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Type & edit with your voice

You can use your voice to type and edit your document in Google Docs and your speaker notes and captions in Google Slides.

This feature works with the latest versions of:

When you turn on voice typing or captions, your web browser controls the speech-to-text service. It determines how your speech is processed and then sends the text to Google Docs or Google Slides.

Tip: If this feature is not enabled in your organization, it may have been turned off by your administrator .

Step 1: Turn on your microphone

To use voice typing or voice commands, your computer microphone needs to be on and working.

Devices and microphones vary, so check your computer manual for instructions. Typically, microphone settings are in the System Settings on a Mac, or the Control Panel on a PC.

Step 2: Use voice typing

Start voice typing in a document.

• Check that your microphone works.
• Open a document in Google Docs in a supported browser.

• When you're ready to speak, click the microphone.
• Speak clearly, at a normal volume and pace (check below for more information on using punctuation).
• When you're done, click the microphone again.

Start voice typing in Slides speaker notes

• In a Chrome browser, open a presentation in Google Slides.
• The speaker notes open and a microphone box shows.
• When you're ready to speak, click the  Microphone .
• For more information on how to use punctuation, check below.
• When you're done, click the  Microphone .

Correct mistakes while voice typing

• If you make a mistake while you're typing with your voice, you can move your cursor to the mistake and fix it without turning off the microphone.
• After you correct the mistake, move the cursor back to where you want to continue.
• To find a list of suggestions, right-click words underlined in gray.

Voice typing works in these languages and accents:

• Arabic (Algeria)
• Arabic (Bahrain)
• Arabic (Egypt)
• Arabic (Israel)
• Arabic (Jordan)
• Arabic (Kuwait)
• Arabic (Lebanon)
• Arabic (Morocco)
• Arabic (Oman)
• Arabic (Palestine)
• Arabic (Qatar)
• Arabic (Saudi Arabia)
• Arabic (Tunisia)
• Arabic (United Arab Emirates)
• Azerbaijani
• Bahasa Indonesia
• Bengali (Bangladesh)
• Bengali (India)
• Chinese (Simplified)
• Chinese (Traditional)
• Chinese (Hong Kong)
• Dutch English (Australia)
• English (Canada)
• English (Ghana)
• English (India)
• English (Ireland)
• English (Kenya)
• English (New Zealand)
• English (Nigeria)
• English (Philippines)
• English (South Africa)
• English (Tanzania)
• English (UK)
• English (US)
• Italian (Italy)
• Italian (Switzerland)
• Portuguese (Brazil)
• Portuguese (Portugal)
• Spanish (Argentina)
• Spanish (Bolivia)
• Spanish (Chile)
• Spanish (Colombia)
• Spanish (Costa Rica)
• Spanish (Ecuador)
• Spanish (El Salvador)
• Spanish (Spain)
• Spanish (US)
• Spanish (Guatemala)
• Spanish (Honduras)
• Spanish (Latin America)
• Spanish (Mexico)
• Spanish (Nicaragua)
• Spanish (Panama)
• Spanish (Paraguay)
• Spanish (Peru)
• Spanish (Puerto Rico)
• Spanish (Uruguay)
• Spanish (Venezuela)
• Swahili (Kenya)
• Swahili (Tanzania)
• Tamil (India)
• Tamil (Malaysia)
• Tamil (Singapore)
• Tamil (Sri Lanka)
• Urdu (India)
• Urdu (Pakistan)
• Exclamation point
• Question mark
• New paragraph

Step 3: Use voice commands

• Voice commands are available only in English. The account language and document language must both be English.
• Voice commands are not available in Slides speaker notes.

To select text, say these commands:

• Select [word or phrase]
• Select all matching text
• Select list item
• Select list items at current level
• Select next character
• Select next [number] characters
• Select last character
• Select last [number] characters
• Select line
• Select next line
• Select next [number] lines
• Select last line
• Select last [number] lines
• Select paragraph
• Select next paragraph
• Select next [number] paragraphs
• Select last paragraph
• Select last [number] paragraphs
• Select word
• Select next word
• Select next [number] words
• Select last word
• Select last [number] words
• Select none

Text formatting

• Apply heading [1–6]
• Apply normal text
• Apply subtitle
• Apply title
• Strikethrough
• Superscript

Text color & highlighting

• Text color [color]
• Highlight [color]
• Background color [color]
• Remove highlight
• Remove background color
• Decrease font size
• Increase font size
• Font size [6-400]
• Make bigger
• Make smaller

Paragraph formatting

• Decrease indent
• Increase indent
• Line spacing [1-100]
• Line spacing double
• Line spacing single
• Align center
• Align justified
• Align right
• Center align
• Right align
• Apply 1 column
• Apply 2 columns
• Apply 3 columns
• Column options
• Insert column break
• Create bulleted list
• Create numbered list
• Insert bullet
• Insert number
• Remove formatting
• Clear formatting
• Remove bold
• Remove italics
• Remove strikethrough
• Remove underline

To edit your document, say these commands:

• Delete last word
• Delete [word or phrase]
• Insert link [then say the URL you want to use]
• Delete link
• Insert table of contents
• Delete table of contents
• Update table of contents
• Insert comment [then say your comment]
• Insert bookmark
• Insert equation
• Insert footer
• Insert footnote
• Insert header
• Insert horizontal line
• Insert page break
• If you say "Delete" by itself, you delete the word before the cursor.
• If you select the text of a URL and say "Insert link," the selected text becomes a hyperlink.

To add and edit tables, say these commands:

• Insert table
• Insert table [1-20] rows by [1-20] columns
• Insert column
• Insert new column
• Insert new column on the left
• Insert new row
• Insert new row above
• Insert new row below
• Delete column
• Delete table
• Remove column
• Remove table

To move around your document, say these commands:

• Scroll down

To move the cursor to the end of the paragraph and start voice typing again, say "Resume."

To move the cursor to the end of a particular word or phrase, say "Resume with [word or phrase]."

Here are all the commands you can say to resume voice typing:

• Resume with [word or phrase]
• Go to the end of the paragraph
• Move to the end of the paragraph
• Go to the end of the line
• Move to the end of the line
• Go to [word]

To open a list of voice commands in your document, say these commands:

• Voice typing help
• Voice commands list
• Find all voice commands

To use these commands, turn on screen reader support . It's best to wear headphones so the screen reader feedback isn't typed into your document.

• Speak cursor location
• Speak from cursor location
• Speak selection
• Speak selection formatting
• Speak table row and column headers
• Speak table cell location
• Speak table column header
• Speak table row header

Troubleshoot

If voice typing isn't working, try these steps.

If you find an error message that says "We're having trouble hearing you," try the following:

• Move to a quiet room.
• Plug in an external microphone.
• Adjust the input volume on your microphone.

If you can't get the microphone to work on your computer, try the following:

• Make sure that the microphone isn't broken.
• Check your microphone settings in your computer system preferences.
• Check that your microphone is plugged in and is not being used by another application.
• Restart your computer.

If voice commands aren’t working, try the following:

• Speak more slowly and clearly
• Pause before and after each command. The text of your command might show in the document for a moment. For example, if you say "select all," the words "select all" show up before your text is selected.
• The microphone shows a bubble containing the most recent command. Verify that Docs or Slides heard the right command. If not, you can simply say "Undo."

Need more help?

Try these next steps:.

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We couldn't find what you are looking for, voice typing: transcribe audio using google docs.

A quick and easy way to convert audio to text.

Learn to convert audio to text using Google Docs.

This lesson will teach you to use the Voice Typing feature in Google Docs as a quick audio to text converter. It can help you improve your workflow by transcribing things like interviews and voice notes. 

Activate Voice Typing in Google Docs.

Begin transcribing your audio., troubleshooting poor audio quality., how to add punctuation., learn more about voice typing..

For more Fundamentals lessons, visit:  https://newsinitiative.withgoogle.com/training/course/fundamentals

Step 1 To activate Voice Typing in Google Docs, open a new or existing document and select Tools > Voice typing. A small floating box with a microphone icon will pop up.

Step 2 At the top of the box, a drop down menu lets you select the language you want to transcribe, including many variants of English, Spanish, Portuguese, and Arabic.

Step 3 To move the box to a convenient spot while you work, left-click on the top of the box and drag it.

Step 1 Once you've chosen a language, click the microphone and start speaking. Voice Typing will transcribe whatever is coming through your computer microphone.

Step 2 If you recorded an interview with your phone or a traditional recorder, hold it close to the computer microphone for playback. If the recording is clear enough, Voice Typing should be able to transcribe most of it with few typing mistakes.

Step 3 To pause the transcription, click the microphone. It will turn black to show that it’s paused.

If the recording is not clear, you can try plugging in your headphones and listening to the audio recording yourself. As you listen, repeat the words back to the computer in a clearer way. Voice Typing should be able to transcribe it.

You can use these phrases to add punctuation to your text: period, comma, exclamation point, question mark, new line, and new paragraph. The punctuation function works with a few selected languages, including German, English, Spanish, French, Italian, Russian, and Portuguese.

For help using Voice Typing or to learn more techniques, hover over the microphone box until a question mark appears, then click it.  

Congratulations!

You completed “Voice Typing: Transcribe audio using Google Docs.”

To continue building your digital journalism skills and work toward Google News Initiative certification, go to our  Training Center  website and take another lesson.

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How to Use Voice Typing on Google Docs on Mobile and Desktop

Paurush dabbles around iOS and Mac while his close encounters are with Android and Windows. Before becoming a writer, he produced videos for brands like Mr. Phone and Digit. On weekends, he is a full-time cinephile trying to reduce his never-ending watchlist, often making it longer.

