The short answer
Voice typing is built into your computer. Put the cursor in a text box and press the shortcut.
- Mac: turn on Dictation in System Settings, Keyboard. Then press the Microphone key or Control twice.
- Windows: press Windows key + H. Needs internet.
- Google Docs: Tools, then Voice typing, in Chrome, Edge or Safari.
- SayBriefly: double-tap Shift on Mac or Ctrl+Shift+D on Windows, any app, any language.
We build SayBriefly, so here is our bias up front. The built-in tools below are good and cost nothing extra. We show all of them first, then where an app adds something.
What voice typing is, and what it is not
Voice typing, also called dictation, speech to text, talk to text or vocal typing, turns what you say into text where your cursor is. You talk, it types. It is not the same as voice control, which lets you click buttons and open apps by voice, and it is not text to speech, which reads text out loud.
Where the cursor is. Voice typing fills whatever text box is active: email, chat, a doc.
One shortcut. Start and stop with a key, so it does not listen all day.
Punctuation by voice. Say "comma" or "new paragraph", or let the tool guess.
Usually online. Most voice typing sends audio to a speech service. Mac Dictation can run on the Mac for many languages.
Four ways to voice type, compared
| Tool | Start | Works in | Offline | Languages |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mac Dictation | Microphone key or Control twice | Most Mac apps | Many languages on Apple silicon | Many, one at a time |
| Windows voice typing | Win + H | Most Windows apps | No | 50+ |
| Google Docs voice typing | Tools, Voice typing | Google Docs only | No | 100+, commands English only |
| SayBriefly | Double-tap Shift (Mac), Ctrl+Shift+D (Windows) | Any app, Mac and Windows | No | Any, mixed in one sentence |
From Apple, Microsoft and Google support pages, checked September 2026.
How to use voice typing on a Mac
Mac Dictation
- Turn it on. Apple menu, System Settings, Keyboard, then switch on Dictation.
- Pick a shortcut. In the same place, the Shortcut menu offers the Microphone key (on many Mac keyboards it sits on F5) or pressing Control twice, among others.
- Put the cursor where the text goes, in any app.
- Press the shortcut and talk. Wait for the tone or the pulsing mic, then speak normally.
- Stop with Escape, the Microphone key or your shortcut. It also stops by itself after 30 seconds of silence.
To dictate in two languages, go to Dictation settings, press Edit next to Languages and add the second one. You can switch between them while dictating. Our speech to text on Mac guide has the full setup, including the microphone choice.
Good enough for occasional use, already on your Mac.
How to use voice typing on Windows
Windows voice typing
- Click into a text box in any app.
- Press Windows key + H. On a touchscreen, tap the mic on the touch keyboard.
- Talk. Words appear as you speak.
- Stop by saying "stop listening", or press Windows key + H again.
Open the settings in the voice typing bar to turn on automatic punctuation, which inserts periods and commas based on how you speak. Microsoft says you need an internet connection, a working microphone and the cursor in a text box. On Copilot+ PCs, a Fluid Dictation option also fixes grammar and filler words on the device.
The quickest start on any Windows PC.
How to use voice typing in Google Docs
Google Docs voice typing
- Open a document in Chrome, Edge or Safari.
- Choose Tools, then Voice typing. A mic box appears.
- Click the mic and allow access when the browser asks.
- Speak. Say "stop listening" when you are done, or click the mic again.
Google Docs has the richest set of editing commands of the three built-in tools: you can select, bold, delete the last word and move around the document by voice. Commands only work when your account and document language are English. The catch: it only types into Google Docs. For Gmail, Slack or anything else, you need system voice typing. Want the same thing in any browser tab without Docs? Try our speech to text online tool.
Best for long drafts that live in Google Docs anyway.
Voice typing in every app with SayBriefly
SayBriefly: one shortcut, Mac and Windows
SayBriefly is a desktop app for Mac and Windows. Double-tap Shift on Mac, or press Ctrl+Shift+D on Windows, talk, and your words are typed where your cursor is. It keeps your wording, handles any language even when you switch mid-sentence, and can tidy filler words if you want. On Mac it uses Apple's speech engine, on Windows a cloud speech service. It needs an internet connection.
