How to Turn Off Voice to Text on Your iPhone? [Complete Steps]

The Voice to Text feature on an iPhone lets you dictate messages, notes, emails, and other text instead of typing on the keyboard. While this feature can save time, it is not useful for everyone. Some users accidentally tap the microphone icon while typing, causing the phone to start listening and converting speech into text. Others simply prefer typing because it feels faster, more accurate, or offers better privacy.

This guide explains every step, so even if you have never changed an iPhone setting before, you can follow along with confidence.

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How to Turn Off Voice to Text on Your iPhone

Apple includes Dictation as part of iOS to help users enter text by speaking instead of typing. The feature works across many built-in and third-party apps, including Messages, Mail, Notes, and Safari. Disabling it removes the option to dictate text from the keyboard, helping prevent accidental activations and improving privacy for users who do not use voice typing.

The process is nearly identical on most modern versions of iOS. Whether you have an iPhone SE, iPhone 12, iPhone 13, iPhone 14, iPhone 15, iPhone 16, or a newer model, you can follow the same steps below.

Step 1: Open the Settings App

The first thing you need to do is open the Settings app on your iPhone. This is where Apple stores almost every system option, including keyboard and accessibility settings.

Look for the gray Settings icon on your Home Screen. It has a gear symbol in the center. If you cannot find it, swipe down from the middle of the Home Screen to open Search, type Settings, and tap the app when it appears.

Once the Settings app opens, you will see a long list of options. Do not worry if it looks overwhelming. You only need to visit one specific section to disable Voice to Text.

Step 2: Go to the Keyboard Settings

Inside the Settings app, scroll down until you find General. Tap it once to open additional system settings.

On the next screen, locate and tap Keyboard. This menu contains all the settings related to typing, including Auto Correction, Predictive Text, Auto Capitalization, Smart Punctuation, and Enable Dictation.

If you have never visited this menu before, you may notice many switches. Each one controls a different typing feature. There is no need to change any of them except the Dictation option.

Step 3: Turn Off Enable Dictation

Scroll toward the bottom of the Keyboard settings until you find the option labeled Enable Dictation.

You will see a switch next to it. If the switch is green, Dictation is currently turned on.

Tap the switch once. It will change from green to gray, indicating that the feature has been disabled.

After tapping the switch, your iPhone displays a confirmation message explaining what happens when Dictation is turned off. Read the message carefully, then tap Turn Off Dictation to confirm your choice.

Once confirmed, your iPhone immediately disables Voice to Text.

Step 4: Verify That Voice to Text Is Disabled

It is always a good idea to confirm that the setting has been applied successfully.

Open an app where you normally type, such as Messages, Notes, or Mail.

Tap inside a text field to bring up the keyboard. Look near the bottom of the keyboard where the microphone icon normally appears.

If Dictation has been turned off successfully, the microphone icon will no longer be available. This confirms that Voice to Text has been disabled.

Try typing a few words to ensure everything works as expected. Your keyboard should function normally, except that voice input is no longer available.

Step 5: Turn Voice to Text Back On If You Need It Later

If you decide you want to use Voice to Text again in the future, the process is just as simple.

Open Settings, tap General, select Keyboard, then find Enable Dictation.

Tap the switch to turn it back on. The switch becomes green, and the microphone icon returns to the keyboard.

Apple may ask you to accept terms related to Dictation before the feature becomes active again. After accepting them, you can begin using Voice to Text immediately.

FAQs

Why would I want to turn off Voice to Text on my iPhone?

Many people disable Voice to Text because they accidentally tap the microphone icon while typing. Others prefer greater privacy or simply find traditional typing faster and more accurate.

Will turning off Dictation delete my voice recordings?

No. Disabling Dictation only prevents future voice typing. It does not delete existing messages, notes, or previously dictated text.

Can I turn Voice to Text back on later?

Yes. You can re-enable Dictation anytime by returning to Settings, opening General, selecting Keyboard, and turning Enable Dictation back on.

Does turning off Dictation affect Siri?

No. Siri and Dictation are separate features. Turning off Dictation does not disable Siri. You can continue using Siri for voice commands unless you disable Siri separately.

Why is the microphone icon still showing?

If the microphone icon remains visible, check whether the setting was saved correctly. Also, ensure you turned off Enable Dictation rather than another keyboard feature. Restarting your iPhone can also refresh the keyboard if necessary.