Guiding Tech

We explain and teach technology, solve tech problems and help you make gadget buying decisions.

How to Use Voice Typing on Google Docs on Mobile and Desktop

While Google Docs is primarily geared toward drafting formal letters, invites, meeting notes, and table of contents , you can also use it to jot down ideas or as a journal. To that end, Google Docs is quite feature-rich and supports features like Voice Typing which makes penning down thoughts more convenient.

How_to_Use_Voice_Typing_on_Google_Docs_on_Mobile_and_Desktop

The Voice Typing feature eliminates writer’s block by allowing users to jot down rough and unstructured ideas. You don’t have to waste your time thinking of writing perfect sentences – instead, you can just voice your thoughts, scattered as they may be. Here’s how to enable the feature and use it on your mobile and desktop.

Use Voice Typing on Google Docs on Mobile

The Google Docs mobile app lets you manage your documents on the go. The app lets you edit your documents and even save them as PDF files on your iPhone or Android phone. Let us see how you can use the Voice Typing feature with the mobile app.

iPhone users can simply use the Speech-to-Text feature available with the iOS Keyboard to use Google Docs’ Voice Typing feature. Here’s how.

Step 1: Open the Google Docs app and then open a new or previously created document.

Step 2: Tap on the page to bring up the keyboard. Then, tap the Microphone icon at the bottom-right corner.

microphone iphone keyboard google docs

Step 3: Start dictating the words, and Google Docs will convert the speech to text.

If you don’t see the Microphone icon, check if Voice Dictation has been enabled. Here’s how you can go about it.

Step 1: Open the Settings app and then tap on General.

general settings iphone 2

Step 2: Select Keyboard and tap the toggle next to Enable Dictation.

keyboard settings iphone 3

You can also enable Auto-Punctuation and tweak other aspects from the same menu.

auto punctuation keyboard iphone

If Dictation still fails to work, refer to our post for more solutions. Note that the solutions outlined in the guide will apply to all iPhones on all iOS versions.

Step 1: Open Google Docs and select a new or previously created document.

Step 2: Tap on the document area to enable the keyboard. Then tap the Microphone icon.

microphone android keyboard google docs

You can refer to our post if Dictation fails to work on your Android phone .

Use Voice Typing on Google Docs on Desktop

For desktop users, the Voice Typing feature comes built-in with Google Docs. However, it is only available for Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge users on Mac and Windows PCs. Here’s how to enable and use it.

Step 1: Open your web browser and go to docs.google.com.

Visit Google Docs

Step 2: Sign in to your account and open a new or existing document.

Step 3: Click on Tools in the top Menu Bar and then select Voice Typing.

voice typing tools google docs

Step 4: Select the Microphone icon on the left side. Your browser will then prompt you to enable microphone access. Tap Allow.

allow mic access voice typing google docs

You can also click the dropdown menu and select your preferred language.

change voice typing language google docs

And voila! You can now start using Voice Dictation on your Mac or Windows PC in Google Docs.

How to Use Punctuation and Formatting Styles With Voice Typing

The best part about voice typing on Google Docs is that you can also dictate and insert punctuation. This saves you the time of manual entry and correction. Once you enable the microphone, you can start voicing commands like “select all”, “bold”, “italics”, and more. There are a plethora of other voice commands available for voice typing. A word of caution, though: your dictated punctuation might not always get translated correctly. So, be patient while using the feature.

use punctuation google docs

Use Microsoft Voice Typing Launcher For Google Docs on Windows 11

Windows 11 has a feature called Voice Typing Launcher (Microsoft Speech Services) that is designed to be used for voice typing. You can activate this feature to use voice typing on Google Docs or any other application. Before following the steps to enable it, make sure that you have installed the latest software update.

Step 1: Open Google Docs on your web browser and sign in to your account.

Step 2: Go to your document and press Windows key + H to enable Microsoft Speech Services.

Step 3: From the popup, click the Microphone icon to start using it.

microsoft speech services windows 11

You can click the Settings icon to make changes, including using a different microphone and enabling automatic punctuation. We tested the same on our end and the service introduced commas and full stops automatically, which is great.

settings microsoft speech services windows 11

You can also refer to our post if Voice Typing is not working on Windows 11 .

Use Dictation on Mac For Voice Typing on Google Docs

You can also use the Dictation feature on Mac to facilitate Voice Typing. It’s a built-in tool that lets you use speech-to-text in Google Docs. All the voice commands for using punctuation will work with this, too. You can refer to our post to learn how to use Dictation on Mac .

Rest Your Fingers

The Voice Typing option on Google Docs is a much-needed respite from endless typing sessions. The feature can also come in clutch when you need to take note of something while juggling other tasks. Let us know if you found this guide useful in the comments below.

Last updated on 16 March, 2024

The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.

how to get speech to text on google

DID YOU KNOW

how to get speech to text on google

Paurush Chaudhary

Paurush dabbles around iOS and Mac while his close encounters with Android and Windows. Before becoming a writer, he produced videos for brands like Mr. Phone and Digit and worked briefly as a copywriter. In his free time, he satiates his curiosity about streaming platforms and devices like Apple TV and Google TV. On weekends, he is a full-time cinephile trying to reduce his never-ending watchlist, often bumping it longer.

