iPhone Dictation Not Working? 12 Fixes That Actually Work (2026)

iPhone dictation breaks more often than you’d expect. After the iOS 18 update, Apple Community forums filled up with reports of dictation that types duplicate words, picks the wrong words entirely, or just stops responding mid-sentence.

If your iPhone microphone icon does nothing when you tap it, or if dictation produces garbled text full of errors, this guide walks through every fix that actually works. We tested these on iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 models running iOS 18.3 and later.

For a broader look at speech-to-text tools beyond the built-in iPhone feature, check our guide to the top 10 dictation software solutions.

Common Dictation Problems

Before jumping into fixes, it helps to identify which problem you’re dealing with. Each issue has a different root cause, and knowing yours saves time.

Dictation does nothing when tapped. The microphone icon appears but no text is generated. This usually points to a settings conflict, Screen Time restriction, or corrupted Siri cache.

Duplicate words appear. You say “meeting tomorrow” and get “meeting meeting tomorrow tomorrow.” This is a known iOS 18 bug. It’s often caused by having both Voice Control and Dictation turned on at the same time.

Wrong words or random capitals. Dictation transcribes words you didn’t say, or inserts capital letters in the middle of sentences. This points to a language mismatch or microphone hardware issue.

Dictation works in some apps but not others. The keyboard dictation button works in Messages but fails in a third-party app. This is typically an app-level microphone permission issue.

Dictation stops after a few seconds. It starts transcribing, then cuts off. This usually relates to a weak internet connection or an iOS background process conflict.

Quick Fixes (Try These First)

Start with these three steps. They solve dictation problems for most people in under two minutes.

1. Hard Restart Your iPhone

A standard restart doesn’t always clear the Siri and dictation cache. A hard restart does.

For iPhone X and later: Press and release the volume up button. Press and release the volume down button. Then press and hold the side button until the Apple logo appears.

For iPhone SE (2nd/3rd gen) and iPhone 8: Press and hold both the side button and the volume down button until the Apple logo appears.

This forces iOS to rebuild its audio processing cache, which fixes most temporary dictation glitches.

2. Toggle Dictation Off and On

Go to Settings > General > Keyboard. Turn off the toggle for Enable Dictation. Wait 10 seconds. Turn it back on and confirm when prompted.

This resets the dictation engine without affecting your other keyboard settings.

3. Check Your Internet Connection

While newer iPhones can handle basic dictation offline, most speech processing still happens on Apple’s servers. If you’re on spotty Wi-Fi, switch to cellular data (or vice versa) and try again.

You can test your connection by opening Safari and loading any webpage. If pages load slowly, that’s likely your dictation problem.

Settings and Permissions Fixes

If the quick fixes didn’t work, one of these settings is probably misconfigured.

4. Check Screen Time Restrictions

Screen Time can silently block dictation. Many people enable restrictions and forget about them.

Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content and Privacy Restrictions. Tap Allowed Apps (or Intelligence and Siri on iOS 18+). Make sure the toggle for Siri and Dictation is turned on.

If Content and Privacy Restrictions are turned off entirely, this isn’t your issue. Move to the next fix.

5. Verify Microphone Permissions

Go to Settings > Privacy and Security > Microphone. Check that the app where dictation fails has microphone access enabled.

If you’re using a third-party keyboard (like Gboard or SwiftKey), that keyboard app also needs microphone permission.

6. Delete Siri and Dictation History

Your iPhone stores audio recordings and transcripts to improve dictation accuracy. If this cache becomes corrupted, dictation breaks.

Go to Settings > Siri (labeled “Apple Intelligence and Siri” on iOS 18+). Tap Siri and Dictation History. Tap Delete Siri and Dictation History.

After deleting, dictation accuracy might be slightly lower for a day or two as the system relearns your voice patterns.

7. Disable Voice Control

Having both Voice Control and Dictation active at the same time is one of the most common causes of duplicate word bugs on iOS 18.

Go to Settings > Accessibility > Voice Control. Turn off Voice Control.

If you rely on Voice Control for accessibility, try turning it off temporarily to test whether it’s causing the conflict.

Advanced Troubleshooting

These steps require more effort but fix deeper issues.

8. Change the Dictation Language

Multiple users on Apple’s support forums report that switching the dictation language fixes iOS 18 transcription problems, even when switching between regional variants of the same language.

Go to Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards. Add a new keyboard with a slightly different language variant. For example, switch from English (US) to English (UK), or from Spanish (Latin America) to Spanish (Mexico).

After adding the new keyboard, try dictating with the new language selected. If it works, you can remove the old keyboard variant.

9. Reset Keyboard Dictionary

This erases your custom words and learned typing patterns, but it often fixes stubborn dictation problems.

Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone. Tap Reset > Reset Keyboard Dictionary. Enter your passcode when prompted.

