# Dictation

> Dictate instead of typing: the mic in the chat composer turns your speech into the prompt live. Where to find it, how it works and what to do if it fails.

Source: https://endless.okinawa/docs/transcripts/dictation

**Dictation** writes your prompt from speech. Your words appear in the composer as you talk.
Nothing is saved as a transcript or an asset, it costs no credits and works on every plan.

The mic (**"Start dictation"**) replaces the send button when a chat composer is empty: on the
workspace home, in any [chat](/docs/chat) and on **Social radar**. The generate composers on
[Image](/docs/create/image), [Video](/docs/create/video) and [Canvas](/docs/create/canvas) don't have it.

## Dictate a prompt

<Steps>
  <Step>
    ### Select the mic

    Allow microphone access the first time. A recording bar appears with &#x2A;*✕**, a red dot and a
    timer.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Talk

    Text appears as you speak and is finalized when you pause. It is added to anything already in
    the composer.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Stop or cancel

    Select stop or press **Enter*&#x2A; to keep the text. Select &#x2A;*✕** or press **Escape** to discard
    everything from this recording; there's no undo.
  </Step>

  <Step>
    ### Review and send

    Dictation never sends. Edit the text if needed, then send.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Limits

* One dictation lasts at most **five minutes**, then stops and keeps the text. For longer
  audio, make a [transcript](/docs/transcripts).
* Each person can start **six dictations a minute** and **sixty an hour**.
* It needs a microphone and a live connection. If the connection drops, text already added
  stays.

## If it doesn't start

| Message                                                                  | What to do                                                    |
| ------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ------------------------------------------------------------- |
| *"Microphone access is blocked. Allow it in your browser settings"*      | Allow the microphone for this site, then select the mic again |
| *"No microphone found. Connect one and try again"*                       | Connect an input device                                       |
| *"Dictation isn't supported in this browser. Type your message instead"* | Use a current desktop or mobile browser                       |
| *"An error occurred while starting dictation. Try again"*                | Try again; you may have hit the rate limit above              |
| *"An error occurred during dictation. Try again."*                       | The session dropped. Select the mic again                     |