Floating dictation button on Android

The floating button is a round Dictāta button that appears over other apps when you can type. Tap it to dictate into the current text field. It works with any keyboard, so you do not have to switch to the Dictāta keyboard.

The button is in beta.

Ways to use it

One button, several jobs. Pick what fits the moment:

• Tap to dictate, tap again to finish.
• Hold it to translate your dictation into another language.
• Hold it and tap the pencil to rewrite selected text, or to ask Dictāta a question.
• Hold it and tap regenerate to run your last dictation again.
• Change how it looks (color, size, transparency) so it suits your phone.

Turn it on

1. Open the Dictāta app and tap Account, then Settings.
2. Find Floating button (beta) and turn on Floating dictation button.
3. Allow microphone access if Android asks.
4. Turn on Dictāta in Android Accessibility settings. Only the top switch is needed.

Accessibility lets the button insert text straight into the field you are typing in and show up only when a text field is open. It never works in password fields. See Privacy for what is sent.

Dictate with the button

1. Open any app and tap a text field. The button appears.
2. Tap the button and speak.
3. Tap the button again to finish.

While you record, the button turns into a stop button next to a waveform. The x on the left cancels the dictation.

The text is inserted at your cursor. If the field does not accept the edit, Dictāta copies the text instead and tells you to paste it, or inserts it as soon as you tap a field.

If the screen turns off during a recording, the recording stops and is saved to History.

What the button shows

• Ready: the Dictāta logo.
• Recording: a stop button, a waveform and a cancel button.
• Processing: a spinner while the text is being written.
• Translation on: the language code, for example ES, instead of the logo.
• Paused: if Dictāta is switched off in Accessibility, the button disappears and a notification asks you to turn it back on.

Hold the button for more actions

Press and hold the button until it vibrates. Small buttons open on an arc beside it.

• Regenerate last dictation: runs the transcription of your last dictation again.
• Translation language: choose a language to translate into, or Off. This is the same setting as Translate on the Dictāta keyboard, so changing it in one place changes both.
• Context action: rewrite selected text, or ask Dictāta a question.
• Settings: opens Dictāta's settings.

Rewrite text or ask a question

1. Select text in a field, or leave nothing selected for a plain question.
2. Hold the button and tap the pencil.
3. Say what you want, for example "make it more formal" or "reply that I will send it on Thursday".
4. Tap the button again.

With a selection, Dictāta can replace the text in place. An Undo button stays for a few seconds. If the answer is not a rewrite, it opens in the Ask Dictāta window.

In the Ask Dictāta window you can ask follow-up questions by voice, tap Insert to put the answer into the field, or tap Copy. Use the minus to minimize the window and the x to end the conversation. Ask works with Dictāta Cloud or your own key, not in On-device mode. See Provider modes and Ask Dictāta.

Choose when the button appears

By default the button is shown in apps with a text field. In Settings -> Floating button (beta) you can turn on Always show the button.

Change how it looks

In the same card you can pick a color (Blue, Light or Dark), make the button bigger or smaller (70% to 140%), and set its transparency (20% to 100%). The preview at the top changes as you move the sliders, and the real button updates when you lift your finger.

A smaller, more transparent button stays out of the way. A bigger, solid one is easier to hit.

Troubleshooting

The button does not appear

Check that Floating dictation button is on and that Dictāta is turned on in Android Accessibility settings. Tap into a text field. In a password field the button hides on purpose.

"Floating button paused"

Dictāta lost its Accessibility access. Tap the notification and turn on Dictāta. If it already looks on, turn it off and on again. Battery savers can stop the service.

The text was copied but not inserted

The field did not allow the edit, or Accessibility is off. Paste the text, or turn on Accessibility so Dictāta can insert it automatically.

"Allow microphone access"

Open Android Settings -> Apps -> Dictāta -> Permissions -> Microphone and allow it.