Get started on Android

Dictāta for Android is a keyboard. You use it inside any app where you can type: messages, email, notes, search bars, documents.

Install

Install Dictāta from Google Play, then open the app once.

Sign in

Dictāta uses passwordless sign-in.

1. Enter your email address and tap Send one-time code, or tap Continue with Google.
2. If you used email, enter the one-time code from your inbox.
3. Accept the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service when asked.

The setup tour then helps you choose up to 5 preferred languages, which improves automatic language detection. You can change them later in Account -> Settings.

Allow the microphone

Dictāta asks for microphone access the first time you dictate. If you declined, open Android Settings -> Apps -> Dictāta -> Permissions -> Microphone and allow it.

Enable the Dictāta keyboard

1. In the setup tour, tap Open keyboard settings. You can also open Android Settings -> System -> Keyboard -> On-screen keyboard -> Manage keyboards.
2. Turn on the Dictāta switch.
3. Go back to Dictāta and tap I enabled it, check again.

The exact menu names differ between phone makers. If you cannot find the page, search for "keyboard" in Android Settings.

Switch to Dictāta in another app

1. Open any app and tap a text field so the keyboard appears.
2. Tap the keyboard icon in the bottom-right corner of the navigation bar, or press the globe or keyboard-switcher key, depending on your phone.
3. Choose Dictāta from the list.

Your first dictation

1. Tap the microphone button on the Dictāta keyboard.
2. Speak naturally. You do not need to say punctuation.
3. Tap the microphone again to finish.
4. The text appears where your cursor was.

While recording, the keyboard shows "Recording… tap again to finish". Afterwards it shows "Transcribing… please wait" until the text is inserted.

Next steps

• Use the Android keyboard
• Work offline with on-device mode
• Choose a provider: Managed, Own Key, or On-device