More in Internet and Social

What Does ‘Challenge Required Mean on Instagram and How to Fix It

What Does ‘Challenge Required’ Mean on Instagram and How to Fix It

How to Add Someone to Telegram Group

How to Add Someone to Telegram Group on Android, iOS, or PC

Join the newsletter.

Get Guiding Tech articles delivered to your inbox.

How to Use Speech to Text in Google Docs: A Step-by-Step Guide

Ready to ditch the keyboard and let your voice do the typing? Google Docs has a nifty feature that allows you to use speech-to-text to create documents. This functionality is perfect for when you’re on the go, have accessibility needs, or just want to give your fingers a break. Here’s how to do it: Open a document in Google Docs, click on the ‘Tools’ menu, and select ‘Voice typing’. A microphone icon will pop up. Click on it when you’re ready to speak, and watch your words magically appear on the screen.

Step by Step Tutorial: Using Speech to Text in Google Docs

Before you start talking your document into existence, you need to know the steps to activate and use the voice typing feature in Google Docs. This guide will walk you through the process, so you can dictate your thoughts and ideas directly into your document.

Step 1: Open a Google Docs document

Open the Google Docs document you want to work on or create a new one.

When you’ve opened Google Docs, you’ll see a blank page or your saved work ready for your voice input.

Step 2: Click on ‘Tools’

Go to the ‘Tools’ menu on the top of the page.

The ‘Tools’ menu is like a treasure chest filled with cool features that can make your document creation easier. Voice typing is just one of these treasures.

Step 3: Select ‘Voice typing’

From the drop-down menu, select ‘Voice typing’.

A microphone box will appear on the left side of your document. That’s your gateway to hands-free typing!

Step 4: Click the microphone when you’re ready

Click on the microphone icon when you’re ready to start speaking.

The icon will turn red, indicating that Google Docs is now listening and ready to transcribe what you say into text.

Once you’ve completed these steps, you can start dictating your document. Speak clearly and at a moderate pace. Google Docs will convert your speech into text as you go. When you’re done, simply click the microphone again to stop the voice typing.

After you’ve finished dictating, you might notice that your text isn’t perfect. That’s okay! You may need to go back and make some edits, just like you would with any other first draft. The speech-to-text feature isn’t flawless, but it’s a great way to get your thoughts down quickly without typing.

Tips for Optimizing Your Use of Speech to Text in Google Docs

  • Position your microphone properly to ensure clear audio input.
  • Speak clearly and at a moderate pace for better accuracy.
  • Use the commands ‘period’, ‘comma’, ‘question mark’, etc., to insert punctuation.
  • Say ‘new line’ to move the cursor to the next line or ‘new paragraph’ for a new paragraph.
  • Edit the transcribed text for any mistakes after you finish dictating.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can i use voice commands to edit or format the text.

Yes, you can use voice commands to apply basic formatting, like bold or italics, and to edit the text, like selecting or deleting words.

Does voice typing work in languages other than English?

Yes, Google Docs supports voice typing in multiple languages. You can select your language by clicking on the microphone icon and then the language dropdown.

Can I use voice typing on my mobile device?

Yes, the Google Docs app for mobile devices supports voice typing, although the layout may look slightly different from the desktop version.

Is there a way to improve the accuracy of voice typing?

Yes, speaking clearly and at a paced speed, using a good quality microphone, and minimizing background noise can improve accuracy.

Is voice typing available offline?

No, an internet connection is required because voice typing in Google Docs relies on Google’s cloud-based speech recognition technology.

  • Open a Google Docs document.
  • Click on ‘Tools’.
  • Select ‘Voice typing’.
  • Click the microphone when you’re ready.

Now that you’ve got the hang of using speech to text in google docs, you’ll be able to streamline your document creation process. Imagine the convenience of hands-free typing while cooking, working out, or when your hands are just too tired from a long day of work. Plus, it’s a fantastic tool for individuals with disabilities, making document creation more accessible and inclusive.

Remember, practice makes perfect. The more you use the voice typing feature, the better you’ll get at dictating your thoughts clearly and effectively. And don’t forget those editing skills! They’ll come in handy for cleaning up any little mistakes that might slip through.

So, what’s stopping you? Give your keyboard a break and start letting your voice take the lead. Who knows, you might even find that speaking your ideas out loud sparks even more creativity and productivity. Happy dictating!

Matthew Burleigh Solve Your Tech

Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.

After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.

His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.

Read his full bio here.

Share this:

Join our free newsletter.