While Google Docs is primarily geared toward drafting formal letters, invites, meeting notes, and table of contents , you can also use it to jot down ideas or as a journal. To that end, Google Docs is quite feature-rich and supports features like Voice Typing which makes penning down thoughts more convenient.

The Voice Typing feature eliminates writer’s block by allowing users to jot down rough and unstructured ideas. You don’t have to waste your time thinking of writing perfect sentences – instead, you can just voice your thoughts, scattered as they may be. Here’s how to enable the feature and use it on your mobile and desktop.

Use Voice Typing on Google Docs on Mobile

The Google Docs mobile app lets you manage your documents on the go. The app lets you edit your documents and even save them as PDF files on your iPhone or Android phone. Let us see how you can use the Voice Typing feature with the mobile app.

iPhone users can simply use the Speech-to-Text feature available with the iOS Keyboard to use Google Docs’ Voice Typing feature. Here’s how.

Step 1: Open the Google Docs app and then open a new or previously created document.

Step 2: Tap on the page to bring up the keyboard. Then, tap the Microphone icon at the bottom-right corner.

Step 3: Start dictating the words, and Google Docs will convert the speech to text.

If you don’t see the Microphone icon, check if Voice Dictation has been enabled. Here’s how you can go about it.

Step 1: Open the Settings app and then tap on General.

Step 2: Select Keyboard and tap the toggle next to Enable Dictation.

You can also enable Auto-Punctuation and tweak other aspects from the same menu.

If Dictation still fails to work, refer to our post for more solutions. Note that the solutions outlined in the guide will apply to all iPhones on all iOS versions.

Step 1: Open Google Docs and select a new or previously created document.

Step 2: Tap on the document area to enable the keyboard. Then tap the Microphone icon.

You can refer to our post if Dictation fails to work on your Android phone .

Use Voice Typing on Google Docs on Desktop

For desktop users, the Voice Typing feature comes built-in with Google Docs. However, it is only available for Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge users on Mac and Windows PCs. Here’s how to enable and use it.

Step 1: Open your web browser and go to docs.google.com.

Visit Google Docs

Step 2: Sign in to your account and open a new or existing document.

Step 3: Click on Tools in the top Menu Bar and then select Voice Typing.

Step 4: Select the Microphone icon on the left side. Your browser will then prompt you to enable microphone access. Tap Allow.

You can also click the dropdown menu and select your preferred language.

And voila! You can now start using Voice Dictation on your Mac or Windows PC in Google Docs.

How to Use Punctuation and Formatting Styles With Voice Typing

The best part about voice typing on Google Docs is that you can also dictate and insert punctuation. This saves you the time of manual entry and correction. Once you enable the microphone, you can start voicing commands like “select all”, “bold”, “italics”, and more. There are a plethora of other voice commands available for voice typing. A word of caution, though: your dictated punctuation might not always get translated correctly. So, be patient while using the feature.

Use Microsoft Voice Typing Launcher For Google Docs on Windows 11

Windows 11 has a feature called Voice Typing Launcher (Microsoft Speech Services) that is designed to be used for voice typing. You can activate this feature to use voice typing on Google Docs or any other application. Before following the steps to enable it, make sure that you have installed the latest software update.

Step 1: Open Google Docs on your web browser and sign in to your account.

Step 2: Go to your document and press Windows key + H to enable Microsoft Speech Services.

Step 3: From the popup, click the Microphone icon to start using it.

You can click the Settings icon to make changes, including using a different microphone and enabling automatic punctuation. We tested the same on our end and the service introduced commas and full stops automatically, which is great.

You can also refer to our post if Voice Typing is not working on Windows 11 .

Use Dictation on Mac For Voice Typing on Google Docs

You can also use the Dictation feature on Mac to facilitate Voice Typing. It’s a built-in tool that lets you use speech-to-text in Google Docs. All the voice commands for using punctuation will work with this, too. You can refer to our post to learn how to use Dictation on Mac .

Rest Your Fingers

The Voice Typing option on Google Docs is a much-needed respite from endless typing sessions. The feature can also come in clutch when you need to take note of something while juggling other tasks. Let us know if you found this guide useful in the comments below.

Was this helpful?

Last updated on 16 March, 2024

The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic.

The article above may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. The content remains unbiased and authentic and will never affect our editorial integrity.

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How to use speech-to-text in Google Docs

Accessible and easy to use speech-to-text software

Speech-to-text software has come along way in recent years. We remember even a few years ago when voice typing required strange voices and mouth movements that looked like they belonged in a Saturday Night Live sketch. 

Today, however, more and more businesses are incorporating voice typing into their business operations. It can be an easy way to save time and increase the productivity of your employees and can be crucial in making your business accessible to persons with disabilities.

In this article, we explain how to use voice typing software on Google Docs. Although it is not the best speech-to-text software , it is free and easy to use, and will serve many businesses’ purposes.

How to use speech-to-text in Google Docs: Preparation

Google’s speech-to-text software currently only works on the Google Chrome browser. If you already use Chrome, you won’t need much preparation at all, and you won’t have to download or install any additional software or plugins. However, if you don’t have Chrome, you’ll have to download it via this link . 

The only other thing you’ll need to do before you can begin using Google’s speech-to-text software is to set up your microphone. Using the in-built microphone on your device will suffice most of the time, as Google’s dictation software has improved significantly in recent years.

However, if you’re planning on dictating a lengthy text, or plan on using Google’s dictation software every day, we’d consider investing in a high-quality microphone. An external microphone will enable Google to interpret your voice more easily and can be placed in an optimal location.

Once you’ve downloaded Chrome and prepared a microphone , you’re ready to go.

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Step 1: Open a new Google Docs file

Open Google Chrome on your device and head to the Google Docs website. If you’re not currently logged into your Google account, go ahead and log in now. 

After you’ve logged in, create a new Google Doc. For our test, we named it “Speech-to-text in Google Docs - Test”. Ensure you save the article in a location where you’ll be able to access it later (to either edit or delete it).

Step 2: Open the voice typing window

Within this blank document, you should be able to see the menu options at the top of the window. To begin voice typing, click on the Tools menu option and then Voice Typing. You can also open the Voice Typing window by using the keyboard shortcut Ctrl+Shift+S.

Step 3: Grant Google Docs access to the microphone

If you’ve never used Google’s speech-to-text software before, you’ll need to grant the platform access to your microphone. On Google Chrome, this is a simple as clicking “allow” when prompted. 

Once you’ve clicked “allow”, the microphone symbol will change to red. Congratulations –you’re now using voice typing!

Step 4: Begin voice typing

With the microphone symbol changed to red, you can now begin speaking in a natural voice and watch as Google transcribes your voice to text. Unlike with older speech-to-text software, there’s no need to speak robotically, or at a comically slow pace. Google’s dictation software is designed to understand natural speech. Our only suggestion is to clearly enunciate lengthier or more complicated words, as these are where the software most often struggles. 

Following these four steps alone will enable you to begin voice typing, saving time and energy that could be better spent elsewhere. After playing around with the software, you’ll quickly become comfortable with it and develop your own strategies for accurate and reliable transcription.

However, if you want to take your voice typing to the next level, read on to discover some of Google’s advanced voice commands.

Step 5: Voice commands

Google Docs also features several voice commands that enable you to create professional documents using only your voice. We’ll now explore a few of the most useful commands, but you can find the full list here .

The voice commands you’ll use most often are mostly self-explanatory. Saying the command “period” will insert a period into your document, while saying “bold” or “italic” will change the style of text correspondingly. 

Formatting is also simple using commands such as “insert page break”, “insert horizontal line”, or “insert heading”, among many others. 

Users can also change the text color by saying “text color (insert color)”. 

Developing a mastery of these voice commands enables you to make the most of Google’s speech-to-text software, and ensures you and your employees can work faster and more effectively when voice typing. 

Voice typing software has improved dramatically in recent years. In the past, businesses had to invest in expensive dictation software if they wanted a functional voice typing experience. And even then, there were limits on what such software could achieve. 

Today, Google’s voice to text software enables businesses to incorporate voice typing into their operations free of charge. The software certainly isn’t the best available, but for most organizations, Google’s voice typing will more than suffice. We think that the extensive list of voice commands make the software appealing for employers and employees alike. 

• We list the best text-to-speech software .

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How to Use Speech-to-Text in Google Docs on the Web

What to Know About Using Voice Typing in Google Docs

Before you can  start using speech-to-text in Google Docs, you must meet the following basic requirements:

• Microphone access: You should have a microphone installed on your PC or laptop. Any microphone will do the job as long as it can record your voice clearly with utmost clarity. So you will get better output and spend less time editing the content.
• Use a compatible browser:  Google Chrome works the best, but you can use any browser as this feature does not require any extension. But in our testing, Voice Typing in Google Docs did not work on Brave and Mozilla Firefox.
• Supported Languages: Voice Typing supports a wide range of languages; you can find the full list from Google here . So, as long as you speak in a supported language, Google Docs will detect it and transcribe what you are saying to text. 

The speech-to-text feature in Google Docs is not linked to the language you use on your PC. Google’s servers process your voice. This also means you must have access to an active internet connection while using voice typing in Google Docs. On Android and iPhone, this feature relies on your phone’s keyboard language. 

We will also recommend using Grammarly in Google Docs to quickly rectify transcription and grammatical errors that might occur when using speech-to-text.

