Practical guide
Google Docs Voice Typing and Hands-Free Entry
By the TypeWit team · Updated
Google Docs can type what you say. When you’d rather dictate somewhere else, review the text first, or have it entered gradually without keeping your hands on the keyboard, TypeWit can do the entry for you.
Turn on voice typing in Google Docs
Google Docs voice typing works on a computer in current Chrome, Edge and Safari browsers. Your organization’s administrator may disable it. Open a document, choose Tools → Voice typing (or press Ctrl+Shift+S, ⌘+Shift+S on Mac), click the microphone, and start speaking. Say punctuation such as “period” or “new line”.
Google’s help page lists the supported languages and commands, including editing and formatting commands in some languages.
When dictating straight into the document isn’t ideal
You might prefer to dictate on your phone, use another speech app, or tidy the text before it reaches the document. You might also want long text entered gradually rather than in one paste, or need to step away while it’s entered.
In those cases, dictate anywhere, paste the result into TypeWit, and review it. TypeWit only enters text after you approve it.
Hands-free entry with TypeWit
- Dictate with your device’s voice input or any speech app, then copy the text.
- In TypeWit, open New session and paste it. Check the words and any headings, bold, italic or bullets.
- Choose a new Google Doc or an existing one, pick a rhythm, and set when it should finish.
- Approve and start. The session runs in the cloud, so you can close the page; pause or stop it from any device.
Built for keyboard and screen-reader use
TypeWit’s dashboard works with the keyboard alone and with screen readers, with large targets and light and dark modes. Progress can be announced to screen readers every 10%, and status changes such as paused or finished are always announced. You can turn the progress announcements off.
Plans and limits
Free includes 250 words a day and sessions up to 60 minutes, with no card needed. A $3.99 Day Pass removes the word limit for 24 hours, and Pro allows sessions up to a week with custom pacing and scheduled starts.