Top 9 Ways to Fix Voice-to-Text Not Working on Android

The Gboard app on Android offers a superior voice-to-text experience than the default keyboard app on iPhone. The voice-to-text function is even better on Google Pixel phones. When busy with other activities, hit the microphone button and type out a reply conveniently. Voice-to-text not working on Android can cause difficulties at times.

Google Voice typing is quite accurate on Android, and the function not working as expected can result in inconvenient situations. Before you type out the sentence manually, use the tricks below to fix voice-to-text stopped working on Android.

1. Check System-Wide Microphone Permission

Did you disable your phone’s microphone for privacy reasons? When you do so, the keyboard app can’t detect your speech and convert it into text. You need to enable the microphone on your phone.

Step 1: Open the Settings on your Android and scroll to Security and privacy.

Step 2: Select Privacy.

Step 3: Enable the Microphone access toggle.

You can also swipe down from the home screen and enable the microphone via the quick toggle menu.

2. Check Microphone Permission for an App

If you have denied microphone permission in a specific app, it can’t detect your voice and convert it into text. You should enable microphone permission for the app.

Step 1: Long-press on an app and open the app info menu.

Step 2: Select Permissions and tap Microphone.

Step 3: Tap the radio button beside ‘Allow only while using the app.’

Restart the app and try again.

3. Clean Microphone

If your phone microphone is infected with dust and debris, the system may face issues picking up your speech. You should clean your phone microphone and try again.

Make sure to use cotton buds to clean the phone microphone. You shouldn’t use compressed air as it may damage the device’s internals. 

4. Enable Voice Typing

People often use voice-to-text with Gboard on Android. You need to enable the voice typing option in Gboard settings.

Step 1: Open Gboard and tap the settings gear.

Step 2: Select Voice typing.

Step 3: Enable the ‘Use voice typing’ toggle. Switch on the ‘Add punctuation’ toggle as well. It automatically adds punctuation when using voice typing.

5. Download On-Device Speech Recognition Languages

You need to download on-device speech recognition languages for better accuracy when using it in low network strength areas. Here’s what you need to do.

Step 1: Open the Settings app on Android and scroll to System.

Step 2: Select Languages.

Step 3: Tap the settings gear beside Voice input.

Step 4: Tap Add a language.

Step 5: Download relevant voice packs from the following menu. You can check the overall size and version below it.

6. Enable Voice Typing Personalization

You need to enable personalization options for voice typing so the system can improve typing and voice typing based on your Gboard usage patterns and corrections.

The system saves transcripts of what you say and type on your device. You can always delete it from the privacy menu.

Step 1: Head to Gboard Settings and open Voice Typing (check the steps above).

Step 2: Tap Manage personalization.

Step 3: Enable the ‘Personalize for you’ toggle.

7. Force Stop the App

Do you still face issues with voice-to-text in apps like Gboard? You should force-stop the app and try again.

Step 1: Long-press on Gboard and open the app info menu.

Step 2: Select Force stop. Then, tap three vertical dots menu at the top-right corner and choose Uninstall updates.

If you notice a sketchy app behavior after a recent update, uninstall updates from the app info menu.

8. Update Apps

An outdated Gboard app on your Android phone may cause issues with voice recognition. You should update these apps to the latest version from the Play Store and try again.

9. Update System Software

Outdated system software can be the main culprit behind the ‘Google Voice typing not working’ issue. You should install the latest Android build on your phone using the steps below.

Step 1: Open Settings and scroll to System.

Step 2: Tap Software update. Download and install the latest software build on your phone.

Enjoy a Smooth Conversation on Android

Google has nailed on-device speech recognition on Android. It’s an essential function for many to type out long emails and sentences on the go. Did you manage to fix the ‘speech to text not working’ on Android? Which trick worked for you? Share your findings with us in the comments below.