Use Voice Commands for Editing and Formatting in Google Docs

Voice typing in Google Docs can do more than transcribe what you say. It also supports voice commands, enabling you to edit and format text using your voice. Note that voice commands are only available in English. The feature won’t work if the account and document language are not in English.

• Basic punctuation: While voice typing in Google Docs, you can use phrases like “New Line” or “New paragraph” to break up your content. You can also say “period,” “comma,” “exclamation point,” or “question mark” to add them to your content. 
• Selecting Text: To select the typed words via voice command, you can use commands like “select [word or phrase],” “select all,” “select all matching text,” etc.
• Text formatting: For formatting a document, you can use voice commands like “apply heading [1–6],” “apply normal text,” “apply subtitle,” “bold,” etc.
• Text color and highlighting: You can use voice commands like Text color [color], Highlight, Highlight [color], Background color [color], Remove highlight, etc.
• Font size: Increase font size, decrease font size, Font size [6-400], make bigger or smaller.
• Editing document: To edit a document, you can use phrases like copy, cut, paste, delete, delete the last word, insert table of contents, delete table of contents, etc.

Apart from these basic voice commands for editing text, there are plenty of other voice commands that you can use. Check out Google’s guide to voice typing to know about them. You can combine these commands with the ‘Help me write’ feature in Google Docs . 

• Go to Google Docs and create a new document or open an existing one.

During our testing, we noticed that Google Docs ignored much of the punctuation; instead, it was added as text in the document. For instance, when we said new paragraph, it didn’t create a new paragraph but added the exact words. The solution to this problem is to say your punctuation quickly. So Google will consider them as punctuation, not phrases for voice typing.

Save Time with Voice Typing

While voice typing sounds impressive, it may not be easy to use. You will have to get used to it, adapt how to say, and learn the voice commands. Initially, you might struggle to use speech-to-text in Google Docs. But keep using the feature, and you will soon be able to make voice typing one of the primary ways to edit your documents. 

Remember, voice typing has limitations, and features such as changing background, customizing margins, and creating mind maps in Google Docs will not work with it. 

A: Voice typing and speech-to-text are similar technologies for converting spoken words into text. However, both technologies are used in a slightly different context. For instance, voice typing allows users to enter text on their device by speaking on the other side. Speech-to-text is a linguistic technology that uses speech recognition to convert spoken language into text.

A: Currently, Google Docs cannot convert audio files into text. However, users can use the Voice typing feature to complete the job. For this, you need two devices – A computer with a microphone and a smartphone with the audio file. You must play the audio file on your phone, let the microphone record the audio, and type it. However, while doing so, you may encounter formatting issues.

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Ashish Mohta

Jan 12, 2024

Ashish, Computer Engineer by profession, has been writing about tech for 16 years, with a primary focus on Windows and Smartphones. He has a keen interest in writing about Social Media, as it constantly evolves, introducing new features to explore.

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How to speech-to-text in Google Docs

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When I struggle to write, I change something–I stretch or walk, stand instead of sit, or vice versa.

Sometimes I talk instead of type. I configure speech-to-text software to capture my voice, then just talk. I often end up with a bunch of text to edit. I find talking to be an excellent alternative to typing to capture not yet fully formed ideas.

Fortunately, I write with Google Docs, so there are several tools I can use to turn my voice into text.

Android: Google Voice Typing

The best voice recognition tool for Google Docs, Google Voice Typing ( Figure A ), used to be found only on Android devices. Install the Google Docs app, open a document, and tap the microphone icon located to the left of the space bar on the on-screen keyboard. Then talk. Google Voice Typing turns your speech into text.

On Android, Google Voice Typing turns speech into text accurately and quickly.

Chrome os: on-screen keyboard.

Google also includes speech recognition in Chrome OS as an accessibility option ( Figure B ). To enable it, select the three-line menu, choose Settings, scroll to the bottom of the page, and select Show advanced settings. Look for the Accessibility option to enable the on-screen keyboard. When the keyboard displays, select the microphone displayed above the on-screen keyboard to activate speech recognition.

On Chromebooks, enable the on-screen keyboard to access the built-in Chrome OS speech recognition system.

Google docs on the web: add-on.

A third-party Add-on for Google Docs on the web also enables Speech Recognition ( Figure C ). Unlike the on-screen keyboard, the Add-on works only within a Google Doc; the Chrome OS on-screen keyboard works with all text fields.

In Google Docs on the web, use the third-party Speech Recognition Add-on.

To install the Speech Recognition Add-on, open a Google Doc, choose Add-ons, and then select Get add-ons. Next, search for Speech, then choose the + Free button to add it. Every time you want to start voice recognition, go to the Add-ons menu, choose Speech Recognition, and click Start. A sidebar will appear to the right of your document. Choose your language and dialect, select the blue Start button, and then start talking.

Apple and Windows systems

Apple devices and Microsoft Windows systems also offer speech recognition options. Dictation on Apple mobile devices works much like Google Voice Typing on Android: tap the microphone to the left of the keyboard, then talk ( Figure D ). On Mac OS devices, turn on Dictation . Microsoft’s speech recognition system requires a settings change, followed by a brief training session for the system to learn your voice in Windows 7 , 8/8.1 , and 10 .

Apple also offers Dictation, which provides speech recognition on iOS that works with the Google Docs app.

Tip: say the symbol.

For accurate punctuation, say the symbol. These systems recognize common punctuation marks and terms. For example, take the following two sentences:

“In November 1660, 12 people met at Gresham College in London to talk about a common interest: science. The group met often to discuss experiments and share ideas, and it eventually evolved into what we now know as the Royal Society.”

To properly capture and punctuate these sentences, you’d say:

“In November 1660 comma 12 people met at Gresham College in London to talk about a common interest colon science period The group met often to discuss experiments and share ideas comma and it eventually evolved into what we now know as the Royal Society period”

Note how you use the terms comma, colon, and period. Terms like “new paragraph” also work.

Tip: On a Chromebook, a headset helps

I tested the control sentences above on my Toshiba Chromebook 2 with the built-in microphone and then with a Logitech G330 USB headset. I also tested the phrases with both the native Chrome OS speech recognition system and the third-party Google Docs Add-on.

When I used the headset, accuracy improved ( Figure E ). With the headset, the Chrome OS speech recognition system captured the phrases with 100% accuracy. Google Voice Typing in a Google Doc on a Samsung Galaxy Note 4 for the same phrases also achieved 100% accuracy without a headset.

Use a headset with a Chromebook to improve the accuracy of speech recognition.

Why do you use speech-to-text tools.

While I use speech-to-text to capture ideas, a colleague of mine uses speech-to-text to reply to email and texts. He doesn’t like typing on tiny touch screen keyboards, so he dictates his responses. He relies on the speech recognition software to get the message right. Most of the time, it does.

Speech recognition also helps people who experience pain when typing to communicate. A person I know with carpal tunnel syndrome chooses to talk instead of type whenever possible.

Have you tried Google’s speech recognition systems on your Chromebook or Android device? Where–and why–do you use speech-to-text tools? Let us know in the discussion thread below.

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How to Use Speech-To-Text in Google Docs

If you prefer to speak than type, you can use speech-to-text in Google Docs to create a document without touching your keyboard. This guide explains how.

If you’re writing a long document, you don’t need to type to get the words down on your page. Instead, you could use speech-to-text tools to convert your thoughts into written words instead.

Google Docs has built-in speech-to-text functionality that you can use to create documents quickly. Rather than slowly typing, you can quickly talk your way through your document.

If you’re unsure how to use speech-to-text in Google Docs, follow the steps below.

Before Using Speech-to-Text in Google Docs

Before using speech-to-text in Google Docs, you’ll need to prepare your PC, Mac, or Chromebook by doing two things.

1. Check Your Microphone Settings

First, you’ll need to make sure you have a working microphone. For clarity, it’s a good idea to use a microphone that can record clear speech without background interference. Interference could make it difficult for Google Docs to pick up on the words you’re saying. This, in turn, makes the transcription process harder for Google Docs.

If you have a Windows 11 PC, you can test your microphone in the Windows 11 settings menu and make sure your input volume is high enough to pick up your speech. Similar tools are available for Mac and Chromebook users too. If you have trouble with speech-to-text, ensure your environment is quiet enough to work in.

2. Download Google Chrome

Secondly, you should make sure you’re using the Google Chrome browser. Speech-t0-text in Google Docs will only work in Google Chrome. If you don’t have it, you’ll need to download and install Google Chrome first.

How to Type Using Your Voice in Google Docs

You can follow the steps below when you’re ready to start using speech-t0-text in Google Docs.

To use speech-to-text in Google Docs:

• Open your Google Docs document or create a new one first.

• With the microphone active, start talking into your microphone. The text will be inserted into your document directly.
• If you want to add punctuation to your speech-to-text, say the type of punctuation you want to use. For example, say  comma to insert a comma or  period to end a sentence.

Once you’ve used speech-to-text in Google Docs to create your transaction, you can edit it manually using your mouse and keyboard. A full list of punctuation options is available in the Google Docs documentation .

How to Edit Text Using Voice Commands in Google Docs

Do you want to edit your transcription as you’re speaking? Thanks to speech-to-text, you can. Just like you can add punctuation to your text as you speak, you can use certain voice commands to make changes to your document.

How to Select Text Using Voice Commands

If you want to select the text, you can say select  followed by a series of arguments.