Two things go beyond typing. A dictated task can land on the same to-do list as the tasks from your calls and email. And the Dictation app has a Transcribe tab: drop an audio or video file and get the text back, covered in our voice recording to text guide.
Worth knowing
- Needs a connection, no offline mode
- No iPhone or Android app
- Types your words, does not control your computer by voice
Pick SayBriefly if you want the same shortcut on Mac and Windows, any language, in the app that knows your work.
Voice typing commands
Say these as separate words, with a small pause before them. Support differs by tool and language.
| Say | You get | Mac Dictation | Windows | Google Docs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| "period" | . | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| "comma" | , | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| "question mark" | ? | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| "exclamation point" | ! | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| "new line" | Line break | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| "new paragraph" | Blank line | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| "delete that" | Removes the last bit | Voice Control | Yes | "Delete last word" |
| "stop listening" | Stops | Press Escape | Yes | Yes |
From Apple, Microsoft and Google support pages, September 2026. Full editing by voice on a Mac needs Voice Control, a separate accessibility feature.
Honest advice: learn four commands (period, comma, question mark, new paragraph) and do the rest with the keyboard. Long command lists sound great and slow most people down.
How to talk so voice typing gets it right
- Think, then say the whole sentence. Pauses mid-thought cause stops and odd breaks.
- Talk at normal speed. Slow, robotic speech is often worse than your natural voice.
- Say punctuation as you go, or turn on automatic punctuation and fix the rest later.
- Use a headset in noise. The laptop mic hears the whole café.
- Fix names once, by keyboard. Do not fight the tool by repeating a name five times.
Talk the draft, type the edits. That split is where the time goes back into your day.
A worked example: a dictated email, start to finish
Sam is a freelance designer. After a client call, he dictates a follow-up in Gmail. Here is what he says, and what lands on the screen.
Hi Mei comma new paragraph thanks for the call today period we agreed to move the launch to Tuesday the 14th and drop the second workshop period that brings the total to 8,400 dollars period new paragraph can you confirm with Jordan by Friday question mark new paragraph talk soon comma new line Sam
Hi Mei,
Thanks for the call today. We agreed to move the launch to Tuesday the 14th and drop the second workshop. That brings the total to $8,400.
Can you confirm with Jordan by Friday?
Talk soon,
Sam
Time spent: about 40 seconds of talking and 10 seconds checking the name and the number. Typing it would take most people two minutes. With automatic punctuation on (Windows) or SayBriefly, Sam can skip most of the spoken commas and just talk.
Voice typing on your phone
Phones have had voice typing for years, right in the keyboard. On iPhone, tap the microphone key on the keyboard and talk. On Android, Gboard and most other keyboards have a mic key too. It works in any app where the keyboard shows up: messages, email, notes.
Phone voice typing is great for short replies on the move. For anything longer than a few lines, most people find a computer easier, because fixing a wrong word by touch is slow. SayBriefly has no phone app, so on the phone use the keyboard mic, and at your desk use the shortcut.
Set up for good voice typing in ten minutes
Most bad first impressions of voice typing come from the setup, not the software. Ten minutes here saves hours of fixing words later.
- Pick your mic. A headset or earbuds with a mic near your mouth beat the laptop mic, especially with a fan or a street outside.
- Select it in settings. On Mac, System Settings, Sound, Input. On Windows, Settings, System, Sound, Input. Speak and watch the level move.
- Add your languages. If you write in two languages, add both now, not in the middle of an email.
- Choose one shortcut and stick to it. Muscle memory is what makes voice typing feel fast.
- Do a practice run. Dictate a real email you need to send today. Count the fixes. Adjust the mic if there are many.
Hi Jordan comma thanks for the notes on the proposal period I moved the launch to Tuesday the 14th and cut the second workshop period the new total is 8,400 dollars period can you confirm with Mei by Friday question mark
The script has a name, a date, a number and a question. Those are the four places voice typing slips. If all four come out right, your setup is good.
