Why is dictation not working on Apple TV?

Dictation on Apple TV can fail for three reasons the Apple pages cover: the feature is switched off, your country or region may not support it, or the Siri language is not the one you speak. Start with the switch, because it is the quickest to check and the most common cause. Work down the list in order, and stop at the first step that fixes it.

Turn on Siri dictation in Settings first

Dictation on Apple TV is controlled in Settings. To turn it on or off, go to General > Dictation, then turn dictation on or off ¹. If dictation does nothing when you use it in a text field, check this setting before anything else.

Check that your country or region supports dictation

Dictation is not offered everywhere. Apple says that dictation on Apple TV may not be available in all countries or regions ². If the switch is on and dictation still does nothing, your region may be the reason. Apple's page does not list which countries are covered, so check Apple's current availability list for your country, or contact Apple Support if you are not sure.

This is a limit of where the service is offered, not a fault in your remote or your television. You cannot fix it with a setting, so the practical option is to type with the on-screen keyboard until dictation is available to you.

Make sure Siri is set to the language you speak

On Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD, you change the language Siri uses in Settings, General, Siri, Language ³. If you speak English but the device is set to another language, dictation can produce the wrong words or nothing at all. The Apple TV pages we read do not give a separate dictation language setting, so the Siri language is the one to check.

Set the language in that menu, then test dictation again in a text box. If you need to dictate in more than one language, the next check is the keyboard.

Add a second language to change the keyboard language

The on-screen keyboard can switch languages, but only once you have added them. Apple says the language button on the on-screen keyboard appears only if you have added additional languages in Settings ⁴. If you do not see that button, add the language first, then the button should appear.

The guide does not say whether Siri dictation follows the keyboard language you choose, so do not assume it does. Check the Siri language as well if you dictate in a second language.

What to check when none of the three steps works

1. Confirm dictation is on under General > Dictation.
2. Confirm your country or region is one where dictation is offered.
3. Confirm the Siri language matches the language you speak.
4. Add the language you need, so the keyboard language button appears.
5. Restart the Apple TV, then test again in a plain text box.

If the problem stays after these steps, check whether the same speech works elsewhere. A test on your iPhone or Mac tells you whether the fault is the speech itself or only the television. The guide to dictation that is not working lists the general causes that apply on every device, including the microphone and network checks.

Dictation on Apple TV is not the same as dictation on an iPad or Mac

The steps above are the ones Apple's Apple TV pages support. They do not cover the iPad or Mac, where dictation has its own switches, microphone settings and offline behavior. If you are trying to dictate into a document on a Mac or iPad, the question on dictation on an iPad and the Mac dictation fix page cover those devices. If you are switching languages for dictation rather than fixing a fault, see the question on changing the dictation language on Apple TV.

The question on AirPods explains a different cause that can look similar: a headset microphone that is not the one in use. For the car-based version of voice input, see the CarPlay question.

Use the on-screen keyboard when dictation is unavailable

When dictation is off, unavailable in your region, or set to the wrong language, typing with the on-screen keyboard still works. Dictation is a convenience for long text. For a short search, a password or a single word, the on-screen keyboard can be quicker than fixing a setting, and it avoids any dependence on the microphone or the language. Once the setting is right, dictation is worth using again for longer text such as messages and notes.

The dictation overview lists the guides in this series, including the one on choosing a dictation app for each device.