Support

Help for Local Dictation: Voice to Text on iPhone, iPad and Mac.

Anything not covered here? Email support@localdictation.net. Please mention your device, its iOS, iPadOS or macOS version, the app version (Settings › About in Local Dictation) and the language you dictate in.

Which devices work

iPhone and iPad with iOS 26 or iPadOS 26 or later.
Mac with Apple silicon and macOS 26 or later.
It works best on iPhone 12 or newer, iPhone SE (3rd generation), iPad (10th generation or later), iPad Air (4th generation or later), iPad mini (6th generation or later), iPad Pro (M1 or later) and Macs with Apple silicon. Older models show “This device may be too slow”: dictation still works but can be slow, so try the free week before you pay.
The speech models are included, so the download is about 700 MB.

Set up the keyboard (iPhone and iPad)

Open Settings › Apps › Local Dictation › Keyboards, turn on Local Dictation and Allow Full Access, then tap Allow. The last page of the app’s introduction has a button that opens Settings and ticks each switch once it’s on. In any text field, hold the globe key and choose Local Dictation.

Do I need Allow Full Access?

For Dictate, yes. iOS only lets a keyboard open its app when Full Access is on, so without it the keyboard still types, but Dictate can’t start, and the keyboard shows you how to turn Full Access on. With Full Access on, your words appear in the text field while you speak, and the keyboard can switch the dictation language and show your transcript and clipboard history. Full Access is used only on your device: the keyboard never connects to the internet. Details are in the Privacy Policy.

Dictate in another app (iPhone and iPad)

Tap Dictate on the keyboard. Local Dictation opens and starts listening.
When it says “Swipe back to use”, swipe right along the bottom edge of the screen to return to your app, speak, then tap Finish on the keyboard. Keep the text field open while your words appear.
You can also start with Siri (“Start Local Dictation”) or put the Start Dictation shortcut on the Action button or Back Tap.
Some apps and password fields only allow Apple’s keyboard. Dictate in the Local Dictation app and tap Copy instead.

On a Mac

The setup window walks you through three permissions: Microphone, Input Monitoring (to notice the hold key) and Accessibility (to type your words into other apps).
Hold Right Option (or fn/Globe, or Right Command, chosen in Settings) in any app, talk, and let go. Your words appear at the cursor, and a final pass fixes them the moment you let go. A small pill at the edge of the screen shows when it’s listening; drag it to any edge.
Hold the key again while the last dictation is still being written and keep talking: everything lands in order.
Without Accessibility, or if you switch apps before the words are in, they’re copied instead, so you can press ⌘V.
Mac mini, Mac Studio and Mac Pro have no built-in microphone: connect one first.

Clipboards

On iPhone and iPad, clipboard history adds the last text you copied in any app when you open it (Save copied items automatically, on by default; your latest 50, passwords skipped). Topic clipboards hold text you paste often. Both are one tap away on the keyboard.
On a Mac, All items keeps the newest 50 texts you copy (private copies, like passwords from password managers, are skipped). Topic clipboards are part of Pro. Press ⌥⌘V, or click the notch on Macs that have one, to search, choose and paste.
Optional iCloud sync of topic clipboards between your iPhone, iPad and Mac is in Settings (on a Mac, once Pro is active), off by default. Clipboard history never syncs.

Languages and translation

More than 90 dictation languages. Change yours in the app, on the keyboard or from the Mac menu bar.
Mix languages (beta, off by default) switches between your languages in one dictation, even mid-sentence.
With Pro on iPhone and iPad, Translate to writes your words in another language. Extra translation models (including Slovenian and Croatian) are an optional one-time download from Apple, in Settings › Translate to.

Free week and Local Dictation Pro

Typing on the keyboard is always free, and the introduction lets you try a dictation.
To keep dictating, choose a plan on the Local Dictation Pro screen. Monthly starts with a free week, once per Apple Account; cancel at least 24 hours before it ends and you won’t be charged. Two days before it ends, a notification reminds you (if you allowed notifications).
Lifetime is a one-time purchase with no free week, and never renews.
One purchase works on your iPhone, iPad and Mac. Local Dictation Pro isn’t shared through Family Sharing.
Prices vary by country, and the App Store shows yours before you buy.

Restore, manage or cancel

Restore: on iPhone and iPad, tap Restore Purchases on the Local Dictation Pro screen or in Settings; on a Mac, it’s on the Pro screen (Settings › Unlock Pro…). Use the same Apple Account. It costs nothing.
Manage or cancel: on iPhone and iPad, in Local Dictation, Settings › Manage subscription, or Settings › your name › Subscriptions; on a Mac, App Store › your name › Account Settings › Subscriptions.
Refunds are handled by Apple at reportaproblem.apple.com.

Something isn’t working

The app takes a moment to get ready: the speech model loads when the app starts. The first start after installing takes longer, up to about a minute. Wait until it says Ready. On a Mac, the menu bar shows “Loading the voice model…”, and the hold key works once that’s gone.
“Microphone access is off”: turn on Microphone for Local Dictation in Settings (on a Mac: System Settings › Privacy & Security › Microphone).
“No speech detected”: nothing was saved or inserted. Speak a little louder or closer and try again.
A dictation failed or was stopped (iPhone and iPad): open Local Dictation and tap Retry saved recording.
Dictate shows the Local Dictation Pro screen: choose a plan (Monthly starts with a free week). Typing never needs Pro.

Legal notice for customers in Japan

Information required by Japan’s Act on Specified Commercial Transactions (特定商取引法に基づく表記) for purchases made in the app through the App Store.

Seller: Sebastian Škoić s.p.
Address: Šturmova ulica 7A, Ljubljana, Slovenia
Contact: support@localdictation.net. A phone number is provided without delay on request.
Price: the amount shown on the purchase screen in the app, consumption tax included. Internet connection charges are your own.
Payment: charged by Apple to your Apple Account when you confirm the purchase. Monthly is charged when the free week ends, then renews automatically every month until you cancel. Lifetime is charged once.
Delivery: the purchase is available as soon as it is complete.
Cancellation and refunds: digital purchases can’t be returned. You can cancel a subscription in your Apple Account settings at any time, up to 24 hours before the current period ends; it then stays available until the end of the period already paid for. Refund requests are handled by Apple at reportaproblem.apple.com.
Requirements: iOS 26 or iPadOS 26 or later, or a Mac with Apple silicon and macOS 26 or later.

Privacy

Dictation runs on your device and nothing you say is uploaded. Read the Privacy Policy.