Featured guides and deals

You may opt out at any time. Read our Privacy Policy

Related posts:

  • How to Insert Text Box in Google Docs
  • How to Do a Hanging Indent on Google Docs
  • How to Subscript in Google Docs (An Easy 4 Step Guide)
  • How to Delete a Table in Google Docs (A Quick 5 Step Guide)
  • How to Center a Table in Google Docs (2023 Guide)
  • How to Double Space on Google Docs – iPad, iPhone, and Desktop
  • How to Insert a Horizontal Line in Google Docs
  • How to Remove Strikethrough in Google Docs (A Simple 4 Step Guide)
  • How to Create a Speech Bubble in Photoshop CS5
  • How to Create a Folder in Google Docs
  • Can I Convert a PDF to a Google Doc? (An Easy 5 Step Guide)
  • How to Edit a Hyperlink in Google Docs
  • How to Add a Row to a Table in Google Docs
  • How to Clear Formatting in Google Docs
  • How to Delete A Google Doc (An Easy 3 Step Guide)
  • How to Make Google Docs Landscape
  • Google Docs Space After Paragraph – How to Add or Remove
  • How to Print from Google Docs on iPhone or Android
  • How to Upload a PDF to Google Drive
  • How to Wrap Text in Google Sheets

How to use speech-to-text in Google Docs

Accessible and easy to use speech-to-text software

How to use speech-to-text in Google Docs

Speech-to-text software has come along way in recent years. We remember even a few years ago when voice typing required strange voices and mouth movements that looked like they belonged in a Saturday Night Live sketch. 

Today, however, more and more businesses are incorporating voice typing into their business operations. It can be an easy way to save time and increase the productivity of your employees and can be crucial in making your business accessible to persons with disabilities.

In this article, we explain how to use voice typing software on Google Docs. Although it is not the best speech-to-text software , it is free and easy to use, and will serve many businesses’ purposes.

How to use speech-to-text in Google Docs: Preparation

Google’s speech-to-text software currently only works on the Google Chrome browser. If you already use Chrome, you won’t need much preparation at all, and you won’t have to download or install any additional software or plugins. However, if you don’t have Chrome, you’ll have to download it via this link . 

Speech-to-text in Google docs 1

The only other thing you’ll need to do before you can begin using Google’s speech-to-text software is to set up your microphone. Using the in-built microphone on your device will suffice most of the time, as Google’s dictation software has improved significantly in recent years.

However, if you’re planning on dictating a lengthy text, or plan on using Google’s dictation software every day, we’d consider investing in a high-quality microphone. An external microphone will enable Google to interpret your voice more easily and can be placed in an optimal location.

Once you’ve downloaded Chrome and prepared a microphone , you’re ready to go.

Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter

Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed!

Step 1: Open a new Google Docs file

Open Google Chrome on your device and head to the Google Docs website. If you’re not currently logged into your Google account, go ahead and log in now. 

After you’ve logged in, create a new Google Doc. For our test, we named it “Speech-to-text in Google Docs - Test”. Ensure you save the article in a location where you’ll be able to access it later (to either edit or delete it).

Speech-to-text in Google docs 2

Step 2: Open the voice typing window

Within this blank document, you should be able to see the menu options at the top of the window. To begin voice typing, click on the Tools menu option and then Voice Typing. You can also open the Voice Typing window by using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+S.

Speech-to-text in Google docs 3

Step 3: Grant Google Docs access to the microphone

If you’ve never used Google’s speech-to-text software before, you’ll need to grant the platform access to your microphone. On Google Chrome, this is a simple as clicking “allow” when prompted. 

Once you’ve clicked “allow”, the microphone symbol will change to red. Congratulations –you’re now using voice typing!

Speech-to-text in Google docs 4

Step 4: Begin voice typing

With the microphone symbol changed to red, you can now begin speaking in a natural voice and watch as Google transcribes your voice to text. Unlike with older speech-to-text software, there’s no need to speak robotically, or at a comically slow pace. Google’s dictation software is designed to understand natural speech. Our only suggestion is to clearly enunciate lengthier or more complicated words, as these are where the software most often struggles. 

Following these four steps alone will enable you to begin voice typing, saving time and energy that could be better spent elsewhere. After playing around with the software, you’ll quickly become comfortable with it and develop your own strategies for accurate and reliable transcription.

Speech-to-text in Google docs 5

However, if you want to take your voice typing to the next level, read on to discover some of Google’s advanced voice commands.

Step 5: Voice commands

Google Docs also features several voice commands that enable you to create professional documents using only your voice. We’ll now explore a few of the most useful commands, but you can find the full list here .

The voice commands you’ll use most often are mostly self-explanatory. Saying the command “period” will insert a period into your document, while saying “bold” or “italic” will change the style of text correspondingly. 

Formatting is also simple using commands such as “insert page break”, “insert horizontal line”, or “insert heading”, among many others. 

Users can also change the text color by saying “text color (insert color)”. 

Developing a mastery of these voice commands enables you to make the most of Google’s speech-to-text software, and ensures you and your employees can work faster and more effectively when voice typing. 

Speech-to-text in Google docs 6

Voice typing software has improved dramatically in recent years. In the past, businesses had to invest in expensive dictation software if they wanted a functional voice typing experience. And even then, there were limits on what such software could achieve. 

