Voice-to-text is a handy feature for typing on your iPhone, but many users report issues with its functionality.
If you’re encountering similar problems, don’t worry.
This guide will walk you through the steps to get voice-to-text up and running on your iPhone.
Let’s get started!
TL;DR Version
In general, you can do these steps when voice to text is not working on your iPhone:
1. Close Other Background Applications
The issue with dictation not working could be due to other apps using your microphone in the background.
To resolve this, close any non-essential background applications:
- Swipe up from the bottom of your screen to open the app switcher.
- Close unnecessary apps that you don’t need.
2. Enable Dictation Setting
If voice-to-text still isn’t functioning on your iPhone, verify that dictation is activated:
- Open the Settings app.
- Navigate to General > Keyboard.
- Make sure Enable Dictation is switched on.
Note
If this feature is already enabled, toggle it off and then on again for a reset.
3. Refresh Siri
If voice-to-text remains non-functional on your iPhone, refreshing Siri, which is linked to the Dictation feature, might help.
Here’s what you need to do:
- Open the Settings app.
- Navigate to Siri & Search.
- Disable all Siri-related options.
- Restart your iPhone.
- After restarting, re-enable Siri by following Steps 1 to 3 again.
4. Check Your iPhone’s Device Language
If your iPhone’s language setting is ‘English’ but you’re dictating in another language, ensure the correct language is selected for your keyboard, Siri, and system settings.
To check and adjust your iPhone’s language settings, follow these steps:
- Launch the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Go to General > Language & Region.
- Now, tap on Add Language and select your preferred language.
- Go back to General and tap on Keyboard.
- Tap on Keyboards and select Add New Keyboard. Choose the same language you set on Language & Region.
- Go back to Settings and tap on Siri & Search.
- Tap on Language and select the same language you set for the two options.
After these adjustments, try voice-to-text again to see if the issue is resolved.
5. Disable Any Screen Time Restrictions
Ensure that Siri & Dictation is not restricted if you’re utilizing Screen Time.
To verify this, follow these steps:
- Go to Settings on your iPhone.
- Navigate to Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions.
- Tap on Allowed Apps.
- Turn on Siri & Dictation by enabling the toggle switch.
6. Allow the App to Have Microphone Access
If voice-to-text functionality is failing in a particular app, verify that the app has microphone access.
To do this:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Navigate to Privacy, then select Microphone.
- Look for the app you want to allow and ensure that the toggle switch beside it is set to ON.
7. Update Your iPhone to the Latest Version
The iOS version you are using may have a voice-to-text functionality issue.
Many users have reported resolving dictation problems in Messages and Email apps by updating to the latest iOS version.
To update your iPhone, follow these steps:
- Go to Settings.
- Select General > Software Update.
- If a new iOS version is available, select Download and Install.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the update.
Note
- Your iPhone may restart multiple times during the update.
- Ensure your iPhone has at least 50% battery, or keep it connected to a charger.
- Allow around 15 minutes for the installation, particularly for major updates (e.g., iOS 15 to iOS 16).
To avoid missing future updates, enable the ‘Automatic Updates’ setting on your iPhone:
- In Settings, choose General > Software Update > Automatic Updates.
- Turn on both Download iOS Updates and Install iOS Updates.
8. Reset iPhone Settings
If the software update fails to resolve the issue, consider resetting your iPhone settings. Conflicting system preferences could be hindering the voice-to-text functionality.
To reset your iPhone’s settings:
- Open the Settings app.
- Navigate to General > Transfer or Reset iPhone.
- Choose Reset.
- Tap on Reset All Settings and proceed as instructed.
Note
- Your iPhone will restart as soon as you reset the settings.
- If it gets stuck on the Apple logo, wait for the process to finish, which typically takes 5 to 10 minutes.
FAQs
Why is my voice text not working on my iPhone?
To troubleshoot voice-to-text issues on your iPhone, ensure dictation is activated in the Keyboard settings:
- Go to the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap on General > Keyboard.
- Turn on Enable Dictation.
Why is my microphone not working on my iPhone messages?
It’s possible that the Messages app is not allowed to use your microphone. To check:
- Launch the Settings app.
- Go to Privacy > Microphone.
- Tap on Microphone.
- Ensure that Messages is allowed to use your microphone.
Why won’t my mic work on my iPhone?
Several factors could be causing your iPhone’s microphone to malfunction. Potential reasons include obstruction by the phone case, software bugs or glitches, or incorrect permission settings.
Why is my microphone and Siri not working?
Siri may not be enabled on your iPhone. You can check by doing the following:
- Open the Settings app.
- Go to Siri & Search.
- Enable Siri and customize your preference.
