Does Gmail have voice typing?

No. Gmail on a computer has no voice typing button in its compose window that we could find in Google's help pages. You can still dictate into a Gmail draft. Your computer's own dictation types into any text box, and the compose box is one, so it works in Gmail too. On an Android phone, the keyboard's microphone does the same job. The routes below cover each case, and the guide on dictating emails in Outlook and Gmail puts them beside Outlook's.

Gmail on a computer has no button, so the system's dictation does the typing

Google's documented voice typing lives in Google Docs. In a supported browser, you open a document, choose Tools, then Voice typing, and click the microphone box that appears ¹. Gmail's compose window has no equivalent that we could confirm, so the simplest route is the dictation built into your operating system. It works in any browser text box, and that includes Gmail, because it types into whichever field has the cursor.

On a Mac, Dictation types into the Gmail compose box

Apple says that with Dictation on a Mac you can speak to enter text anywhere you can type ². Turn it on from the Dictation section of Keyboard settings in System Settings ³. Then click into the message body and start it with the Microphone key or your Dictation shortcut.

On Windows, Windows key and H types into the compose box

On Windows, press the Windows key and H together on a hardware keyboard to start voice typing ⁴. Microsoft says voice typing needs a working microphone, an internet connection and the cursor in a text box ⁵. Gmail's compose box meets the last requirement, so the other two are what to check first if nothing appears. Our guide to Windows voice typing covers the setup in full.

Google Docs is a workable workaround

Google says voice typing in Google Docs works with the latest versions of Chrome, Edge and Safari ⁶. Dictate your text into a document, then copy it into the Gmail draft. It takes one extra step, but you can check the words in the document first and then paste the finished text. Our guide to Google Docs voice typing explains the commands and their limits.

An extension is the only route that puts a microphone inside Gmail

If you want a microphone icon inside the compose window, a Chrome extension can add one. Dictation for Gmail's store listing says you open a new message, or reply to one, then click the microphone icon to the right of the Send button ⁷. Extensions carry their own trade-offs, including what they can read in the page and where the speech is processed. The question on whether there is a dictation extension for Gmail sets these out.

On Android, the keyboard's microphone works in Gmail

On Android, the keyboard's microphone is the route into Gmail. On Gboard, tap a text field, tap the microphone at the top of the keyboard, and speak when you see "Speak now" ⁸. Google's Gboard help names Gmail as one of the apps where you can voice type ⁹.

On an iPhone, dictation is on the keyboard as well. Our guide to iPhone dictation covers the steps.

Which route fits where you write

The right route depends on the device and browser you write on. The table lists them so you can pick one and stay with it for the email.

What to do

1. Choose the route for your device from the table, and use only that one for the email.
2. Click into the body of the message before you start, not the subject line.
3. Read the draft before you send. Check the names, numbers and punctuation the speech produced.
4. If nothing appears, test the microphone in a plain text app first. If it works there, the fault is in the browser or in Gmail, and the question on why dictation is not working in Gmail lists the checks in order.

Yap, which we make, is an on-device dictation app for Mac and Windows that types into the field that has focus, Gmail included. It is one option among several. The built-in tools above may be enough for the emails you write, so try them first.