Today, Google’s voice to text software enables businesses to incorporate voice typing into their operations free of charge. The software certainly isn’t the best available, but for most organizations, Google’s voice typing will more than suffice. We think that the extensive list of voice commands make the software appealing for employers and employees alike. 

  • We list the best text-to-speech software .

Darcy French

Adobe Dreamweaver (2024) review

Adobe Character Animator (2024) review

Cheaper AirPods and the AirPods Max 2 could finally land later this year

Most Popular

By Emma Street March 23, 2024

By Andy Murray March 23, 2024

By Aatif Sulleyman March 23, 2024

By Will Hall March 22, 2024

By Dashiell Wood March 22, 2024

By Ruth Jones March 22, 2024

By Olivia Powell March 22, 2024

By Charlotte Henry March 21, 2024

By Aatif Sulleyman March 21, 2024

By Will Hall March 21, 2024

  • 2 This neat iPhone camera trick will let you take pictures using nothing but your voice
  • 3 256TB SSDs could land before 2026 with a surprisingly low price — but will most likely use a controversial and popular trick borrowed from tape technology
  • 4 Samsung archrival plans construction of world's largest chip factory — at more than $90 billion, it will take more than 20 years to finish, so one wonders what other exciting tech will it produce
  • 5 Vizio’s latest 4K TV is its largest one yet and costs just $999
  • 2 The big Apple lawsuit explained: why Apple's getting sued and what it means for the iPhone
  • 3 macOS isn’t perfect – but every day with Windows 11 makes me want to use my MacBook full-time
  • 4 iOS 18 might break the iPhone's iconic app grid, and it's a change no one asked for
  • 5 Samsung can't blame Apple's iPhone monopoly for a lifetime of terrible software

TechRepublic

Account information.

how to get speech to text on google

Share with Your Friends

How to speech-to-text in Google Docs

Your email has been sent

Image of Andy Wolber

When I struggle to write, I change something–I stretch or walk, stand instead of sit, or vice versa.

Sometimes I talk instead of type. I configure speech-to-text software to capture my voice, then just talk. I often end up with a bunch of text to edit. I find talking to be an excellent alternative to typing to capture not yet fully formed ideas.

Fortunately, I write with Google Docs, so there are several tools I can use to turn my voice into text.

Android: Google Voice Typing

The best voice recognition tool for Google Docs, Google Voice Typing ( Figure A ), used to be found only on Android devices. Install the Google Docs app, open a document, and tap the microphone icon located to the left of the space bar on the on-screen keyboard. Then talk. Google Voice Typing turns your speech into text.

how to get speech to text on google

On Android, Google Voice Typing turns speech into text accurately and quickly.

Chrome os: on-screen keyboard.

Google also includes speech recognition in Chrome OS as an accessibility option ( Figure B ). To enable it, select the three-line menu, choose Settings, scroll to the bottom of the page, and select Show advanced settings. Look for the Accessibility option to enable the on-screen keyboard. When the keyboard displays, select the microphone displayed above the on-screen keyboard to activate speech recognition.

how to get speech to text on google

On Chromebooks, enable the on-screen keyboard to access the built-in Chrome OS speech recognition system.

Google docs on the web: add-on.

A third-party Add-on for Google Docs on the web also enables Speech Recognition ( Figure C ). Unlike the on-screen keyboard, the Add-on works only within a Google Doc; the Chrome OS on-screen keyboard works with all text fields.

how to get speech to text on google

In Google Docs on the web, use the third-party Speech Recognition Add-on.

To install the Speech Recognition Add-on, open a Google Doc, choose Add-ons, and then select Get add-ons. Next, search for Speech, then choose the + Free button to add it. Every time you want to start voice recognition, go to the Add-ons menu, choose Speech Recognition, and click Start. A sidebar will appear to the right of your document. Choose your language and dialect, select the blue Start button, and then start talking.

Apple and Windows systems

Apple devices and Microsoft Windows systems also offer speech recognition options. Dictation on Apple mobile devices works much like Google Voice Typing on Android: tap the microphone to the left of the keyboard, then talk ( Figure D ). On Mac OS devices, turn on Dictation . Microsoft’s speech recognition system requires a settings change, followed by a brief training session for the system to learn your voice in Windows 7 , 8/8.1 , and 10 .

how to get speech to text on google

Apple also offers Dictation, which provides speech recognition on iOS that works with the Google Docs app.

Tip: say the symbol.

For accurate punctuation, say the symbol. These systems recognize common punctuation marks and terms. For example, take the following two sentences:

“In November 1660, 12 people met at Gresham College in London to talk about a common interest: science. The group met often to discuss experiments and share ideas, and it eventually evolved into what we now know as the Royal Society.”

To properly capture and punctuate these sentences, you’d say:

“In November 1660 comma 12 people met at Gresham College in London to talk about a common interest colon science period The group met often to discuss experiments and share ideas comma and it eventually evolved into what we now know as the Royal Society period”

Note how you use the terms comma, colon, and period. Terms like “new paragraph” also work.

