With the Subtle keyboard installed and activated, you can dictate into virtually any app on your iPhone — without switching away from what you're doing.
How to dictate
- Open any app with a text field (Messages, Gmail, Notes, Twitter/X, etc.).
- Tap inside the text field until a blinking cursor appears — dictation inserts text at the cursor position.
- Tap the 🌐 globe key to switch to the Subtle keyboard if it isn't already active.
- Tap the mic button on the Subtle keyboard to start dictation. You'll see a "Listening…" indicator.
- Speak naturally. Subtle captures your voice and transcribes it in real time.
- Tap Stop (or the mic again) when done. The transcribed text inserts at the cursor.
Tips for best results
- Cursor matters: Always confirm a blinking cursor is visible before starting. Without it, there's nowhere for text to insert.
- Speak at a natural pace with brief pauses between sentences.
- Quiet environments help — background noise, music, or other voices can reduce accuracy.
- Review your transcript before sending — AI transcription can make errors with names, acronyms, and technical terms.
App compatibility
Most iOS apps that use standard text fields work with Subtle keyboard dictation. A small number of apps use custom text editors that may block keyboard extensions or the paste operation. If an app doesn't work, try dictating in Notes first and copy-pasting your text.
Something went wrong?
- Text didn't appear: See "Dictation recorded but text didn't insert"
- Poor accuracy: See "Improve dictation accuracy"