring up the keyboard. Then, tap the Microphone icon at the bottom-right corner.
   
3. Start dictating the words, and Google Docs will convert the speech to text.

If you don’t see the Microphone icon, check if Voice Dictation has been enabled. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Open the Settings app and then tap on General.
   
2. Select Keyboard and tap the toggle next to Enable Dictation.
   

You can also enable Auto-Punctuation and adjust other settings from the same menu.

If Dictation still fails to work, refer to our post for more solutions. Note that the solutions outlined in the guide will apply to all iPhones on all iOS versions.

On Android:

1. Open Google Docs and select a new or previously created document.
2. Tap on the document area to enable the keyboard. Then tap the Microphone icon.
   
3. Start dictating the words, and Google Docs will convert the speech to text.

Use Voice Typing on Google Docs on Desktop

For desktop users, the Voice Typing feature is built-in with Google Docs. However, it’s only available for Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge users on Mac and Windows PCs. Here’s how to enable and use it:

1. Open your web browser and go to docs.google.com.
2. Sign in to your account and open a new or existing document.
3. Click on “Tools” in the top Menu Bar and then select “Voice Typing.”
   
4. Select the Microphone icon on the left side. Your browser will then prompt you to enable microphone access. Tap “Allow.”

You can also click the dropdown menu and select your preferred language.

And there you have it! You can now commence utilizing Voice Dictation on your Mac or Windows PC within Google Docs.

How to Use Punctuation and Formatting Styles With Voice Typing

The greatest aspect of voice typing in Google Docs is its capability to dictate and add punctuation. This spares you from manual input and editing time. Once you activate the microphone, you can begin speaking commands such as “select all”, “bold”, “italics”, and others. Numerous additional voice commands are accessible for voice typing. However, be mindful: the punctuation you dictate may not always be accurately translated. Therefore, exercise patience when utilizing this feature.

Use Microsoft Voice Typing Launcher for Google Docs on Windows 11

Windows 11 offers a feature named Voice Typing Launcher (Microsoft Speech Services) specifically designed for voice typing. You can activate this feature to utilize voice typing in Google Docs or any other application. Before proceeding, ensure you have installed the latest software update.

1. Open Google Docs in your web browser and sign in to your account.
2. Navigate to your document and press Windows key + H to enable Microsoft Speech Services.
3. In the popup window, click the Microphone icon to begin using it.

You can select the Settings icon to customize preferences, such as choosing a different microphone or enabling automatic punctuation. We’ve conducted tests and found that the service automatically introduces commas and full stops, which is excellent.

Use Dictation on your Mac for voice typing in Google Docs

You can also leverage the Dictation feature on Mac to enable Voice Typing. It’s a built-in tool that enables speech-to-text functionality in Google Docs. Additionally, all voice commands for punctuation will function seamlessly with this feature.

Rest Your Fingers

Google Docs’ Voice Typing option provides a welcomed break from lengthy typing sessions. It can be particularly handy when you need to take notes while multitasking. Feel free to share your thoughts on this guide in the comments section below if you found it helpful.