Tip: On a Chromebook, a headset helps

I tested the control sentences above on my Toshiba Chromebook 2 with the built-in microphone and then with a Logitech G330 USB headset. I also tested the phrases with both the native Chrome OS speech recognition system and the third-party Google Docs Add-on.

When I used the headset, accuracy improved ( Figure E ). With the headset, the Chrome OS speech recognition system captured the phrases with 100% accuracy. Google Voice Typing in a Google Doc on a Samsung Galaxy Note 4 for the same phrases also achieved 100% accuracy without a headset.

how to get speech to text on google

Use a headset with a Chromebook to improve the accuracy of speech recognition.

Why do you use speech-to-text tools.

While I use speech-to-text to capture ideas, a colleague of mine uses speech-to-text to reply to email and texts. He doesn’t like typing on tiny touch screen keyboards, so he dictates his responses. He relies on the speech recognition software to get the message right. Most of the time, it does.

Speech recognition also helps people who experience pain when typing to communicate. A person I know with carpal tunnel syndrome chooses to talk instead of type whenever possible.

Have you tried Google’s speech recognition systems on your Chromebook or Android device? Where–and why–do you use speech-to-text tools? Let us know in the discussion thread below.

Subscribe to the Innovation Insider Newsletter

Catch up on the latest tech innovations that are changing the world, including IoT, 5G, the latest about phones, security, smart cities, AI, robotics, and more. Delivered Tuesdays and Fridays

  • Accessibility tools for Chrome and Google Apps users
  • Three simple Chromebook tricks to make your day more efficient
  • Built-in voice recognition in Windows 7 can reduce repetitive motion injury
  • Use your words: Dictating emails, notes, and more with iOS 7

Image of Andy Wolber

Create a TechRepublic Account

Get the web's best business technology news, tutorials, reviews, trends, and analysis—in your inbox. Let's start with the basics.

* - indicates required fields

Sign in to TechRepublic

Lost your password? Request a new password

Reset Password

Please enter your email adress. You will receive an email message with instructions on how to reset your password.

Check your email for a password reset link. If you didn't receive an email don't forgot to check your spam folder, otherwise contact support .

Welcome. Tell us a little bit about you.

This will help us provide you with customized content.

Want to receive more TechRepublic news?

You're all set.

Thanks for signing up! Keep an eye out for a confirmation email from our team. To ensure any newsletters you subscribed to hit your inbox, make sure to add [email protected] to your contacts list.

GO801_GNI_StayInTheKnow_TitleCard.jpg

  • Our purpose
  • Impact report
  • English (GB)
  • Français (Canada)
  • Bahasa Indonesia
  • Português (Brazil)
  • Español (LatAm)
  • Tiếng việt
  • View Resources
  • Develop audiences keyboard_arrow_down
  • Develop audiences
  • Build audiences
  • Increase traffic
  • Engage visitors
  • Digital journalism keyboard_arrow_down
  • Digital journalism
  • Digital reporting
  • Storytelling formats
  • Fight misinformation
  • Grow revenue keyboard_arrow_down
  • Grow revenue
  • Create revenue models
  • Reader revenue
  • Digital ad revenue
  • Case Studies
  • View all resources

how to get speech to text on google

I'm looking for resources in

  • Select your country
  • Afghanistan
  • Åland Islands
  • American Samoa
  • Antigua and Barbuda
  • Asia Pacific - Regional/Crossborder
  • Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba
  • Bosnia and Herzegovina
  • Bouvet Island
  • British Indian Ocean Territory
  • Burkina Faso
  • Cayman Islands
  • Central African Republic
  • Christmas Island
  • Cocos (Keeling) Islands
  • Congo (the Democratic Republic of the)
  • Cook Islands
  • Côte d'Ivoire
  • Dominican Republic
  • El Salvador
  • Equatorial Guinea
  • Europe - Regional/Crossborder
  • Falkland Islands (Malvinas)
  • Faroe Islands
  • French Guiana
  • French Polynesia
  • French Southern Territories
  • Guinea-Bissau
  • Heard Island and McDonald Islands
  • Isle of Man
  • Latin America - Regional/Crossborder
  • Liechtenstein
  • Marshall Islands
  • Micronesia (Federated States of)
  • Middle East, Africa, Turkey - Regional/Crossborder
  • Netherlands
  • New Caledonia
  • New Zealand
  • Norfolk Island
  • North America - Regional/Crossborder
  • North Korea
  • North Macedonia
  • Northern Mariana Islands
  • Papua New Guinea
  • Philippines
  • Puerto Rico
  • Saint Barthélemy
  • Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
  • Saint Kitts and Nevis
  • Saint Lucia
  • Saint Martin (French part)
  • Saint Pierre and Miquelon
  • Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  • Sao Tome and Principe
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Sierra Leone
  • Sint Maarten (Dutch part)
  • Solomon Islands
  • South Africa
  • South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands
  • South Korea
  • South Sudan
  • Svalbard and Jan Mayen
  • Switzerland
  • Timor-Leste
  • Trinidad and Tobago
  • Turkmenistan
  • Turks and Caicos Islands
  • United Arab Emirates
  • United Kingdom
  • United States Minor Outlying Islands
  • United States of America
  • Virgin Islands (British)
  • Virgin Islands (U.S.)
  • Wallis and Futuna
  • Western Sahara
  • Select a country

We have recommended resources for you

Verification_GoogleImageSearch

No Results Found

We couldn't find what you are looking for, voice typing: transcribe audio using google docs.