Your iPhone will rebuild its text prediction and dictation models from scratch.

10. Test Each Microphone

Your iPhone has three microphones, and each one handles different tasks. If one is blocked or damaged, dictation suffers.

Bottom microphone (next to the charging port): Used for phone calls and dictation. Test by making a phone call on speaker.

Front microphone (in the ear speaker area): Used for FaceTime and Siri. Test by recording a voice memo with the phone held to your ear.

Rear microphone (near the back camera): Used for video recording. Test by recording a short video and playing it back.

If any microphone sounds muffled or silent, clean the microphone grille with a soft, dry brush. Avoid using compressed air, which can push debris further inside.

11. Update to the Latest iOS

Go to Settings > General > Software Update. If an update is available, install it.

Apple has released multiple dictation-specific bug fixes in iOS 18.2, 18.3, and later point releases. If you’re still on iOS 18.0 or 18.1, updating alone may fix your problem.

12. Reset All Settings

This is the nuclear option. It resets every setting on your iPhone (Wi-Fi passwords, Bluetooth connections, notifications, display settings) without deleting your apps or data.

Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset All Settings.

Only use this if nothing else has worked. You’ll need to re-enter your Wi-Fi password and reconfigure your preferences afterward.

When iPhone Dictation Isn’t Enough

Built-in iPhone dictation works fine for quick text messages and short notes. But it has real limitations that no amount of troubleshooting can fix:

• Maximum recording length of about 60 seconds before it auto-stops
• Poor accuracy in noisy environments
• No way to transcribe pre-recorded audio files
• Limited punctuation and formatting control
• No speaker identification for group conversations

If you need longer recordings, better accuracy, or the ability to transcribe existing audio and video files, a dedicated transcription app is the better path.

Voice-to-Text App Comparison

For students and professionals who record lectures, meetings, or interviews, the best dictation apps for students covers tools designed for longer recording sessions.

Try ScreenApp for iPhone

If you’ve been fighting with iPhone dictation and need something that just works, the ScreenApp Mobile App for iOS handles the problems that Apple’s built-in tool can’t.

You can record directly in the app or upload existing audio and video files for transcription. The AI engine handles background noise, multiple speakers, and accents that trip up iPhone dictation. It also generates summaries and action items from your recordings automatically.

For more on transcribing voice recordings, our guide to transcribing voice memos covers the full workflow. If you’re specifically looking at converting audio content, see our review of the best audio summarizer tools.

FAQ

Why does iPhone dictation type duplicate words?

This is a known iOS 18 bug. The most common cause is having both Voice Control (in Accessibility settings) and Dictation enabled at the same time. Turn off Voice Control at Settings > Accessibility > Voice Control and test dictation again. If the problem continues, reset your keyboard dictionary at Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Keyboard Dictionary.

Can I use iPhone dictation offline?

Yes, on iPhone models with an A12 chip or later (iPhone XS and newer) running iOS 16+. Offline dictation handles basic transcription but is less accurate than server-based processing. For best results, use dictation with an internet connection. If you need reliable offline transcription, ScreenApp and Dragon Anywhere both support offline mode.

Why did dictation stop working after the iOS 18 update?

iOS 18 changed how Siri and Dictation interact with Apple Intelligence features. Some users found that the update disabled dictation in Screen Time settings or created conflicts with Voice Control. Start by checking Screen Time restrictions, then clear your Siri and Dictation History, and perform a hard restart. These three steps fix the issue for most users.

How do I fix dictation typing wrong words?

Wrong words usually come from one of three causes: a dirty or blocked microphone, a language mismatch between your speech and the selected keyboard language, or background noise. Test your microphones using the steps in fix 10 above. Then check that your dictation language matches how you speak at Settings > General > Keyboard > Keyboards.

Why does dictation stop after a few seconds?

This happens when your internet connection drops during transcription or when iOS background processes interfere. Switch between Wi-Fi and cellular to test your connection. If the problem persists, delete your Siri and Dictation History to clear any corrupted cache files.

Does Apple Intelligence improve dictation?

Apple Intelligence on iOS 18+ processes some dictation locally on supported devices (iPhone 15 Pro and later). This can improve speed and privacy but hasn’t dramatically improved accuracy for most users. Apple delayed several planned Siri improvements to iOS 19, including better contextual understanding and on-screen awareness.

What is the best free alternative to iPhone dictation?

Google Docs Voice Typing is the best free alternative if you’re typing documents. It works through Safari on iPhone, supports 125+ languages, and handles continuous dictation without a time limit. For transcribing recorded files, OpenAI’s Whisper is free and open source with strong accuracy, though it requires a computer to run.

How do I transcribe phone calls on iPhone?

iPhone dictation doesn’t work during phone calls. You need a separate app for call transcription. Our guide to transcribing calls on iPhone covers the legal requirements and best tools for recording and transcribing phone conversations.