Voicenotes Dictation lets you speak into any app with a text box. You can use it in Messages, emails, notes, comments, documents, and anywhere else you would normally type.
Once it’s set up, you can switch to the Voicenotes keyboard, tap the mic, and start dictating. You can also set up Quick Dictation with the iPhone Action Button, so you can dictate without opening the Voicenotes app at all.
Set up dictation in the Voicenotes app
To start using dictation, first turn it on inside Voicenotes.
Open the Voicenotes app on your iPhone.
Tap Dictation from the bottom menu.
Turn on the dictation toggle.
Follow the setup steps shown in the app.
Voicenotes may ask for microphone access during setup. Tap Allow so the app can turn your speech into text.
Enable the Voicenotes keyboard
Voicenotes Dictation works through the Voicenotes keyboard. After turning on dictation in the app, you’ll need to enable the keyboard from your iPhone settings.
Open your iPhone Settings.
Go to Apps.
Tap Voicenotes.
Tap Keyboards.
Turn on Voicenotes.
Turn on Allow Full Access.
Apple shows a standard warning when enabling full access for third-party keyboards. This is expected. Voicenotes needs keyboard access so dictation can work across apps.
Switch to the Voicenotes keyboard
After the keyboard is enabled, you can use it anywhere you type.
Open any app with a text box.
Tap the text box to bring up the keyboard.
Tap and hold the globe icon on your keyboard.
Select Voicenotes.
Tap the mic button to start dictating.
When you’re done, stop dictation and review the text before sending or saving it.
Use Quick Dictation from the Action Button
If your iPhone has an Action Button, you can assign it to Voicenotes Quick Dictation. This lets you start dictating without opening the Voicenotes app first.
To set it up:
Open your iPhone Settings.
Go to Action Button.
Choose Shortcuts.
Select Voicenotes.
Choose Quick Dictation.
Once this is set up, press your Action Button whenever you want to quickly dictate something. Voicenotes will start Quick Dictation without needing to open the app manually.
This is helpful when you want to capture a thought quickly, reply to something, or dictate while moving between apps.
How to use dictation well
You can speak naturally while using Voicenotes Dictation. You don’t need to overthink punctuation or structure while speaking. A few tips:
Speak clearly and at a natural pace.
Pause briefly between thoughts.
Add context when needed, especially for longer dictation.
Review important text before sending it.
Use Quick Dictation when you want to capture something quickly without opening the app.
For example, instead of typing a long message, you can say:
“Hey, I reviewed the proposal. The timeline looks good, but we should confirm the final budget before Friday.”
Voicenotes will turn your speech into text so you can review and send it.
How to turn dictation off
You can turn dictation off from the Voicenotes app.
Open Voicenotes.
Tap Dictation from the bottom menu.
Turn off the dictation toggle.
If your iPhone shows Voicenotes using the microphone, you can also return to the Dictation tab and switch it off from there.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I use Voicenotes Dictation?
You can use it in most apps that have a text box, including messages, emails, notes, documents, comments, and search fields.
Do I need to open Voicenotes every time I want to dictate?
No. Once the keyboard is set up, you can switch to the Voicenotes keyboard from any text box. If you set up the Action Button shortcut, you can use Quick Dictation without opening the app at all.
Why do I need to enable the Voicenotes keyboard?
The keyboard lets Voicenotes Dictation work across apps. Without enabling the keyboard, dictation can only work inside the Voicenotes app.
Why does iPhone ask for full keyboard access?
iOS requires full access for third-party keyboards that need to process input across apps. Voicenotes needs this access so it can convert your speech into text wherever you use the keyboard.
How do I switch back to my normal keyboard?
Tap and hold the globe icon on your keyboard, then choose your regular keyboard.
Can I use dictation inside the Voicenotes app?
Yes. You can create a text note in Voicenotes and use the Voicenotes keyboard to dictate directly into it.
Does Quick Dictation work without opening the app?
Yes. If you assign Voicenotes > Quick Dictation to your iPhone Action Button, you can start dictating without opening Voicenotes first.
I don’t see Voicenotes in my keyboard list. What should I do?
Make sure you’re using the latest version of Voicenotes from the App Store. Then open Voicenotes, go to Dictation, and follow the setup steps again.
Dictation isn’t working. What should I check?
Please check that:
Voicenotes is updated to the latest version.
Microphone permission is enabled.
The Voicenotes keyboard is enabled.
Allow Full Access is turned on for the Voicenotes keyboard.
You selected the Voicenotes keyboard from the globe icon.
If it still doesn’t work, reach out to us at [email protected] and we’ll take a look.