Few iOS tools feel as futuristic as the iPhone “speech to text” feature. iPhone dictation commands are an easy way to compose text messages without using your hands. You can even add emojis with it.
However, in some cases, you may find that your iPhone dictation is either disabled or prone to errors. Why is your iPhone dictation not working? We’ll address that question as we walk you through some of the easiest tricks to troubleshoot voice-to-text problems on any iOS device.
Use this checklist to get your iPhone dictation up and running again in no time.
Note: Before getting started on this list, you should check your mic. Record a voice note and see if it’s still picking up your voice. If you play it back and don’t hear anything, you may have a hardware problem. The same applies if you’re using an external microphone, such as an Apple headset or Bluetooth earbuds.
You should also check out any other apps and dictation tools installed on your phone. For example, if you use SwiftKey, see if its text-to-speech functionality still works. This will show you if the problem is limited to your iPhone tools.
Tip 1: Toggle Your Cellular Connection Off/On
“Speech to text” functionality requires a stable Internet connection to work. If your iPhone dictation is not working and the device isn’t connected to the internet, you may notice your microphone icon has turned grey.
Check to make sure you have a stable internet connection. In Settings, turn your cellular connection off. Then, restart your iPhone. After rebooting, turn your mobile connection back on. This soft reset can get the Dictation feature working again, and it can also fix connection issues.
Tip 2: Reset Network Settings
If your mic icon is still grey even after the restart, you might be dealing with other network issues. The easiest way to fix these is:
- Open Settings>General> Reset> Reset Network Settings> Tap confirm.
Tip 3: Check Your Dictation Settings
If you can no longer see the microphone button, you may have inadvertently restricted your dictation settings. Some parents disable this functionality to make it easier for children to use their smartphone. To check your iPhone dictation settings:
- Go to Settings> Screen Time> Content & Privacy Restrictions> Allowed Apps>. Tap to make sure Siri & Dictation is turned on.
Tip 4: Refresh Siri & Dictation
If your microphone hasn’t turned grey, and you have a stable internet connection, refreshing Siri may restore your iPhone’s dictation functionality.
- Go to Settings> Siri & Search>.
- Turn off “Listen for Hey Siri” and Press Home/Side Button for Siri>.
- Disable Dictation.
- Next, force restart your iPhone.
Tip 5: Update Your iOS Device
If none of the fixes we’ve mentioned have worked up to this point, resetting your iOS device is the next logical step. A software bug may be causing your problem. Even if that’s not the case, updating your device cleans up your software and can correct a variety of other issues. To upgrade:
- Go to Settings> General> Software Update.
- Download and Install any available update.
Tip 6: Factory Restore Your Device
In most cases, a software update should fix the problem. If your iPhone dictation still isn’t working, though, you may need to restore your device.
Before you do, back up and sync all your data to iCloud. Next, follow these steps:
- Go to Settings> General> Reset> Erase All Content and Settings.
- Wait until the set up iPhone screen appears and restore the device to its previous settings.
What Should I Do if My iPhone Dictation is Still Not Working?
If none of the steps have worked for you and your iPhone dictation is still not working, then you’re likely dealing with a more significant issue.
If you still have AppleCare coverage, you should take your device to the Geniuses at the Apple Store to see if they can help you. They can solve more complicated iOS issues and check if there’s an underlying hardware problem.
If your iPhone’s dictation feature not working is one of multiple problems with the device, it might be time for an upgrade. The iPhone 14 is out now, and it has new features and updated technology that make it well worth the price.
You can easily sell your old iPhone to help pay for a new one. Click here to see how much your device is worth. Learn more about the selling process here.
You can also visit the Buyback Boss Blog to learn more about troubleshooting common iPhone problems. If the device’s mic isn’t working, you may want to check out this step by step guide to fixing microphone problems. We also have a full guide on fixing why Siri isn’t working.
Discover everything you need to know about iPhones, Apple, smartphones, and much more on the Buyback Boss Blog!