• To select all of the text, say select all . To select the last or next line, say select last line or select next line .
• If you want to select a certain number of characters before your blinking cursor, say select last x characters  (replacing  x with a value). Likewise, say  select next x characters (replacing  x with a value) to select a certain number of characters after your blinking cursor.
• You can select text based on character and line position, matching words, paragraphs, and more. You can use similar commands to move around your document by saying  move to  or  go to (e.g., move to the end of the paragraph ).

A full list of arguments is available in the Google Docs documentation .

How to Edit Text Using Voice Commands

Once you’ve selected the text, you can format it.

• Say apply heading 2 to make it a header using an h2 tag. Or, if you prefer, why not make it bold by saying  bold  or  italics ?
• You can also apply text color by saying  text color followed by a color (e.g., text color blue ). Font size can be increased or decreased by saying  increase font size , decrease font size , or font size x , replacing x with a value between 1 and 100.
• You can also use commands like  copy, paste, cut, delete,  and more to make further changes to your text.

The full list of editing commands is available in the Google Docs documentation .

How to Stop Editing Text Using Voice Commands

Want to stop editing your document using text-to-speech quickly? You can use the command stop listening  to deactivate it without clicking the  microphone  button.

Likewise, you can say  resume listening  to re-activate the microphone recording again.

How to Get Extra Help With Using Voice Commands

• A pop-up help menu will provide a list of available commands and information. This will help you if you’re starting to use voice typing in Google Docs.

• You can also say  voice typing help when voice typing is active to view the same menu.

Creating Different Documents in Google Docs

Thanks to the steps above, you can use speech-to-text in Google Docs to create a document without typing a single thing. Your voice allows you to write, edit, and manipulate your text to create the documents you need.

Are you a Google Docs beginner ? There are all kinds of documents you can create in Google Docs. For instance, you could write a book in Google Docs with ease. At the other end of the scale, you could create business cards in Google Docs to share your name and contact details when you’re out networking.

Thanks to Google Docs’ online storage, you’ll never need to worry about losing your document. If you decide to use Google Docs offline , don’t forget to sync the changes when you’re next online.

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Recommended for you

Google Docs Voice Typing – How to Use Speech-to-Text in a Google Doc

Speech-to-Text is a really useful accessibility tool if typing is difficult for you. Or you can also use it if you like to think out loud and transcribe what you say.

In this tutorial, I'll show you how to use speech-to-text in Google Docs. Do note, though, that this feature is available only if you're using Google's Chrome browser.

How to Activate the Speech-to-Text Tool

You can activate speech-to-text from the Tools menu – it is the fourth menu item from the bottom. Or you can use the Ctrl+Shift+S (on Windows) or Command+Shift+S (on Mac) shortcut to activate it.

This will open a little tab with a microphone and a dropdown menu.

You can drag it around with the three horizontal dots at the top. Next to those dots you can click the X to close it. Just below you'll see the dropdown menu where you can change languages (and it shows what language is currently set). Then below that there's the big square button with a grey microphone in the middle.

If you want to change the language setting for the Voice Typing tool, you need to use the drop down menu. It will let you choose between many languages. Just select the language you prefer, and you are ready to start using it.

How to Use Voice Typing in Google Docs

You can start voice typing by clicking on the microphone button. When it's activated, it will become red.

If you get an alert from Google Docs asking for permission to use your microphone, go ahead and grant permission or you will not be able to use voice typing.

Now, start speaking, and Google Docs will transcribe what you say. You need to speak clearly and not too quickly for better results.

While Google is interpreting what you have said there will be a pattern of little squares shown where the words will appear after it has finished elaborating.

Voice Commands

Writing a document often includes editing and formatting. Voice commands allow you to do all the editing and formatting using only your voice.

Voice commands are available only for the English language. When you say certain words and phrases, like "move to the end of the line" or "select paragraph", those actions will be executed.

You can find the whole list of available commands by saying "voice commands list", or in the Google Docs guide article with the complete list of available voice commands .

Voice Typing and Voice Commands in action

Voice typing, or speech-to-text, is a useful accessibility tool. I hope this article has taught you how to use it, and you will be able to write with less typing!

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How to use voice typing in Google Docs to dictate your text

• To use voice typing in Google Docs, turn on voice typing, click the microphone icon, then start speaking.
• This accessibility feature is only available on Google Docs and Slides and must be used with a Chrome browser.
• A working microphone is also necessary to use voice typing.

Voice typing is a helpful accessibility tool that's available on Google Docs and in Google Slides speaker notes. It's a feature that's only available in Chrome browsers, and some aspects (like voice commands for editing, formatting, and punctuation) are only available in certain languages . 

Here's how to use voice typing in Google Docs. 

How to use voice typing in Google Docs

1. Open a Google Doc in Google Chrome.

2. On the toolbar, click Tools , then Voice typing .

3. When you're ready to start voice typing, click the microphone icon in the left margin.

4. Speak clearly, using a typical volume and pace (not too loud or soft, and not too fast or slow).

5. When you're finished, click the microphone icon again.

How to use voice commands

There are a variety of voice commands that you can use to edit and format your document when voice typing. Here are a few basic ones to know. 

• To select text: Say phrases like "select [word or phrase]," "select all," or "select line."
• To format text: Say phrases like "bold," "italicize," or "underline." There are also commands for font size ("decrease font size," "increase font size"), alignment ("align center," "align justified," "align left," "align right"), and more.
• To edit your document: Say phrases like "copy," "cut," "paste," "insert header," or "insert page break."

How to edit voice typing in Google Docs

If you need to correct a mistake while voice typing, move your cursor to where the mistake is located and add in any text you may have forgotten by speaking. You can also highlight any mistakes and speak to type over them.

If there are any words or phrases underlined in gray that are incorrect, right-click to see a list of suggestions from Google Docs.

Say "delete" to delete the word right before the cursor.

• Main content

How to Use Speech-to-Text in Google Docs

• Last updated May 23, 2023

Speech-to-Text in Google Docs is one of the simplest and most efficient ways to increase productivity and save time when you’ve got lengthy articles to type. The text will be automatically transcribed when you speak directly into your document!

Here, we’ll show you how to “voice type” on Google Docs to save yourself time and energy.

Table of Contents

Using Speech-To-Text on Google Docs: Step-By-Step Guide

Before using this feature, ensure that you have either a built-in or external microphone attached to your device. For the best experience, use a high-quality external microphone in a quiet environment.

Step 1 : From the menu bar on the top, click  “Tools”  > “Voice typing”  from the drop-down menu.

Step 2 : Click on the floating microphone icon on your screen. Alternatively, you can use the Speech-to-Text Google Docs shortcut CTRL + SHIFT + S  to turn on the microphone.

Step 3 : Once the microphone turns red, start speaking into it. The microphone is “on” as long as it remains red. To turn it off, simply click on the microphone icon again.

S tep 4 : If Google Docs requires access to your microphone, click on the icon in the address bar, select your microphone, and click  “Done.”

Speech-to-Text Google Docs Shortcuts

Besides the voice typing feature, various Google voice commands  perform useful Speech-to-Text tasks in Google Docs. Let’s go over the basic ones:

Related: To hone your writing voice, why not sign up for a Masterclass  taught by expert authors?

General Commands for Voice-to-Text

1. Click on the microphone icon and say “New paragraph .” Google Docs will start a new paragraph in your document.

2. “New line”  will start a new line in your Google Doc.

3. Say “Comma” or “Period” to add punctuation wherever required.

4. To select a word or a phrase in a sentence, say “Select” followed by the phrase or word.

5. To select a sentence, just say, “Select,”  and read the sentence you want. For example, I said, “Select Google Docs Speech-to-Text feature is pretty cool,” and Google Docs selected the intended sentence correctly.

6. To unselect a sentence, simply say, “Unselect,”  and read the desired sentence.

7. Say, “Select next line,” and Google Docs will do so. You can select items and paragraphs by doing the same thing (e.g., “select next paragraph,” “select next table.”).

Editing Commands for Speech-to-Text

Use this feature to edit your document in Google Docs.

1. Voice-select the text you want to remove, then say either “Delete” or “Backspace.”

2. To undo what you’ve just done, simply say “Undo.”

3. To copy and paste a sentence, voice-select the text and say, “Copy.”   Unselect the sentence by saying, “New paragraph, paste.”

5. To insert a table, simply say,  “Insert table 5 by 5.”

6. To insert more rows or columns, just say,  “Insert new row”  or “Insert new column.”

Related : How to find and replace text in Google Docs

Formatting Commands Using Dictation on Google Docs

Here are some of the commands to use to format your document:

1. Say “Select” the words you want to format, and  “Bold,” “Underline,” or “Italics.”

2. To apply headers, select the intended phrase or sentence and say,  “Apply Heading 1.”  You can do the same for Headings 2 and 3.

3. To change text color, say “Select,” the selection you want to be changed, and  “Text color green.”

4. To change font size, select the text and say,  “Make bigger”  or “Make smaller”  (as per your requirements). This will incrementally increase or decrease the font size by one point.

5. To create a bullet point list, select the intended text and say,  “Create bullet point list.”

6. To align text, select the intended text and say, “Align right,” “Align left,”  or  “Center”  (as per your requirements).

7. To clear formatting, select the intended text and say, “Clear formatting.”

Related : How to do a hanging indent on Google Docs

How to Do Voice-To-Text on Other Devices

Google Docs web and mobile can be used similarly on all devices. In fact, you can follow the steps above for the same results.

To use Speech-to-Text in the Google Docs mobile app, use your phone’s built-in keyboard. Most phones have built-in keyboards that support voice typing on Google Docs.

