---
title: "How to dictate on iPad: voice to text, punctuation and apps"
description: "Turn on Enable Dictation on iPad, dictate anywhere you can type, mix in typing or Apple Pencil, and use voice keyboards and apps. Works on device in many languages without internet."
url: "https://speechbee.app/guides/dictation-on-ipad"
---

# Dictate on iPad

Your iPad can type what you say anywhere you can type, and you can switch between talking, typing and Apple Pencil without stopping. Here's how to set it up and get the most from it.

By the SpeechBee team, who make SpeechBee. Checked against Apple's iPad User Guide on 13 October 2026.

> ### The short version
>
> 1. **Settings**, **General**, **Keyboard**, turn on **Enable Dictation**.
> 2. Tap where you want to type, then tap the microphone on the keyboard.
> 3. Talk. Tap the microphone again to stop.

## Turn on dictation

Go to **Settings**, tap **General**, then **Keyboard**, and turn on **Enable Dictation**.

## Dictate

Tap a text field, tap the microphone on the keyboard, and talk. Apple says the keyboard or tools palette can stay open while you dictate, so you can type or write with Apple Pencil at the same time. You can, for example, select text with Apple Pencil and replace it by speaking.

Apple says dictation is processed on your iPad in many languages with no internet connection required. Text you dictate into a search field may be sent to the search engine.

## Punctuation

Say "comma", "period", "question mark" and "new paragraph". With Apple Intelligence on supported iPads, Apple says dictation also improves spelling, punctuation and capitalisation with an on-device model.

## Voice keyboards and apps

A dictation keyboard adds things built-in dictation lacks, such as a custom dictionary and snippets. SpeechBee, which we make, runs on iPad as a keyboard you switch to, plus an app. It transcribes on the iPad, removes filler words in English, German, Spanish and French, and applies your dictionary and snippets, which can sync with your Mac through optional private iCloud. Its Read tab reads pasted text aloud. One plan covers iPad, iPhone and Mac.

## Questions

### How do I turn on voice to text on iPad?

Settings, General, Keyboard, then turn on Enable Dictation. Tap the microphone on the keyboard to start.

### Does iPad dictation work offline?

Apple says it's processed on device in many languages with no internet connection required.

### Can I use Apple Pencil while dictating?

Yes. Apple says you can keep typing or handwriting while dictation is on, and replace selected text by voice.

## Keep reading

- [How to dictate on iPhone](https://speechbee.app/guides/how-to-dictate-on-iphone)
- [Voice typing on iPhone keyboards](https://speechbee.app/guides/voice-typing-iphone-keyboard)
- [How to make your iPhone read text aloud](https://speechbee.app/guides/read-aloud-iphone)

## More on dictation

- [Every dictation guide and comparison](https://speechbee.app/guides/voice-typing-mac)
- [Multilingual dictation on Mac](https://speechbee.app/guides/multilingual-dictation-mac)
- [Siri and Dictation](https://speechbee.app/guides/siri-and-dictation)
- [What is dictation?](https://speechbee.app/guides/what-is-dictation)
- [Dictation for clinicians](https://speechbee.app/guides/dictation-for-doctors)
- [Turn off dictation on Mac](https://speechbee.app/guides/turn-off-dictation-mac)
- [Every read-aloud guide and comparison](https://speechbee.app/guides/read-text-aloud)

## Sources

Checked on 13 October 2026.

- [Apple: Dictate text on iPad](https://support.apple.com/guide/ipad/dictate-text-ipad997d9642/ipados)
- SpeechBee facts from our [homepage](https://speechbee.app/) and [privacy policy](https://speechbee.app/privacy)