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How to enable voice dictation in Chrome OS

How to enable voice dictation in Chrome OS

Short guide

  1. Click on the Time widget in the bottom-right corner of the screen, then click on the Settings icon  .
  2. In the Settings window, select Accessibility from the left-hand column. Click Keyboard and text input in the right-hand panel.
  3. Click on the toggle switch next to Dictation to turn it on.
  4. A new microphone button will appear in the status bar in the bottom-right of the screen. Click on it to start dictation.

Before and after

Chrome OS without and with the dictation button in the status bar

Video guide

This guide takes you step-by-step through enabling voice dictation in Chrome OS, complete with pictures of the screens to help.

Open the settings

1. Click on the Time widget in the bottom-right corner of the screen to open the Quick Settings menu, then click the Settings button .

Find the Keyboard and text input settings

2. Select Accessibility from the column on the left-hand side, then click Keyboard and text input in the right-hand panel.

Select Accessibility then click Keyboard and text input

Enable dictation

3. Click the toggle switch next to Dictation to turn dictation on.

Switching language

5. If you need to dicate in a different language, or even just another variant of English, go to Language and click Change.

To change the language for dictation, click the Change button

Using dictation

6. When you enable dictation, a microphone button appears in the status bar in the bottom-right of the screen. When the cursor is in an area where you can enter text, click the button and start talking. The words will appear on the screen as you speak. Dictation will end automatically if you stop talking, or you can click the microphone button again to turn it off.

Click the microphone button to turn dictation on and off

Note: If this does not work it could be because someone else manages your computer settings (an IT department or administrator). If this is the case, you will need to contact them to access these settings or for further help.

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