Additional Voice-to-Text Option for macOS

An additional option for macOS is the macOS built-in dictation on Google Docs. Enable dictation in the System Preferences and then use the shortcut key to start dictating text directly within Google Docs.

Tips to Ensure the Best Dictation on Google Docs

To enhance your voice-to-text results in Google Docs:

• Use a high-quality microphone for improved transcription.
• Speak reasonably to ensure the algorithm grasps your words and commands.
• Be patient: You may need to repeat yourself.
• Practice dictating commands in Google Docs.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do i use microphone in google docs.

The toolbar at the top of Google Docs lets you turn on the microphone by selecting “Tools” > “Voice typing.”

You can also use the CTRL+SHIFT+S  shortcut on Windows and CMD+SHIFT+S  on macOS. The browser may need your authorization to utilize the microphone.

Can You Use Speech-to-Text on Google Docs for Mac?

Yes, you can use voice-to-text in Google Docs for Mac. However, it will only work if you’re using Google Docs on Chrome. You may have to download Google Chrome on your device.

How to Enable Text-to-Speech Features with Google Docs on Chrome OS?

To enable the Speech-to-Text feature in Google Docs, follow the listed steps:

• Open the Google Docs document
• In the top menu bar, navigate to “Tools” > “Accessibility”  (at the bottom of the list).
• Check  “Turn on screen reader support” and save the settings by clicking “OK.”

How Do I Turn on Speech-to-Text in Google Docs?

To enable Speech-to-Text in Google Docs, follow these steps:

• Open Google Docs.
• In the menu bar, navigate to “Tools” > “Voice typing.”  A microphone button will now appear on your screen.
• Click on the microphone icon to turn it on.
• Once turned on, the microphone icon will turn red.
• You can start transcribing your speech without clicking on the microphone icon every time you want to transcribe or give a command, as long as the microphone icon remains red.
• However, if you need to turn the microphone off and on again, you will need to click on the microphone icon each time to do so.

Why Does My Google Docs Not Offer Voice Typing?

If Google Docs voice typing doesn’t work on a Mac or Windows PC, the following factors may be to blame:

• Microphone access isn’t enabled in Google Docs.
• Your Google Docs’ microphone settings are incorrect.
• You’re using an older Chrome browser version.
• You have an excessive browser cache/data accumulation.
• The internet connection is unstable.

Final Thoughts

Using Speech-to-Text in Google Docs is a game-changer for those who struggle with typing. By following the simple steps outlined above, you can easily start using this feature and enjoy its benefits.

Did you know that Canva has an AI-powered feature called Magic Write  that can help generate effective content quickly and easily? It’s a fantastic tool for streamlining the writing process! Start creating incredible copy today!

• How to Insert Text Box in Google Docs [Easy Guide]
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How To Transcribe Audio To Text With Google Docs (2024)

• February 12, 2024

SpeakWrite Blog

Learn how to use google docs for transcribing audio to text. learn about google docs voice typing, live transcribe, and api for accurate transcription..

Have you ever wished Google Docs could take ideas straight from your brain and onto the page? Technology may not be quite that advanced (yet), but there’s one thing Google Docs  can do that’s pretty close—and that’s transcribe audio to text.

For busy professionals or students looking to dictate their thoughts rather than type them, Google Docs transcribe audio to text feature can be a lifesaver.

This step-by-step guide will cover how to turn your voice into written text on a Google document, making tasks like transcribing lectures, meetings, ideas, and interviews a breeze.

What Is Google's Transcribe Audio To Text Feature?

There are three Google audio to text features that take spoken words and convert them into written text with impressive accuracy. How? By using Google’s sophisticated A.I. algorithms, of course.

Google Docs Voice Typing

Google Docs Voice Typing is specifically designed to facilitate document creation within Google Docs. It allows users to dictate their thoughts and ideas directly into a document. All you need is a microphone.

Google Live Transcribe

On the other hand, Google Live Transcribe is an accessibility feature for Android devices aimed at improving real-time communication for the deaf and hard of hearing. It provides instant transcription of spoken words into text on the user’s screen.

Google API Transcribe

Unlike the user-friendly Google Docs Voice Typing and the accessibility-focused Google Live Transcribe, Google API Transcribe provides developers access to Google’s A.I. algorithms to convert audio files or real-time speech into accurate text.

Unless you’re a developer, we don’t recommend you tangle with this one.

Using Google Docs Audio To Text To Transcribe: Pros & Cons

When you consider that 62% of companies are using voice technology to increase their bottom line, audio to text transcription software just makes sense.

And while the consensus is that using Google Docs Voice Typing to convert your audio to text is mostly positive, there are a few things to watch out for.

Here are a few of the pros and cons when working with the Google Docs transcribe feature.

How To Transcribe Audio To Text On Google Docs Step By Step

Using Google Docs for voice typing is free—and better yet, incredibly straightforward. Here’s how it works.

Step 1:  Turn on your microphone.

Without a microphone to capture your voice, you’ll be speaking into a void. Be sure your computer microphone or connected microphone device is turned on.

The settings for your microphone are usually found under “system preferences” or “control panel,” depending on your device.

Step 2:  Open or create a new document.

Decide where you’d like your transcription to be captured. Is there an existing Google Doc you’re looking to add content to? If not, open up a fresh Google Doc for your transcription. Google suggests using a Chrome browser for optimal performance.

Step 3:  Start voice typing in your document (or play your pre-recorded audio file near your computer) .

Click on ‘Tools’ in the menu bar of your document and select ‘Voice typing.” A microphone icon will appear on the left. Once you’re ready, click the microphone and start speaking clearly in your everyday speaking voice.

• You can give commands such as “select paragraph” or “use italics” if needed (note that these are currently only available in English).
• You can add punctuation with commands such as “period,” “comma,” or “exclamation point.”
• You can also command Google Docs voice typing to start a new line or paragraph.

If you’ve already got an audio file recorded that you’re looking to transcribe, play it with the volume turned up high for a better chance of accurate transcription. Beware: this method is likely to result in a plethora of errors due to audio quality.

Fun fact:   Voice typing also works in the “speaker notes” section of Google Slides, though voice commands are not available here.

Step 4:  Configure your microphone and language settings if needed.

Need to switch to a different language? Speaking in a special accent? You can configure your language settings to support dozens of different languages.

Step 5:  Correct any mistakes that appear while voice typing.

Automated transcription that uses artificial intelligence (A.I.) to do the work of transcription for you is bound to make errors.

When you see a mistake appear on the screen, you’ll have to manually fix it with your cursor and keyboard, then move the cursor back to where you want to continue.

Step 6:  Proofread and edit your transcription.

After the transcription is complete, you’ll need to set aside time to carefully review and edit the text for any inaccuracies. These may be numerous, as A.I. speech-to-text technology is known for its low accuracy levels.

Google Docs Transcribe vs Google API Transcribe: What’s The Difference?

Google docs transcription.

Google Docs voice to text typing is user-friendly. It enables you to transcribe audio directly into a document. Plus, it’s integrated into the Google Docs interface, making it convenient for those already using Google Workspace for document creation and collaboration.

Google’s Speech-to-Text API

This is a tool aimed at developers—not busy professionals looking for a hand-off transcription experience. The Speech-to-Text API integrates Google’s advanced speech recognition technology into various applications and services, and does require developer knowledge.

Take Google Docs Transcription To The Next Level With SpeakWrite

Quality is everything for fast-moving industries that rely on accurate transcription. So if you’re looking for professional-grade transcription for your business, law-enforcement agency, or legal practice, you’ll want the reassurance of human reviewers.

Take a quick look at the differences between Google Docs transcription tools and SpeakWrite’s human transcription services.

When To Swap Google Docs For Human Transcription With SpeakWrite

Sometimes, automated voice to text just doesn’t cut it. There’s too much room for error, which can present a major problem for industries like law enforcement or legal services. 

If you need transcription for anything beyond personal usage, then you’ll want a professional human transcriptionist to handle it for you instead. Here’s a detailed step-by-step guide to help you navigate this process. 

Step 1:  Record your audio. 

The first step is to record the audio you need transcribed. SpeakWrite can transcribe meetings, depositions, interrogations, interviews, dictations, and more. 

If you have more than one speaker, speakers with heavy accents, bi-lingual speakers, or you need Spanish transcription and translation services , SpeakWrite can handle that as well. 

Step 2:  Upload your audio to SpeakWrite’s platform. 

Visit SpeakWrite’s website or download the convenient app on your phone. Upload the audio file. Specify any special instructions or requirements you have for the transcription.

SpeakWrite’s professional human transcriptionists will then review the audio and create your transcription. 

Step 3:  Receive and download the final transcription. 

Once SpeakWrite completes the transcription process, they will notify you. Log in to your SpeakWrite account and download the final, professional transcription. It will be beautifully formatted and immediately ready for professional use. 

Tips & Tricks For Finding The Transcription Right Solution

The perfect transcription solution depends on one thing: you! What are your needs as far as accuracy? How about your budget? 

Evaluating the accuracy, speed, pricing, additional features, and industry specializations will help you choose the best service for your project. 

• Prioritize services known for high transcription accuracy —especially for specialized content like legal transcription services or law enforcement transcription services . Consider services specialized in your industry for expertise in relevant terminology and formatting.
• Assess turnaround times to meet your deadlines. Choose services that align with your timeframe. Believe it or not, human transcription services at SpeakWrite take just 3 hours or less!
• Compare pricing structures (per minute, per word, subscriptions) and select one within your budget. SpeakWrite offers a pay as you go model that doesn’t require a subscription. 
• Choose a service that offers the formatting features you need. Check for options like timestamps, speaker identification, or specialized formatting, as needed.
• If confidentiality matters, look into the transcription security measures taken. Ensure the service guarantees data security and confidentiality—especially for sensitive content. 
• Seek out reviews and recommendations to gauge real-world experiences with transcription services. Reliable customer support can be invaluable—not all services provide real live humans for customer support. 

