How to turn dictation on or off on an iPad

By Saadat Rafiq · 2 min read · 5 steps · Updated 5 October 2026

Device

iPad

Shown on

iPadOS 26.5 (iPad A16)

App

Settings

Path

Settings › General › Keyboard › Dictation › Enable Dictation

Real screenshots

4 of 5 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

1 official, linked below

Step by step

1. 

   Open Settings

   Tap the grey gear icon on the Home Screen. In the picture it is in the second row; it also sits in the Dock at the bottom.

   Done

2. 

   Tap General, then Keyboard

   General is at the top of the list on the left. Keyboard is in the second group on the right.

   Done

3. 

   Scroll down and switch Enable Dictation on or off

   The Dictation group is below the long list of typing switches. If a question appears when you switch it on, tap Enable Dictation.

   Done

4. 

   Decide about Auto-Punctuation

   With it on, commas, full stops and question marks are added for you in supported languages. Switch it off if you prefer to say the punctuation yourself.

   Done

5. Dictate

   Tap a text field, then tap the microphone key on the keyboard and speak.

   Say "new line" or "new paragraph" for a line break, and the name of a punctuation mark or an emoji to insert it.

   To stop, tap the microphone again or say "Stop dictation". After 30 seconds of silence it stops by itself.

   Done

If you do not see this option

• Your iPad may run a different version. The screenshots here show iPadOS 26.5 (iPad A16). On another version a setting can have a different name or sit in a different place. See your version under Settings, General, About. Update under Settings, General, Software Update; back up first, plug in and use Wi-Fi. Source: Find the software version on your iPhone Source: Update your iPhone or iPad
• It is greyed out. Screen Time restrictions can lock settings; Apple gives this as the reason when the Apple Account row is greyed out. Check Settings, Screen Time, Content & Privacy Restrictions. Source: If you can't sign out due to restrictions, or your Apple Account is grayed out in Settings

About this guide

Dictation types what you say, anywhere you can type. Apple states that it is processed on the iPad in many languages and then needs no internet connection; text dictated into a search field may be sent to the search engine.

The screenshots show iPadOS 26.5 on an iPad (A16), held upright. In landscape the same rows sit in the same order.

Good to know

The line below the switches in the picture says which language works without an internet connection. About Dictation & Privacy on the same page explains what is shared with Apple.

Dictation uses the language of the keyboard that is selected. To add one: Settings, General, Keyboard, Keyboards.

In short: Settings, General, Keyboard, Dictation, Enable Dictation.