MacOS – Apple dictation missing commands in web browser

accessibilitygoogle-chromemacmacosvoice-dictation

I am dealing with physical problems from the keyboard/mouse, so discovering Apple dictation has been amazing. However, I work a lot in Google Docs and Gmail… and Google Chrome (or any web browser) does not let me use all of the commands that Apple's dictation provides. It's missing essential selection, navigation and editing commands that are available when using an Apple app like TextEdit. Those commands are essential for moving the cursor around and making fixes without the keyboard. The only solution that's been working for me has been to type in TextEdit, and then to copy and paste into the browser. But this is not a real solution.

It would be nice to stick with the native (and free) Apple dictation software on the mac, so does anyone have an idea to get these dictation commands to work in a web browser for use with gmail and google docs?

Edit: I found that Safari lets you use Apple's dictation with gmail, but still not with Google Docs.

Best Answer

Google docs uses a custom javascript application that disables the services component of the Mac (that lets the built in Mac voice dictation work.). If you want to use voice dictation in Google Docs, you have to use there build in functionally, and you MUST use Google Chrome.

From Google:

For an easy way to put words on a page, you can type with your voice in a document. At the moment, this feature is only available in Chrome browsers.

Here's how to activate the type with your voice function for Google Docs.

  1. In a Chrome browser, open a Google Docs document.
  2. Click the Tools menu -> Voice typing...
    Go to Tools menu, then click Voice typing.
  3. A pop-up microphone box will appear. When you are ready to speak your text, click the microphone or press Cmd + Shift + S on your keyboard.
    Grey mic icon in a box will show up on the left edge of screen.
  4. If this is the first time you've let Chrome use your microphone you will get a little pop-up from the top of the screen asking to OK Chrome using your microphone. Hit Allow to enable the microphone in Chrome.
    First time use pop up, hit Allow to use.
  5. Once you click in the Click to Speak box, the mic icon will turn orange and appear in a circle.
    Click grey mic icon, mic enabled turns orange
  6. You can now dictate into your Google Docs. As you do the mic icon will show when it detects sound with an outer ring.
    Mic Animation Talking
  7. When you're finished, click the microphone again.

From Google:

While voice typing in Google Docs is only available on computers, many Android and iOS phones and tablets have built-in microphones that you can use with a document. Look for the microphone icon on your mobile keyboard.

For more information you can check out the Google Help Documentation here:
Typing With Your Voice.