Screen_Shot_2019-08-29_at_9.36.29_PM.png

A quick and easy way to convert audio to text.

Learn to convert audio to text using Google Docs.

voicetyping_Activate_Voice_Typing_in_Google_Docs_step3.jpg

This lesson will teach you to use the Voice Typing feature in Google Docs as a quick audio to text converter. It can help you improve your workflow by transcribing things like interviews and voice notes. 

Activate Voice Typing in Google Docs.

Begin transcribing your audio., troubleshooting poor audio quality., how to add punctuation., learn more about voice typing..

For more Fundamentals lessons, visit:  https://newsinitiative.withgoogle.com/training/course/fundamentals

voicetyping_Activate_Voice_Typing_in_Google_Docs_step_1_HNon6vU.jpg

Step 1 To activate Voice Typing in Google Docs, open a new or existing document and select Tools > Voice typing. A small floating box with a microphone icon will pop up.

Step 2 At the top of the box, a drop down menu lets you select the language you want to transcribe, including many variants of English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Arabic.

Step 3 To move the box to a convenient spot while you work, left-click on the top of the box and drag it.

voicetyping_Begin_transcribing_your_audio_step1_lBg5zB3.jpg

Step 1 Once you've chosen a language, click the microphone and start speaking. Voice Typing will transcribe whatever is coming through your computer microphone.

Step 2 If you recorded an interview with your phone or a traditional recorder, hold it close to the computer microphone for playback. If the recording is clear enough, Voice Typing should be able to transcribe most of it with few typing mistakes.

Step 3 To pause the transcription, click the microphone. It will turn black to show that it’s paused.

voicetyping_Troubleshooting_poor_audio_quality.jpg

If the recording is not clear, you can try plugging in your headphones and listening to the audio recording yourself. As you listen, repeat the words back to the computer in a clearer way. Voice Typing should be able to transcribe it.

voicetyping_How_to_add_punctuation.jpg

You can use these phrases to add punctuation to your text: period, comma, exclamation point, question mark, new line, and new paragraph. The punctuation function works with a few selected languages, including German, English, Spanish, French, Italian, Russian, and Portuguese.

voicetyping_Learn_more_about_Voice_Typing.jpg

For help using Voice Typing or to learn more techniques, hover over the microphone box until a question mark appears, then click it.  

Congratulations!

voicetyping_3RFb5H2.jpg

You completed “Voice Typing: Transcribe audio using Google Docs.”

To continue building your digital journalism skills and work toward Google News Initiative certification, go to our  Training Center  website and take another lesson.

Gen Ai Web Card_Business Teams_231214_1600x900

Introduction to AI for News Business Teams

Google tools for news publishers.

gni_business_lesson_play_27

Grow Digital Ad Revenue with Google Ad Manager

Google Docs Voice Typing – How to Use Speech-to-Text in a Google Doc

Ilenia Magoni

Speech-to-Text is a really useful accessibility tool if typing is difficult for you. Or you can also use it if you like to think out loud and transcribe what you say.

In this tutorial, I'll show you how to use speech-to-text in Google Docs. Do note, though, that this feature is available only if you're using Google's Chrome browser.

How to Activate the Speech-to-Text Tool

You can activate speech-to-text from the Tools menu – it is the fourth menu item from the bottom. Or you can use the Ctrl+Shift+S (on Windows) or Command+Shift+S (on Mac) shortcut to activate it.

image-101

This will open a little tab with a microphone and a dropdown menu.

image-102

You can drag it around with the three horizontal dots at the top. Next to those dots you can click the X to close it. Just below you'll see the dropdown menu where you can change languages (and it shows what language is currently set). Then below that there's the big square button with a grey microphone in the middle.

If you want to change the language setting for the Voice Typing tool, you need to use the drop down menu. It will let you choose between many languages. Just select the language you prefer, and you are ready to start using it.

image-105

How to Use Voice Typing in Google Docs

You can start voice typing by clicking on the microphone button. When it's activated, it will become red.

If you get an alert from Google Docs asking for permission to use your microphone, go ahead and grant permission or you will not be able to use voice typing.

image-104

Now, start speaking, and Google Docs will transcribe what you say. You need to speak clearly and not too quickly for better results.

While Google is interpreting what you have said there will be a pattern of little squares shown where the words will appear after it has finished elaborating.

image-106

Voice Commands

Writing a document often includes editing and formatting. Voice commands allow you to do all the editing and formatting using only your voice.

Voice commands are available only for the English language. When you say certain words and phrases, like "move to the end of the line" or "select paragraph", those actions will be executed.