Google Docs Transcribe Audio-To-Text: Frequently Asked Questions

Can google transcribe an audio file to text.

Yes, Google offers a “Transcribe Audio” feature in Google Docs that allows you to transcribe audio files into text.

How do I convert mp3 to text in Google Docs?

Since Google Docs is a text-based application, it’s not possible to insert or convert an MP3 into a Google Document. You can, however, insert a link to the file by uploading it to your Google Drive first. 

How do I automatically transcribe audio to text in Google Docs?

Google Docs offers a voice typing feature which allows you to dictate speech into text. All you need is a working microphone and a clear speaking voice. 

Is Google Docs voice typing the best option for transcribing?

While Google Docs is a suitable free option for basic transcription needs, it’s not ideal for much beyond personal usage. Dedicated transcription services like SpeakWrite use professional human transcribers and offer better accuracy. 

Plus, the pros have features for specialized or professional transcription requirements, such as those required by some courts. 

Is it better to use Google Docs or an alternative transcription app ?

The choice between Google Docs and an alternative transcription app (like the SpeakWrite App ) depends on your needs. Google Docs is a free and user-friendly option for basic transcription. But if you’re a professional, you should opt for dedicated human transcription services. 

Is Google Live Transcribe free?

Yes, Google Live transcription is entirely free. You can download it on your Android device. 

Is Google Docs voice transcribing free?

Yes, Google Docs’ “transcribe audio” feature is free for users with a Google account. However, be aware that the free service may have limitations regarding audio duration and transcription accuracy.

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How to Use Speech-to-Text on Google Docs: A Step-by-Step Guide

In today’s fast-paced digital world, efficiency is key, and Google Docs offers a feature that can significantly boost your productivity— Speech-to-Text . This powerful tool allows you to dictate your text directly into a Google Doc, saving time and reducing the strain of typing. Whether you're working on a report, writing an essay, or drafting an email, using Speech-to-Text can make your workflow smoother. Here's a detailed guide on how to use it.

Step 1: Open Google Docs

First, open Google Docs on your preferred browser. You can do this by navigating to docs.google.com. If you’re not already signed in, enter your Google account credentials to access your documents.

Step 2: Create a New Document

Once you’re in Google Docs, create a new document. Click on the "+" icon or choose a pre-existing template if you want to start from scratch.

Step 3: Access the Tools Menu

With your new document open, navigate to the top menu and click on "Tools" . This dropdown menu contains various features that can enhance your writing experience.

Step 4: Select Voice Typing

In the Tools menu, you'll find the "Voice typing…" option. Click on it. A microphone icon will appear on the left side of your document, signaling that you're ready to start dictating.

Step 5: Choose Your Language

Before you start, ensure that the correct language is selected. Click on the dropdown menu above the microphone icon and choose your preferred language. Google Docs supports a wide variety of languages, so you're likely to find the one you need.

Step 6: Start Dictating

Now, click on the microphone icon. When it turns red, it indicates that Google Docs is ready to transcribe your speech. Begin speaking clearly and at a moderate pace. Google Docs will transcribe your words in real-time.

Step 7: Add Punctuation and Formatting

To add punctuation marks while dictating, simply say the name of the punctuation mark. For example, you can say "comma," "period," or "question mark," and Google Docs will insert it into your text. For new lines or paragraphs, say "new line" or "new paragraph."

Step 8: Pause and Resume Dictation

If you need to pause, click the microphone icon again, or say "Stop listening." To resume, click the icon once more or say "Resume."

Step 9: Edit and Proofread

After finishing your dictation, it's crucial to go back and proofread your document. While Google’s Speech-to-Text is highly accurate, it’s always good to double-check for any errors or misinterpretations of your speech.

Step 10: Save and Share

Finally, save your document by clicking on "File" and then "Save." You can also share your document with others by clicking on the "Share" button in the top-right corner of the screen.

1. What do I do if Speech-to-Text is not working? If the Voice Typing tool isn’t working, ensure that your microphone is properly connected and that Google Docs has permission to use it. Also, check your internet connection, as Speech-to-Text requires a stable connection to function correctly.

2. Can I use Speech-to-Text on my mobile device? Yes, you can use the Voice Typing feature on Google Docs mobile app by using the microphone button on your keyboard.

3. Is Speech-to-Text available in languages other than English? Absolutely! Google Docs supports numerous languages. You can select your preferred language from the dropdown menu before starting your dictation.

4. How accurate is Google Docs' Speech-to-Text? Google’s Speech-to-Text is very accurate, especially when you speak clearly. However, it’s still recommended to proofread your document afterward.

5. Can I use Speech-to-Text for long documents? Yes, Speech-to-Text works well for both short and long documents, making it a versatile tool for all types of writing tasks.

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How To Use Speech-To-Text On Google Docs

Whether you're on the move or suffering from an unfortunate bout of carpal tunnel, there are plenty of scenarios when simply typing out passages of text on a keyboard just isn't the most feasible option. That's why phones, TVs, and other smart devices have adopted various bits of speech-to-text software, allowing a program to automatically record and transcribe spoken words into written text with the touch of a button. Fortunately, it seems that text editor programs have also joined the speech-to-text wave, including one particularly popular online word processor.

The current iteration of Google Docs includes an optional feature in its suite of tools that adds speech-to-text functionality to the typical document writing process. Known as voice typing, this specialized tool uses built-in software and a compatible device's microphone to allow the user to vocally dictate entire documents' worth of text on Google Docs, proper punctuation and all. It's a feature that's worth trying out for avid users of the program, and it's not too hard to get it working at a moment's notice.

How to use voice typing in Google Docs

While it isn't possible to leave voice typing enabled at all times in Google Docs, it can be activated on any given document with a few quick steps.

• Open the Google Docs document you want to use voice typing with.
• Ensure that the device you're accessing Google Docs on has a microphone and that is enabled and unmuted.
• At the top of the page, select Tools.
• Click Voice typing from the dropdown menu.
• A small widget box with a microphone icon will appear on the page. Click the microphone icon.
• Your browser may ask if you want to give Google Docs permission to use your device's microphone. If this occurs, select Allow.
• Ensure that the microphone icon has turned red.
• Voice typing is now enabled. Speak aloud and Google Docs will automatically transcribe the audio into written text.
• Once you have finished speaking, click the red microphone icon and ensure that it returns to the gray microphone icon in the widget box. Voice typing is now disabled.

Voice typing can be set to automatically detect and dictate well over 60 distinct languages and a plethora of regional dialects and accents. Similar to keyboard shortcuts , voice typing also recognizes phrases of punctuation and will add the appropriate symbols based on phrases like "Period," "Comma," "Question mark," and more.

Google Docs has voice commands as well

Speech-to-text is a great way for users to give their fingers a rest and let programs shoulder the weight of typing out text, but some may have concerns that a vocal dictation software like Google Docs' voice typing is relatively limited in what it can do. However, voice typing on Google Docs has a far more robust feature set than simply transcribing audio. In reality, the feature supports a lengthy list of voice commands that give users the power to make all sorts of changes to their documents without even touching the keyboard.

Voice typing is designed to recognize and distinguish specific voice commands from regular spoken words. These commands can range from basic functions like "Copy," "Paste," and "Italicize" to complex actions like "Insert table of contents" or "Create bulleted list." Essentially, voice typing supports vocal shortcuts for just about every basic action one can take while normally editing a document through Google Docs, right down to dictating the exact formatting of the document itself. Generally speaking, the software will recognize whatever editing-related command is given. However, should users have trouble getting the software to do exactly what they want, they can simply request to "See all voice commands" to get a comprehensive list.

For the time being, Google Docs voice typing can only recognize and carry out English voice commands. Nonetheless, this software stands as quite an important accessibility feature .

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Google Docs lets you use voice typing to dictate using your computer's microphone . It's great for people who suffer from a repetitive strain injury, or for those who just don't like typing. Here's how to use Voice Typing in Google Docs.

Note:  Voice Typing is only available for use in Google Docs and the speaker notes of Google Slides, and only if you're using Google Chrome.

The first thing you're going to want to do is to make sure you have a microphone installed and working.

Once your microphone is set up, fire up Chrome and head on over to Google Docs . Alternatively, from the address bar in Chrome, type

to start a new document instantly.

Enabling Voice Typing

To activate Voice typing, click Tools > Voice Typing. You can also press Ctrl+Shift+S in Windows or Command+Shift+S in macOS.

A window with a microphone icon will appear; click on it when you're ready to dictate. You can move the tool out of the way by clicking and dragging the window wherever you want.

Note: The first time using Voice Typing, you'll need to grant Chrome permissions to use your microphone.

If Voice Typing doesn't automatically load your native tongue, click the three dots and then use the Language drop-down to select from over 100 languages and dialects.

Speak clearly in your normal volume and at your normal pace so the tool can understand what you're saying. Everything you say now appears in the body of your document. If it's having trouble understanding you, make sure you have selected the correct dialect in the languages menu.

Voice typing processes your voice in real-time. When you finish speaking, click the microphone again to stop listening.