Voice typing not working? Fixes
| Problem | Try this |
|---|---|
| Nothing happens on the shortcut | Check it is switched on (Mac: Keyboard settings; Windows: the voice typing settings). Click into a text box first. |
| It types nothing | Check the input mic in sound settings. Headphones often switch it without telling you. |
| The browser never asks for the mic | Click the lock icon by the address, allow the microphone, reload. |
| It stops mid-thought | Silence ends the session. Think first, then talk. |
| Windows says it cannot connect | Voice typing needs internet. Check the connection. |
| Wrong language | Add the language in settings, or switch before you talk. |
| Lots of wrong words | Move closer to the mic, lower background noise, speak at normal speed. |
Common voice typing mistakes
- Trying to dictate the final version. Dictate a rough draft fast, then polish by keyboard.
- Using it for one-word edits. The keyboard is quicker for small fixes.
- Never checking numbers. "Fifteen" and "fifty" sound close. Read them once.
- Using Google Docs as a workaround for other apps. Copy-pasting from Docs all day is slower than system voice typing.
- Giving up after one noisy try. Test in a quiet room with a decent mic before you judge it.
Who voice typing helps most
People who write a lot of email. Replies are the quickest win.
Anyone with wrist or hand pain. Talking takes load off the keyboard.
Writers stuck on a first draft. Talking gets words down when typing stalls.
People working in two languages. Pick a tool that follows you when you switch.
Ready to compare apps? See the voice to text app guide and the best dictation apps. For how SayBriefly does it end to end, see SayBriefly dictation.
Questions people ask about voice typing
How do I start voice typing on Windows?
Put your cursor in a text box and press Windows key + H. Microsoft says you need an internet connection and a working microphone. Say "stop listening" or press Windows key + H again to stop.
How do I start voice typing on a Mac?
Turn on Dictation in System Settings, Keyboard. Then put your cursor in a text field and press the Microphone key if your keyboard has one, or press Control twice, or use the shortcut you picked. Press Escape to stop.
How do I use voice typing in Google Docs?
Open a document in Chrome, Edge or Safari, choose Tools, then Voice typing, and click the microphone. Say "stop listening" to stop.
Is voice typing free?
The built-in tools are: Windows voice typing, Mac Dictation and Google Docs voice typing cost nothing extra. Apps like SayBriefly are paid and add things like working the same way on Mac and Windows.
What is typing using voice called?
Voice typing, dictation, speech to text or talk to text. They all mean the same thing: you speak and the words are typed for you.
How do I add punctuation when voice typing?
Say it: "period", "comma", "question mark", "new line", "new paragraph". Windows voice typing also has an automatic punctuation setting, and Mac Dictation adds some punctuation for you.
Why does voice typing stop by itself?
Most tools stop after a stretch of silence. Mac Dictation stops after 30 seconds without speech. Think before you speak, then say the whole sentence.
Does voice typing work offline?
Windows voice typing needs internet. Mac Dictation can work offline for many languages on Apple silicon Macs. Google Docs and SayBriefly need a connection.
Can I use voice typing in any app?
Mac Dictation, Windows voice typing and SayBriefly work in most apps with a text field. Google Docs voice typing only works inside Google Docs and Slides speaker notes.
Does voice typing work in other languages?
Yes. Windows lists 50+ languages, Google Docs 100+ languages and accents. Voice commands in Google Docs are English only. SayBriefly handles any language, even mixed in one sentence.
Is vocal typing faster than typing on a keyboard?
For most people, talking is faster for longer text like emails and first drafts. Small edits are still quicker on the keyboard, so use both.
How accurate is voice typing?
For clear speech in a quiet room, it needs few fixes. Names, numbers, accents and background noise cause most errors. A headset mic helps in a noisy room.
What is the SayBriefly voice typing shortcut?
Double-tap Shift on Mac, or press Ctrl+Shift+D on Windows. Your words are typed where your cursor is. It needs an internet connection.
Can I voice type into a file I already recorded?
Voice typing listens live. For a recording, use a tool that transcribes files, like the Transcribe tab in SayBriefly's Dictation app. See our voice recording to text guide.
