Android software update - how to access "dictate" for text messages?

[thewillfriedwald]

Recently there was an Android OS update - this actually was a major improvement.

when I go to one of the messaging apps - google messages, FB messenger, WHATSAPP - all of a sudden I was given the opportunity to use "voice typing" rather than the keyboard, and it was working really well, with the spoken punctuation commands all being understood! it was great!

all of a sudden ... it stopped working just now! when I go into WHATSAPP, now I can NOT figure out how to access the dictation option - it gives me the keyboard -

what am I doing wrong?

what do I have to do to get the dictation / voice typing option to come back?

Help!

grateful for all feedback!

yes!

w

PS: no way I can use the keyboard on the phone - it's way too tiny for a big brute of a guy like myself!

 

[SpookDroid]

Depends on the keyboard you're using... Most have a dictation option (usually a microphone icon) that you can trigger voice-to-text with, but if you use GBoard, then the voice option is also found as a separate keyboard choice, you just have to select it as your default keyboard (you can always go back to the 'full' keyboard from the dictation screen, but at least that way your first tap will always bring dictation up as the default).

 

[B. Diddy]

If you're using Gboard, go to its settings, then Voice Typing, and make sure the toggle is on.

Also, I moved this from the Phone Wars forum (which is for pointless bickering about which is better, iPhone or Android) to the Ask A Question forum.

 

[thewillfriedwald]

thanks - so you recommend using gBoard? I'm not famiiar with this but I will give it a try, yes, thank you!

 

[B. Diddy]

I always use Gboard -- it's a reliable keyboard that is constantly getting updated, and it integrates tightly with your Google account.

 

[thewillfriedwald]

hey, thank you guys very much - I installed Gboard and it truly is a significant improvement. Very much appreciated!