Dictate text on iPad

With keyboard dictation on iPad, you can dictate text anywhere you can type it.

On supported models, general text dictation (for example, composing messages and notes) can be processed on your device in many languages, and no internet connection is required. (Dictation in a search field is processed on a server.) When you’re using dictation on a device, you can dictate text of any length without a timeout. You can stop dictation manually, or it stops automatically when you stop speaking for 30 seconds.

Note: Dictation may not be available in all languages or in all countries or regions, and features may vary. Cellular data charges may apply. See View or change cellular data settings on iPad (Wi-Fi Cellular models).

Turn on Dictation

Go to Settings > General > Keyboard.
Turn on Enable Dictation.

If you’re using an external keyboard, see Dictate text while using an Apple external keyboard.

Dictate text

Tap on the onscreen keyboard, then speak.
If you don’t see , make sure Enable Dictation is turned on in Settings > General > Keyboard.
When you finish, tap .

To insert text by dictating, tap to place the insertion point where you want to insert text, tap , then speak. You can also replace selected text by dictating.

Add punctuation or format text

While dictating text, say the punctuation or formatting.

For example, “Dear Mary comma the check is in the mail exclamation mark” becomes “Dear Mary, the check is in the mail!” Punctuation and formatting commands include the following:

period
comma
exclamation point
question mark
dollar sign
open parenthesis … close parenthesis
quote … end quote
new paragraph
new line
colon
semicolon
cap—to capitalize the next word
caps on … caps off—to capitalize the first character of each word
all caps—to make the next word all uppercase
all caps on … all caps off—to make the enclosed words all uppercase
no caps on … no caps off—to make the enclosed words all lowercase
no space—to eliminate the space between two words (not available for all languages)
no space on … no space off—to run a series of words together (not available for all languages)
smiley—to insert :-)
frowny—to insert :-(
winky—to insert ;-)
hash tag

Helpful?

iPad User Guide

Dictate text on iPad

Turn on Dictation

Dictate text

Add punctuation or format text