What is dictation on iPhone?

Dictation on iPhone is Apple's built-in speech to text feature. You speak, and the phone writes your words into the text field where the cursor is. It is part of the keyboard, so there is nothing to download. You switch it on once under Settings, then General, then Keyboard ¹, and it works in any app where you can type. For the general meaning of the word, see our entry on dictation.

Dictation works in any text field you can type in

Apple says that with Dictation on iPhone you can dictate text anywhere you can type it ². To start, you tap in a text field so the insertion point is where you want the text, then tap the keyboard or the field where the dictation key appears, and speak ³. The step-by-step guide to iPhone dictation sets out the taps in order.

The keyboard stays open while Dictation runs. Apple says you can use typing and Dictation together, so you can switch between voice and touch in the same session ⁴. A common pattern is to speak a paragraph, tap to fix one word by typing, and then speak again.

In many languages, speech is converted on the phone, with no internet

Apple says Dictation on iPhone is processed on the device in many languages, and that no internet connection is required ⁵. The offline result depends on your language. Apple says Dictation may not be available in all languages, countries or regions, and that features may vary ⁶. Check that your language is supported on your own phone. If it is not, Apple's article does not say where the speech is processed, so do not assume it stays on the phone.

Offline is not the same as free of data use. Apple says that when you use Dictation, cellular data charges may apply ⁷. The on-device path does not need a connection, but your carrier's plan decides what any network use costs.

Dictation adds commas and periods, and it can take spoken punctuation

In supported languages, Dictation inserts commas, periods and question marks as you speak, without a spoken command ⁸. For other marks, you say their names, such as "exclamation point" ⁹. If the automatic marks get in the way, you can turn them off in Settings, then General, then Keyboard, by turning off Auto-Punctuation ¹⁰. For where the automatic marks go wrong, see our guide to dictation punctuation. The full command list is in iPhone dictation commands.

A privacy setting decides whether Apple keeps audio samples

Dictation has a privacy setting that controls what Apple keeps. The setting is called Improve Siri and Dictation. Apple says that when it is on, Apple can store and review a sample of the audio of your Siri and Dictation interactions ¹¹. You can read what the setting means in the entry on Improve Siri and Dictation, and the wider picture is in our guide to Apple dictation privacy.

Dictation is a keyboard feature, separate from Siri and from dictation apps

Dictation is a feature of the keyboard. It turns what you say into text and stops there. It is separate from Siri, which answers questions and carries out requests. It is also separate from third-party dictation apps, which are different products with their own settings and prices. If the built-in tool meets your needs, you may not need one. If it does not, our comparison of the best dictation apps for iPhone and Android lists the options.

Dictation has limits you should plan around

The built-in tool has a few fixed limits. Dictation stops after 30 seconds without speech ¹², so a long pause ends the session. Voice editing commands work in U.S. English ¹³. Outside U.S. English, you correct text by touch.

Common questions about iPhone dictation have their own short answers

• How do you turn off dictation on iPhone?
• How do you remove the dictation button on iPhone?
• How do you dictate notes on iPhone?
• Is dictation better in iOS 27?
• Does Apple dictation work offline?

For the whole subject, the overview of dictation on phones and tablets links every guide in order.