Adding Punctuation

Voice typing even understands when you want to add punctuation to your document if you use these phrases:

• Exclamation mark
• Question mark
• New Paragraph

So, for example, you could say "Dictating in Google Docs is easy and fun period You can even..."

Note:  Punctuation only works in German, English, Spanish, French, Italian, and Russian.

Using Voice Commands

Using voice typing doesn't end with the ability to type words and add punctuation. You can use it to edit and format text and paragraphs inside your document without having to click anything in the toolbar.

Note:  Voice commands are only available in English for Google Docs; they are not available in Slides speaker notes. Both the account and document language must be English.

If you mess up and accidentally say something you want to be deleted, you can say "Delete" or "backspace" to remove the word before the cursor.

Here are some other useful commands to get you started being more productive and making the most out of Voice Typing:

• Selecting text: Select [word, phrase, all, next line, next paragraph, next word, last word]"
• Format your document:  Apply Heading [1-6], apply normal text, Bold, italicize, italics, underline
• Change font size:  Decrease font size, increase font size, font size [6-400], make bigger, make smaller
• Edit your document:  Copy, cut, paste, delete [word or phrase], insert [table of contents, bookmark, equation, footer, header, page break]
• Move around your document:  Go to start/end of [line, paragraph, column, row, document], move to next/previous [character, word, page, column, heading, line, misspelling, paragraph, row]

The number of voice commands almost seems endless, and you can find a full list by clicking the question mark in the tool's window or by saying "Voice commands list."

When you've finished with your document and no longer want voice typing to pick up any of the words you're saying, say "Stop listening."

Voice Typing and speech-to-text have come a long way in recent years and with the number of features, commands, and greater accuracy, you could use it to type all your notes---or even a whole document.

Voice Typing also helps people who suffer from carpal tunnel syndrome or otherwise experience pain when typing. Once you've mastered all the commands, you may never have to use a keyboard or mouse when typing up a document again!

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Google Docs  - Voice Typing

Google docs  -, voice typing, google docs voice typing.

Google Docs: Voice Typing

Lesson 27: voice typing.

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Voice typing

With Google Docs, using the keyboard isn’t your only option to add text. You can also just talk and have Google Docs transcribe the words for you. You can use this feature to transcribe meetings and audio recordings, or simply when you want to write faster than you can type.

Watch the video below to learn more about v oice typing in Google Docs.

Voice typing is only available in the Google Chrome web browser, and your computer must have a built-in or external microphone. 

Typing with your voice

Google’s voice recognition is good, but it knows that it isn’t perfect, so it underlines words that it’s not sure about in gray. This makes it easier for you to spot any errors.

To fix an error, place your cursor over underlined text, right-click, and choose the best option.

Making edits with your voice

Voice commands allow you to make edits to your text without touching the keyboard. To find a full list of available voice commands, hover over the microphone, and click the question mark.

Here are some examples of how to use voice commands. 

While it is possible to do extensive edits using only your voice, it can be challenging. If you’re able to work with a mouse and keyboard, you're probably better off using those to make your edits.

Voice typing might not be the best way to edit your resume, but it is a great tool for when you are brainstorming or need to quickly take some notes.

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How to use voice dictation in Google Docs

Voice dictation wasn’t used to create this article on how to use Google Docs’ voice typing , but it could have been. The service is actually very accurate and quite flexible, thanks to Google’s inclusion of basic formatting and editing commands . There’s a reason Google’s offerings remain a mainstay in our roundup of the best free Office suites .

Still, there’s an inherent lag between the issuing and execution of a command that makes the feature less than ideal for longer forms of content, where there could be lots of text or formatting changes—unless you have unlimited patience. But it’s a solid tool for creating documents like notes, agenda items, meeting summaries, or even first drafts of emails. 

Getting started

Before you can use voice typing, you’re going to need a couple things: the latest version of Google Chrome and a functioning microphone connected to your computer. Not a fan of Chrome? This feature works in Microsoft Edge as well.

To start, go to create a new Google Docs file in either Google Drive or Google Docs . Once you’re in the new document, go to the top menu and select Tools > Voice typing , or press Ctrl+Shift+S on your keyboard.

Voice typing in Google Docs

If you navigated to Tools > Voice typing , a small pop-up window will appear to the left of your document with a dark microphone icon inside it. Click the microphone and it will turn red. If you instead used the keyboard shortcut, the pop-up window will show up already red. When you see that color, you can start speaking your text.

As you talk, don’t be afraid to pause and think about what you’re saying—Google will wait for you. Also speak slowly and clearly to reduce the number of mistakes you’ll have to correct. (Google sometimes completely botches its interpretation of what you say, no matter how clearly you enunciate.) Once you’re done, click the microphone or use the keyboard shortcut again to turn off the service.

If your microphone isn’t picking up your voice, verify that your input is set to the correct device. For Windows 10 and 11, you can quickly do this by right-clicking on the volume icon in your taskbar, then selecting Open Sound settings . Your active microphone will show in the Input section. If needed, use the dropdown menu to change it.

Formatting and editing

The most foolproof way to apply formatting such as bold or italics is to start by dictating a sentence like, “I prefer manual typing.”

TIP: Don’t forget you have to dictate your punctuation, so the above sentence would be spoken aloud as, “I prefer manual typing period.”

Next say, “select ‘I prefer manual typing.’”

Followed by, “apply italics” or  “apply heading two,” or whatever your preferred formatting is.

Making itemized lists is a little more natural since you can say, “create bullet list” or “create numbered list.” Then dictate your list, saying “new line” between each item. When you’re done with your list say “new line” twice to end the list formatting.

Thankfully, Google also includes the all-important “undo” command in voice typing for those times when you mess up.

For a complete list of Google’s voice typing commands, check out the company’s help pages .

One last thing to keep in mind is that Google’s voice dictation is like having your own digital secretary. A very literal secretary. If you get frustrated and start asking yourself a question like, “What the f*** just happened?”, Google won’t realize that wasn’t supposed to be part of your document. So be careful what you say, and proofread everything.

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Speechnotes is a reliable and secure web-based speech-to-text tool that enables you to quickly and accurately transcribe & translate your audio and video recordings, as well as dictate your notes instead of typing, saving you time and effort. With features like voice commands for punctuation and formatting, automatic capitalization, and easy import/export options, Speechnotes provides an efficient and user-friendly dictation and transcription experience. Proudly serving millions of users since 2015, Speechnotes is the go-to tool for anyone who needs fast, accurate & private transcription. Our Portfolio of Complementary Speech-To-Text Tools Includes:

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Speechnotes is especially designed to provide you a distraction-free environment. Every note, starts with a new clear white paper, so to stimulate your mind with a clean fresh start. All other elements but the text itself are out of sight by fading out, so you can concentrate on the most important part - your own creativity. In addition to that, speaking instead of typing, enables you to think and speak it out fluently, uninterrupted, which again encourages creative, clear thinking. Fonts and colors all over the app were designed to be sharp and have excellent legibility characteristics.

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Speechnotes is powered by the leading most accurate speech recognition AI engines by Google & Microsoft. We always check - and make sure we still use the best. Accuracy in English is very good and can easily reach 95% accuracy for good quality dictation or recording.

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Both Speechnotes dictation & transcription are lightweight-online no install, work out of the box anywhere you are. Dictation works in real time. Transcription will get you results in a matter of minutes.

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Super private - no human handles, sees or listens to your recordings! In addition, we take great measures to protect your privacy. For example, for transcribing your recordings - we pay Google's speech to text engines extra - just so they do not keep your audio for their own research purposes.

Health advantages

Typing may result in different types of Computer Related Repetitive Strain Injuries (RSI). Voice typing is one of the main recommended ways to minimize these risks, as it enables you to sit back comfortably, freeing your arms, hands, shoulders and back altogether.

Saves you time

Need to transcribe a recording? If it's an hour long, transcribing it yourself will take you about 6! hours of work. If you send it to a transcriber - you will get it back in days! Upload it to Speechnotes - it will take you less than a minute, and you will get the results in about 20 minutes to your email.

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Speechnotes dictation notepad is completely free - with ads - or a small fee to get it ad-free. Speechnotes transcription is only $0.1/minute, which is X10 times cheaper than a human transcriber! We offer the best deal on the market - whether it's the free dictation notepad ot the pay-as-you-go transcription service.

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We at Speechnotes, Speechlogger, TextHear, Speechkeys value your privacy, and that's why we do not store anything you say or type or in fact any other data about you - unless it is solely needed for the purpose of your operation. We don't share it with 3rd parties, other than Google / Microsoft for the speech-to-text engine.

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Our transcription service is probably the most private and secure transcription service available.

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The results of the dictation are saved locally on your machine - via the browser's / app's local storage. It never gets to our servers. So, as long as your device is private - your notes are private.

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• We may use Google Analytics on our site - which is a generic tool to track usage statistics.
• We use cookies - which means we save data on your browser to send to our servers when needed. This is used for instance to sign you in, and then keep you signed in.
• For the dictation tool - we use your browser's local storage to store your notes, so you can access them later.
• Non premium dictation tool serves ads by Google. Users may opt out of personalized advertising by visiting Ads Settings . Alternatively, users can opt out of a third-party vendor's use of cookies for personalized advertising by visiting https://youradchoices.com/
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How to Use Google Docs Text to Speech: A Step-by-Step Guide

Google Docs Text to Speech is a handy tool that lets you listen to your document instead of reading it. This feature can be useful for multitasking, proofreading, or for those who have difficulty reading text on screens. In just a few steps, you can have Google Docs read your document to you.

