About the Speech to Text
Typing is slow when your hands are busy or you are thinking out loud. This page listens through your microphone and writes down what you say, one sentence at a time, in a text box you can edit. Pick a language and accent, press Start speaking and talk at a normal pace. The text appears as you finish each phrase, with a grey preview of the words the browser is still working out. You can stop at any time, fix mistakes by typing, then copy the result or save it as a text file. The recognition is done by your browser, which in Chrome and Edge uses the browser maker's online speech service, so it is not offline. Our own servers never receive your voice.
Updated October 2026
How to use the Speech to Text
- 1Choose the language you will speak.
- 2Press Start speaking and allow the microphone when your browser asks.
- 3Talk clearly at a normal speed and watch the text appear.
- 4Press Stop listening, then fix any mistakes in the box.
- 5Copy the text or download it as a .txt file.
Getting a clean transcript
Recognition quality depends mostly on the sound that reaches the microphone. A quiet room, a steady distance and a good headset matter more than any setting. Speak in complete phrases rather than single words, because the engine uses the words around a word to decide what it is. Pause briefly between sentences and the text will arrive in tidy chunks.
Choose the accent that matches yours. English (India) and English (UK) are recognised differently from English (US), and picking the right one can cut errors noticeably. If you switch language mid-way, stop first, change the language and start again.
Good uses and limits
- Drafting emails, notes and first versions of essays.
- Capturing ideas while walking or cooking.
- Helping people who find typing difficult.
- Practising pronunciation: if the engine writes the word you meant, you were clear.
- Not suited to recording a meeting with several voices, which needs a different tool.
Related tools
To hear text read back, use Text to Speech. To record the actual sound, the Voice Recorder saves an audio file, and the Mic Test checks that your microphone works before you start. Once you have the text, the Word Counter and the Grammar Checker help you tidy it. Always proofread what the engine wrote.
Features
- 14 languages and English accents
- Live preview of the words being recognised
- Keeps listening through short pauses
- Edit the text before you copy it
- Copy or download as a text file
- Clear messages for blocked or missing microphones
- No account and no recording is kept by us
Frequently asked questions
How does speech to text work in the browser?
Browsers such as Chrome, Edge and Safari include a speech recognition feature. The page asks it to listen and returns the words it hears. In Chrome and Edge the audio is sent to the browser maker's service to be recognised.
Does it work in Firefox?
Not at the moment. Firefox does not offer the speech recognition feature that this page uses, so you will see a message. Use Chrome, Edge or Safari instead.
Why does it ask for microphone permission?
A browser never lets a page listen without your permission. If you press Block by mistake, click the lock icon in the address bar and allow the microphone for this site.
How can I get better accuracy?
Use a headset or a phone close to your mouth, speak in a quiet room, choose the correct accent and speak in whole phrases. Names and technical words are often misspelled, so always read the result.
Can I add punctuation?
Many browsers add punctuation automatically in some languages. In others, you can say words such as comma or full stop. Otherwise add punctuation by typing in the box.
Is my voice recorded or stored?
This page does not record or store your voice. The text you see is only in your browser until you copy or download it. The browser's own speech service may process the audio, so avoid dictating secrets.
Why did it stop after a while?
Browsers end a listening session after a long silence. The page restarts it automatically while you are in listening mode. If it fully stops, press Start speaking again.