How do you use voice to text in Slack?

You cannot type a Slack message by speaking into Slack's own microphone. That button records a voice clip, and a clip is sent as audio. To write a message by voice, use the dictation that comes with your computer or phone, which types into whatever text box has focus. This page sets out each Slack voice feature, what it does, and the route that types into a message. Our guide to voice to text in Teams, Slack and Notion compares the three apps.

The microphone in a message box records a clip

Slack's voice feature for people is the audio and video clip. A clip can run up to five minutes ¹. The recipient plays it back, so it works like a voice note rather than a typed message.

A transcript is not made automatically. To add one, click the Generate transcript icon on the clip ². On a phone, long press the message and select Generate transcript instead. The transcript comes after you record, so it does not help you type as you speak.

Slackbot's microphone dictates prompts, not messages to colleagues

The prompt box for Slackbot has a microphone icon. Slack's help center says it dictates a prompt instead of typing it ³. That is voice input for questions to Slack's assistant. The words go to Slackbot, not to a colleague's channel.

If you are trying to write a message to a person, this feature does not apply. Use one of the routes below.

On Windows, Win+H types into the Slack message box

1. Click in the Slack message box so the cursor sits in it.
2. Press Windows key + H on a hardware keyboard ⁴.
3. Speak, and watch for the "Listening" alert before you start.
4. Say Stop listening to finish.

Windows voice typing needs a working microphone, an internet connection and the cursor in a text box ⁵. The Windows steps are the same in any text box, but we have not tested them in every version of the Slack app. Run a short test in a direct message to yourself before you use it at work.

On a Mac, Dictation types into Slack

Apple says that on a Mac, you can speak to enter text anywhere you can type it ⁶. Click the Slack message box, then use the Dictation shortcut you chose. Our guide to Dictation on a Mac covers setup. As with Windows, test it in a direct message first.

On a phone, the keyboard microphone works in the message field

On Android with Gboard, tap the message field, then tap the microphone at the top of the keyboard and speak when you see "Speak now" ⁷. On an iPhone, the microphone on the keyboard does the same job. We did not test Slack on each phone, so check the microphone key the first time you open a message.

Huddle notes are a separate feature on paid plans

Slack's AI notes for huddles are a different job. They summarize a call rather than typing a message. Slack says they are available on paid plans, and all members can use them but not guests ⁸.

Third-party tools claim to dictate into Slack

Several dictation vendors market apps that work in Slack. Some work system-wide, and some are built for Slack. We did not verify their claims, and Slack's help pages do not describe them. If the built-in routes are not enough for you, a system-wide tool is the usual choice. Yap, which we make, is an on-device dictation app for Mac and Windows. Read the Mac page or the Windows page before you decide, and compare tools in our guide to dictation software.

What to do

1. Decide whether you are writing to a person or asking a question. A question to Slackbot can use the Slackbot microphone. A message to a person needs the operating system route.
2. For a message on Windows, click into the message box and press Windows key + H.
3. For a message on a Mac, click into the message box and press your Dictation shortcut.
4. For a message on a phone, tap the message field and use the keyboard microphone.
5. Read the text before you send it, and check names and punctuation.

For the same question in other apps, see whether Microsoft Teams has speech to text and whether you can dictate in Notion. The glossary entry for voice typing explains the term, and our overview of dictation in your apps links every guide on the subject.