You can find the whole list of available commands by saying "voice commands list", or in the Google Docs guide article with the complete list of available voice commands .

Voice Typing and Voice Commands in action

Voice typing, or speech-to-text, is a useful accessibility tool. I hope this article has taught you how to use it, and you will be able to write with less typing!

Moderator and staff author for freeCodeCamp.

If you read this far, thank the author to show them you care. Say Thanks

Learn to code for free. freeCodeCamp's open source curriculum has helped more than 40,000 people get jobs as developers. Get started

  • Español – América Latina
  • Português – Brasil
  • Cloud Speech-to-Text
  • Documentation

Transcribe long audio files into text

This page demonstrates how to transcribe long audio files (longer than 1 minute) to text using the Speech-to-Text API and asynchronous speech recognition.

About asynchronous speech recognition

Asynchronous speech recognition starts a long running audio processing operation. Use asynchronous speech recognition to transcribe audio that is longer than 60 seconds. For shorter audio, synchronous speech recognition is faster and simpler. The upper limit for asynchronous speech recognition is 480 minutes.

Speech-to-Text and asynchronous processing

Audio content can be sent directly to Speech-to-Text from a local file for asynchronous processing. However, the audio time limit for local files is 60 seconds. Attempting to transcribe local audio files that are longer than 60 seconds will result in an error. To use asynchronous speech recognition to transcribe audio longer than 60 seconds, you must have your data saved in a Google Cloud Storage bucket .

You can retrieve the results of the operation using the google.longrunning.Operations method. Results remain available for retrieval for 5 days (120 hours). You also have the option of uploading your results directly to a Google Cloud Storage bucket.

Transcribe long audio files using a Google Cloud Storage file

These samples use a Cloud Storage bucket to store the raw audio input for the long-running transcription process. For an example of a typical longrunningrecognize operation response, see the reference documentation .

Refer to the speech:longrunningrecognize API endpoint for complete details.

To perform synchronous speech recognition, make a POST request and provide the appropriate request body. The following shows an example of a POST request using curl . The example uses the Google Cloud CLI to generate an access token. For instructions on installing the gcloud CLI, see the quickstart .

See the RecognitionConfig and RecognitionAudio reference documentation for more information on configuring the request body.

If the request is successful, the server returns a 200 OK HTTP status code and the response in JSON format:

where name is the name of the long running operation created for the request.

Wait for processing to complete. Processing time differs depending on your source audio. In most cases, you will get results in half the length of the source audio. You can get the status of your long-running operation by making a GET request to the https://speech.googleapis.com/v1/operations/ endpoint. Replace your-operation-name with the name returned from your longrunningrecognize request.

If the request is successful, the server returns a 200 OK HTTP status code and the response in JSON format: { "name": "7612202767953098924", "metadata": { "@type": "type.googleapis.com/google.cloud.speech.v1.LongRunningRecognizeMetadata", "progressPercent": 100, "startTime": "2017-07-20T16:36:55.033650Z", "lastUpdateTime": "2017-07-20T16:37:17.158630Z" }, "done": true, "response": { "@type": "type.googleapis.com/google.cloud.speech.v1.LongRunningRecognizeResponse", "results": [ { "alternatives": [ { "transcript": "how old is the Brooklyn Bridge", "confidence": 0.96096134, } ] }, { "alternatives": [ { ... } ] } ] } }

If the operation has not completed, you can poll the endpoint by repeatedly making the GET request until the done property of the response is true .

Refer to the recognize-long-running command for complete details.

To perform asynchronous speech recognition, use the Google Cloud CLI, providing the path of a local file or a Google Cloud Storage URL.

If the request is successful, the server returns the ID of the long-running operation in JSON format.

You can then get information about the operation by running the following command.

You can also poll the operation until it completes by running the following command.

After the operation completes, the operation returns a transcript of the audio in JSON format.

To learn how to install and use the client library for Speech-to-Text, see Speech-to-Text client libraries . For more information, see the Speech-to-Text Go API reference documentation .

To authenticate to Speech-to-Text, set up Application Default Credentials. For more information, see Set up authentication for a local development environment .

To learn how to install and use the client library for Speech-to-Text, see Speech-to-Text client libraries . For more information, see the Speech-to-Text Java API reference documentation .

To learn how to install and use the client library for Speech-to-Text, see Speech-to-Text client libraries . For more information, see the Speech-to-Text Node.js API reference documentation .

To learn how to install and use the client library for Speech-to-Text, see Speech-to-Text client libraries . For more information, see the Speech-to-Text Python API reference documentation .

Additional languages

C# : Please follow the C# setup instructions on the client libraries page and then visit the Speech-to-Text reference documentation for .NET.

PHP : Please follow the PHP setup instructions on the client libraries page and then visit the Speech-to-Text reference documentation for PHP.

Ruby : Please follow the Ruby setup instructions on the client libraries page and then visit the Speech-to-Text reference documentation for Ruby.

