Dictate into long-form text fields and notes in Layer using your device's microphone. The dictation directive supports a wide range of languages.
Layer supports speech-to-text dictation on most long-form text inputs, including the Notes field, the Description field, and most other multi-line text fields. The feature uses the device's microphone and the browser's speech recognition service to transcribe spoken words into the field as you talk. Dictation is helpful in the field, where typing on a phone or tablet is slower than speaking, and in any office context where you would rather narrate a paragraph than type it.
This article covers how to start dictation, how to switch languages, and a few practical notes about accuracy and privacy.
Starting dictation
Most long-form text inputs in Layer show a microphone icon at the end of the input. To start dictation:
Tap or click into the field so the cursor is in place.
Click the microphone icon.
Grant the browser permission to use the microphone if prompted.
Speak normally; the transcription appears in the field as you talk.
Click the microphone icon again to stop.
Dictation appends to the existing text rather than replacing it, so you can dictate additions to a value that already exists. Move the cursor to the location where you want to insert text before starting dictation.
Switching languages
Dictation defaults to the language Layer detects from your browser settings. To switch to a different language, click the small language menu next to the microphone icon and choose the desired option. The menu lists language codes in BCP-47 format, such as en-US, es-MX, fr-FR, and de-DE.
The language selection persists for the session. To set a default language across sessions, change your browser or device language preference. Layer adopts the new default the next time you start dictation.
Punctuation and formatting
The transcription engine inserts basic punctuation when you pause, but you can also dictate punctuation explicitly:
Say "period" or "full stop" to insert .
Say "comma" to insert ,
Say "question mark" to insert ?
Say "new paragraph" to insert two newlines
Say "new line" to insert one newline
Line breaks and capitalization are inferred from sentence boundaries. Dictating proper nouns may require an extra pass to correct capitalization, especially for project-specific names.
Where dictation is available
Dictation is available in:
Notes (project-level and element-level)
The Description field on elements, projects, and views
Long-form Text fields
The Formatted Text field on elements
Form View text inputs in edit mode
Short-form inputs (single-line Text fields, Number fields, Date fields, Toggle fields) do not have a microphone icon. To enter values into those, type as usual or use the platform's system-level voice input.
Microphone access and privacy
Layer uses the browser's built-in speech recognition service. The audio stream is processed by the browser according to the browser vendor's privacy policy. Layer does not store the raw audio. Only the transcribed text is saved into the field, and only when you stop dictation.
If the browser cannot reach the speech recognition service, the microphone icon shows an error state. Closing and reopening the page or the browser usually clears the error. On corporate networks, speech recognition may be blocked by a firewall rule; consult your IT team if dictation does not work for any user in your project.
Tips for accuracy
Speak in short, complete phrases rather than continuous monologue.
Use a quiet environment when possible. Background noise from a job site lowers accuracy.
For technical jargon and product names, dictate the standard word and correct by hand if needed.
Check the language setting if a phrase comes out garbled. The wrong language often produces the wrong word entirely.
Permissions
Anyone with access to the field can use dictation. The transcribed text is treated like any other input, so the project's role-based permissions apply. Locked fields and read-only fields hide the microphone icon.