Step by Step Tutorial on How to Use Google Docs Text to Speech

Before jumping into the steps, let’s understand what we’re aiming for here. Google Docs does not have a built-in text-to-speech function, but don’t worry – we can use a feature called “Speak” that’s a part of Google’s accessibility features.

Step 1: Open a Google Docs Document

Open the document you want Google Docs to read out loud.

Once you have the document open, make sure your speakers or headphones are connected and working. This is where the voice will come from.

Step 2: Select the Text You Want to Hear

Highlight the text you want Google Docs to read to you.

You can select a word, sentence, paragraph, or the entire document. Just click and drag your mouse over the text.

Step 3: Access the Accessibility Menu

Click on the ‘Tools’ menu at the top of the page, then select ‘Accessibility settings.’

In the Accessibility menu, you’ll find options to make Google Docs easier to use if you have visual or auditory impairments.

Step 4: Enable ‘Speak’

Check the box next to ‘Turn on screen reader support’, then close the Accessibility settings window.

After enabling this feature, a new menu called “Accessibility” will appear on the Google Docs toolbar.

Step 5: Use the Speak Command

Go to the ‘Accessibility’ menu, hover over ‘Speak’, and then select ‘Speak selection.’

As soon as you click ‘Speak selection,’ Google Docs will start reading the text you’ve highlighted. The voice you hear will depend on the default voice settings of your web browser or operating system.

After completing these steps, Google Docs will read the selected text out loud to you. This can be an excellent way for you to listen to your document while doing something else, or it can help you catch errors you might have missed while reading.

Tips for Optimizing Your Experience with Google Docs Text to Speech

• Make sure your internet connection is stable; this ensures that the speak feature works without interruptions.
• Adjust the volume on your computer or device so that the speech is loud and clear enough for you to hear.
• Use headphones for a clearer and more private listening experience.
• If the default voice doesn’t suit you, explore your operating system’s settings to change the voice and speaking rate.
• Utilize the text-to-speech feature for proofreading; hearing your work read aloud can help you catch mistakes you might have missed while reading it silently.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can i change the voice that reads the text.

Yes, you can change the voice in your computer’s system settings or browser settings.

Is Google Docs Text to Speech available on mobile devices?

While Google Docs on mobile doesn’t have the ‘Speak’ feature, most smartphones have their own text-to-speech options you can use.

Does this feature work in languages other than English?

Yes, Google Docs Text to Speech works in multiple languages, depending on the language support of your operating system or web browser.

Can I use Text to Speech on a shared document?

Absolutely, as long as you have permission to view the document, you can use the Text to Speech feature on it.

Is there a way to pause and resume the speech?

Currently, there’s no direct way to pause and resume speech in Google Docs. You would need to stop and then re-select the text to start again.

• Open your Google Docs document.
• Select the text you want to hear.
• Access the ‘Tools’ menu and open ‘Accessibility settings’.
• Enable ‘Speak’.
• Use the ‘Speak selection’ command in the ‘Accessibility’ menu.

Google Docs Text to Speech is a nifty feature that adds an extra layer of convenience to your workflow. It’s particularly useful for those who learn better through auditory means or for anyone looking to proofread their work in a new way. Although it might seem a bit hidden away in the Accessibility settings, once you know where to find it, it’s straightforward to use. If you’ve never tried listening to your Google Docs before, give it a whirl! You might find that it helps you catch errors you’d otherwise miss or simply provides a welcome break from staring at your screen. Happy listening, and remember, Google Docs is more than just a writing tool; it’s a multi-faceted platform that caters to various needs, including those auditory in nature.

Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.

After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.

His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.

Read his full bio here.

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Transcribe audio from a video file using Speech-to-Text

This tutorial shows how to transcribe the audio track from a video file using Speech-to-Text.

Audio files can come from many different sources. Audio data can come from a phone (like voicemail) or the soundtrack included in a video file.

Speech-to-Text can use one of several machine learning models to transcribe your audio file, to best match the original source of the audio. You can get better results from your speech transcription by specifying the source of the original audio. This allows Speech-to-Text to process your audio files using a machine learning model trained for data similar to your audio file.

In this document, you use the following billable components of Google Cloud:

• Speech-to-Text

To generate a cost estimate based on your projected usage, use the pricing calculator . New Google Cloud users might be eligible for a free trial .

Before you begin

This tutorial has several prerequisites:

• You've set up a Speech-to-Text project in the Google Cloud console.
• You've set up your environment using Application Default Credentials in the Google Cloud console.
• You have set up the development environment for your chosen programming language.
• You've installed the Google Cloud Client Library for your chosen programming language.

Prepare the audio data

Before you can transcribe audio from a video, you must extract the data from the video file. After you've extracted the audio data, you must store it in a Cloud Storage bucket or convert it to base64-encoding.

Extract the audio data

You can use any file conversion tool that handles audio and video files, such as FFmpeg .

Use the code snippet below to convert a video file to an audio file using ffmpeg .

Store or convert the audio data

You can transcribe an audio file stored on your local machine or in a Cloud Storage bucket .

Use the following command to upload your audio file to an existing Cloud Storage bucket using the Google Cloud CLI .

If you use a local file and plan to send a request using the curl tool from the command line, you must convert the audio file to base64-encoded data first.

Use the following command to convert an audio file to a text file.

Send a transcription request

Use the following code to send a transcription request to Speech-to-Text.

Local file request

Refer to the speech:recognize API endpoint for complete details.

To perform synchronous speech recognition, make a POST request and provide the appropriate request body. The following shows an example of a POST request using curl . The example uses the Google Cloud CLI to generate an access token. For instructions on installing the gcloud CLI, see the quickstart .

See the RecognitionConfig reference documentation for more information on configuring the request body.

If the request is successful, the server returns a 200 OK HTTP status code and the response in JSON format:

To learn how to install and use the client library for Speech-to-Text, see Speech-to-Text client libraries . For more information, see the Speech-to-Text Go API reference documentation .

To authenticate to Speech-to-Text, set up Application Default Credentials. For more information, see Set up authentication for a local development environment .

To learn how to install and use the client library for Speech-to-Text, see Speech-to-Text client libraries . For more information, see the Speech-to-Text Java API reference documentation .

To learn how to install and use the client library for Speech-to-Text, see Speech-to-Text client libraries . For more information, see the Speech-to-Text Node.js API reference documentation .

To learn how to install and use the client library for Speech-to-Text, see Speech-to-Text client libraries . For more information, see the Speech-to-Text Python API reference documentation .

Additional languages

C# : Please follow the C# setup instructions on the client libraries page and then visit the Speech-to-Text reference documentation for .NET.

PHP : Please follow the PHP setup instructions on the client libraries page and then visit the Speech-to-Text reference documentation for PHP.

Ruby : Please follow the Ruby setup instructions on the client libraries page and then visit the Speech-to-Text reference documentation for Ruby.

Remote file request

To avoid incurring charges to your Google Cloud account for the resources used in this tutorial, either delete the project that contains the resources, or keep the project and delete the individual resources.

Delete the project

The easiest way to eliminate billing is to delete the project that you created for the tutorial.

Go to Manage resources

• In the project list, select the project that you want to delete, and then click Delete .
• In the dialog, type the project ID, and then click Shut down to delete the project.

Delete instances

Go to VM instances

• Select the checkbox for the instance that you want to delete.
• To delete the instance, click more_vert More actions , click Delete , and then follow the instructions.

Delete firewall rules for the default network

Go to Firewall

• Select the checkbox for the firewall rule that you want to delete.
• To delete the firewall rule, click delete Delete .

What's next

• Learn how to get timestamps for audio.
• Identify different speakers in an audio file.

Try it for yourself

If you're new to Google Cloud, create an account to evaluate how Speech-to-Text performs in real-world scenarios. New customers also get $300 in free credits to run, test, and deploy workloads.

Except as otherwise noted, the content of this page is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License , and code samples are licensed under the Apache 2.0 License . For details, see the Google Developers Site Policies . Java is a registered trademark of Oracle and/or its affiliates.

Last updated 2024-09-10 UTC.

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Speaker 1: Welcome to the quick start for Cloud Speech-to-Text, which converts speech into text using Google's AI technologies. In this video, we walk through how to convert an audio file to text using the REST interface and the curl command. To get started with Cloud Speech-to-Text, you need a Google Cloud project. You can use an existing project or set up a new one in the Google Cloud Console at console.cloud.google.com. Visit the APIs and Services section of the console and enable the Cloud Speech-to-Text API for your project. Next, you need to set up authentication. In the APIs and Services section, click on Credentials, create a new service account, and download the private key as JSON. You can use these credentials to access Google Cloud APIs, so make sure to keep this file secure and out of your code and public repositories. To securely access the credentials from your project, go to your terminal and set an environment variable to the path of your JSON file. If you don't yet have the Google Cloud SDK installed on your machine, then install and initialize it. Instructions are linked below. Create a new JSON request file, add the following text, and save it as a sync-request.json plain text file. This JSON snippet indicates that the audio file has a FLAC encoding format, a sample rate of 16,000 Hz, and is stored in a Google Cloud Storage bucket at the given URI. Next, use curl to make a request to the speech.googleapis.com endpoint. This curl command specifies sync-request.json as the file name of the JSON request you just created. Run the curl command, and you should see the following response. Here we can see the transcribed text, as well as a confidence value that estimates how likely it is that the transcription is accurate. And that's it. You now know how to make a call to the Cloud Speech-to-Text API using a curl command. Make sure to check out the rest of our Cloud Speech-to-Text documentation at cloud.google.com slash speech-to-text slash docs.