Dictation Failed On Apple Watch? Fix Dictation Not Working Issue

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Are you getting a dictation failed error on your Apple Watch? If the Dictation feature is not working on your Apple Watch, then you have clicked on the right article. In this article, I’m going to show you how you can fix the dictation failed error on your Apple Watch. So without wasting any time, let’s start.

Quick Takeaway

Quick Takeaway
First, make sure that the Dictation feature is enabled on your Apple Watch. To fix the dictation failed error on your Apple Watch, you can restart it, update it to the latest watchOS version available for it, or reset it. If dictation is not working even after resetting your Apple Watch then you should contact Apple Support.

What Is Dictation On Apple Watch?

The Dictation feature is one of the most useful features of the Apple Watch. As you know, typing on an Apple Watch is not always suitable as they are tiny wrist-held devices with little displays. Although the accuracy of the keyboard on Apple Watches is remarkable, it is not always convenient to type on a small display. This is where the Dictation feature comes to take care of this issue.

The dictation feature on your Apple Watch converts your voice into text messages and other text inputs. With the help of the Dictation feature, you can easily use the microphone on your Apple Watch to compose messages or text inputs just by saying it out loud. It is one of the most convenient features on Apple Watches that I use daily.

How To Enable/Use Dictation On Apple Watch?

Before we move on to the troubleshooting methods, you should check whether the Dictation feature is activated on your Apple Watch or not. Follow the below-mentioned steps to turn on/off the voice to text feature on your Apple Watch.

1. First, open Settings on your Apple Watch and tap on the General tab to open it.

Open Apple Watch Settings

2. Now scroll down, tap on Dictation, and turn on the Dictation toggle button. Also, make sure to turn on the Auto-Punctuation toggle button for a better experience.

How To Use Dictation On Apple Watch

Alternatively, you can also turn on the Dictation feature on your Apple Watch from your iPhone using the Watch app. To do that, go to the Watch app on your iPhone and tap on the General tab to open it. Now, you just have to turn on the Enable Dictation toggle button.

How To Fix Dictation not working On Apple Watch

To use the Dictation feature, you just have to open the keyboard and tap on the Microphone icon at the bottom right corner. Now, say whatever you want to type and you will see that it is being typed on the text box. After that, tap on the send or search button.

How To Fix Dictation Failed On Apple Watch?

Now that you have ensured that the Dictation feature is enabled on your Apple Watch, let’s discuss the troubleshooting methods you can use to fix voice-to-text not working on your Apple Watch.

Update Software

Check if there are any pending software updates for your Apple Watch. Updates can optimize the device so that it can continue to function smoothly. Software updates can also fix system bugs that interfere with the proper functioning of the device. So, make sure that your Apple Watch is updated to the latest watchOS version. To update your Apple Watch, open Settings, tap on General, and select Software Update.

fix dictation failed apple watch

Restart

Occasionally, there can be glitches on your Apple Watch that can cause certain features like Dictation to stop working. Therefore, if a system glitch is preventing the Dictation feature from working, then restating your Apple Watch can easily fix this issue. To restart your Apple Watch, press and hold the side button, tap on the Power icon, and drag the slider to the right to turn off the Apple Watch. After the screen goes blank, press and hold the side button till you see the Apple logo.

Restart Apple Watch

Reset

If all else fails, then you try to reset your Apple Watch. Resetting will revert your Apple Watch to the factory settings, effectively fixing the Dictation feature on it.

1. To reset your Apple Watch, go to Settings, tap on General, and select Reset.

Reset Apple Watch

2. Now just tap on Erase All Content and Settings, and select Erase All to reset your Apple Watch.

Tap on Erase All

Contact Customer Support

If the Dictation feature on your Apple Watch is not functioning even after resetting it, then you only have one option left. You should immediately contact Apple support or visit a nearby Apple store and explain your issue to them.

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Dictation Not Working On Apple Watch? Conclusion

Many Apple Watch users are also having the same issue with their watches. Currently, Apple has yet to respond or provide a fix regarding the dictation failed error on Apple Watches. At the time of writing this article, I only found outdated fixes on the Apple Support Community for this Dictation error that don’t work on current watches. As of now, the troubleshooting methods I’ve mentioned above are the only fixes for this dictation not working problem with the Apple Watches.

FAQs

Can I Dictate On My Apple Watch?

Yes, Apple Watch comes with built-in voice to text feature called Dictation.

How Do I Use Text to Speech On Apple Watch?

To use the Dictation feature on your Apple Watch, you have to open the keyboard and tap on the microphone icon at the bottom right corner of the keyboard.

How To Enable Dictation On Apple Watch?

To enable Dictation on your Apple Watch, first open Settings and go to General. Now scroll down, select Dictation and turn on the Dictation toggle button.

Hemant Mendiratta

Hemant's love for watches started when his grandfather gifted him his Rolex watch when he turned 18! Being a teenager it was a big deal for him. Later when he got his first job he bought Fossil Palm Pilot back in 2003 which was a smartwatch. Since then smartwatches have come a long way and so is Hemant's love for them. His experience with watches inspired him to start Wearholic and share his knowledge of wearables including watches, smartwatches, smart glasses, & smart clothing.

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