Voice Typing is one of the many hidden features of Google Docs that people don’t use regularly yet. By the way, few users who know can not use it successfully. So, if you are unable to run Voice Typing in Google Docs, we will help you fix it with a few solutions in this post.
Reloading the Google Docs tab or restarting the browser may fix the problem. If nothing changes when you restart your browser and Google Docs Voice Typing still isn’t working, run the suggested troubleshooting checks below.
1. Switch to Chrome
If you can’t find the Voice Typing option in the Tools section of Google Docs, you’re probably using an unsupported browser. The problem is, if you’re not using Google Chrome, you’re going to miss out on some of the best features of Google Docs. A good example is Offline Typing. And you can’t really blame Google for wanting to keep some of its best cherries on its tree.
2. Check Website Microphone Access
The first time you use Voice Typing in Chrome, you may be prompted to grant access to the website (i.e. Google Docs) to the microphone on your PC or Mac. Click Allow. If you don’t remember whether you granted microphone access to Google Docs or perhaps accidentally clicked Deny, there is a way to check and fix the problem.
Stage 1: Tap the three-dot menu icon in the top right corner of Chrome and select Settings.
Step 2: Go to the ‘Privacy and security’ section.
Stage 3: Select Site settings.
Step 4: Go to the Permissions section and select Microphone.
Step 5: You can check if it’s in the Allow section of Google Docs (https://docs.google.com).
If Google Docs is in the Blocking section, skip to step 6 to allow access to the site microphone.
Step 6: Click on Google Docs (https://docs.google.com:443).
Step 7: Tap the microphone dropdown button and select Allow.
Return to the Google Docs page and check if Voice Typing is working now.
If you have an external device with a built-in microphone connected to your computer, you should also check if the device has the active microphone used by Chrome. On Chrome’s microphone settings page (see step 4 above), tap the Default dropdown button.
Now select the device you want to use as the default microphone for Voice Typing.
You should select the microphone only after checking that it is working properly.
3. Check Chrome’s Microphone Access
Another thing you want to confirm is that Google Chrome (not just Google Docs) has permission to use your computer’s microphone or any other connected microphones.
Check Chrome’s Microphone Permission on Windows
Stage 1: Launch the Windows Settings menu and select Privacy.
Step 2: In the App permissions section (on the left menu), select Microphone.
Stage 3: Make sure ‘Allow apps to access your microphone’ is turned on.
Step 4: Additionally, scroll to the bottom of the page and turn on ‘Allow desktop apps to access your microphone’.
Check Chrome’s Microphone Permission on Mac
Stage 1: Launch System Preferences and select ‘Security & Privacy’.
Step 2: Go to the Privacy section and select Microphone.
Stage 3: Confirm that Google Chrome is checked.
If Google Chrome is not in the list of apps listed in the Microphone section, try using Voice Typing in Google Docs and look for a confirmation prompt like the one below. Tap OK to continue.
If Google Chrome is still not showing on the Microphone permission page, you need to reinstall the browser on your Mac.
4. Adjust Microphone Volume
Voice Typing may not work optimally if your device’s microphone volume is muted or very low. If you are using an external microphone with a dedicated microphone volume knob or slider, turn up the volume and try Voice Typing again. Alternatively, you can increase the microphone volume from your PC’s settings menu. Here’s how.
Adjust Microphone Volume in Windows
Stage 1: Launch Settings and select System.
Step 2: In the Sound menu, go to Input and select your preferred input device (read: microphone) from the list of available devices. Then click Device properties.
Stage 3: Move the microphone volume slider to the right to increase the volume.
Note: Check out other ways to adjust microphone volume in Windows 10.
Adjust Microphone Volume on Mac
Stage 1: Launch System Preferences and select Sound.
Step 2: go to: Go to the input tab and select the default/preferred input device.
Stage 3: Finally, move the Input volume slider to the right to increase the microphone volume.
More Troubleshooting Options
If all efforts to get Voice Typing to work are futile, try clearing Chrome’s cache or clearing all the browser’s data. Also, using Voice Typing in a quiet environment can minimize problems. Better yet, get yourself a noise canceling microphone.
Next: Having problems downloading Google Docs documents in Chrome? Check out the ten (10) quick troubleshooting fixes listed in the article linked below.