Upload your transcription results to a Cloud Storage bucket

Speech-to-Text supports uploading your longrunning recognition results directly to a Cloud Storage bucket. If you implement this feature with Cloud Storage Triggers , Cloud Storage uploads can trigger notifications that call Cloud Functions and remove the need to poll Speech-to-Text for recognition results.

To have your results uploaded to a Cloud Storage bucket, provide the optional TranscriptOutputConfig output configuration in your longrunning recognition request.

Refer to the longrunningrecognize API endpoint for complete details.

The following example shows how to send a POST request using curl , where the body of the request specifies the path to a Cloud Storage bucket. The results are uploaded to this location as a JSON file that stores SpeechRecognitionResult .

The LongRunningRecognizeResponse includes the path to the Cloud Storage bucket where the upload was attempted. If the upload was unsuccessful, an output error will be returned. If a file with the same name already exists, the upload writes the results to a new file with a timestamp as the suffix.

Try it for yourself

If you're new to Google Cloud, create an account to evaluate how Speech-to-Text performs in real-world scenarios. New customers also get $300 in free credits to run, test, and deploy workloads.

Except as otherwise noted, the content of this page is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License , and code samples are licensed under the Apache 2.0 License . For details, see the Google Developers Site Policies . Java is a registered trademark of Oracle and/or its affiliates.

Last updated 2024-03-27 UTC.

IMAGES

  1. How To Use Speech to Text on Google Docs

    how to get speech to text on google

  2. How to do voice to text on google docs

    how to get speech to text on google

  3. Google translate bot text to speech

    how to get speech to text on google

  4. Speech Recognition in Google Docs (Speech to Text)

    how to get speech to text on google

  5. How to Use Speech-to-Text in Google Docs (Ultimate Step-by-Step Guide)

    how to get speech to text on google

  6. How to use Google Docs Voice Typing || Speech to Text ||

    how to get speech to text on google

VIDEO

  1. 4 Reasons Why You Can’t Get Speech Therapy Services

  2. Text to Speech using google translate in any language

  3. Open AI Speech to Text

  4. I Made A Song Using Google Text-To-Speech

  5. Speech To Text

  6. What is Google Text-to-Speech App || How Work This App In Android

COMMENTS

  1. How to Use Voice Typing on Google Docs on Mobile and Desktop

    Step 1: Open your web browser and go to docs.google.com. Step 2: Sign in to your account and open a new or existing document. Step 3: Click on Tools in the top Menu Bar and then select Voice ...

  2. How to Use Speech to Text in Google Docs: A Step-by-Step ...

    Step 4: Click the microphone when you’re ready. Click on the microphone icon when you’re ready to start speaking. The icon will turn red, indicating that Google Docs is now listening and ready to transcribe what you say into text. Once you’ve completed these steps, you can start dictating your document. Speak clearly and at a moderate pace.

  3. How to use speech-to-text in Google Docs | TechRadar

    Step 3: Grant Google Docs access to the microphone. If you’ve never used Google’s speech-to-text software before, you’ll need to grant the platform access to your microphone. On Google ...

  4. How to speech-to-text in Google Docs | TechRepublic

    To install the Speech Recognition Add-on, open a Google Doc, choose Add-ons, and then select Get add-ons. Next, search for Speech, then choose the + Free button to add it. Every time you want to ...

  5. Speech-to-Text AI: speech recognition and ... - Google Cloud

    Speech-to-Text AI: speech recognition and transcription | Google Cloud. Accurately convert voice to text in over 125 languages and variants using Google AI and an easy-to-use API.

  6. Transcribe audio from a video file using Speech-to-Text

    This allows Speech-to-Text to process your audio files using a machine learning model trained for data similar to your audio file. Objectives. Send a audio transcription request for a video file to Speech-to-Text. Costs. In this document, you use the following billable components of Google Cloud: Speech-to-Text

  7. Voice Typing: Transcribe audio using Google Docs

    Step 1: Step 1 To activate Voice Typing in Google Docs, open a new or existing document and select Tools > Voice typing. A small floating box with a microphone icon will pop up. Step 2 At the top of the box, a drop down menu lets you select the language you want to transcribe, including many variants of English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Arabic.

  8. Google Docs Voice Typing – How to Use Speech-to-Text in a ...

    You can activate speech-to-text from the Tools menu – it is the fourth menu item from the bottom. Or you can use the Ctrl+Shift+S (on Windows) or Command+Shift+S (on Mac) shortcut to activate it. The Tool menu. The Voice typing menu item is the tenth item from the top, or the fourth from the bottom. This will open a little tab with a ...

  9. Transcribe long audio files into text | Cloud Speech-to-Text ...

    To use asynchronous speech recognition to transcribe audio longer than 60 seconds, you must have your data saved in a Google Cloud Storage bucket. You can retrieve the results of the operation using the google.longrunning.Operations method. Results remain available for retrieval for 5 days (120 hours).

  10. How to Use Speech-To-Text in Google Docs - groovyPost

    To use speech-to-text in Google Docs: Open your Google Docs document or create a new one first. In the Google Docs document, go to Tools > Voice typing. A pop-up box with a microphone icon will ...