Dictate into other apps with the bubble

What the bubble is and what it accesses#

TypeWhisper uses Android's AccessibilityService API for the optional dictation bubble. TypeWhisper is not an accessibility tool. The bubble is off until you agree to the notice in the app.

What it accesses: the name of the app you are using, in web browsers the domain of the open page (for example example.com), the text field you are typing in (its text, cursor position and field type) and where windows such as the keyboard are on the screen.

Why: to show the bubble next to editable text fields, to insert your dictation at the cursor without overwriting existing text, to skip password fields, to use the profile you assigned to that app or website and, if you turn it on, to send with the field's enter action.

Turn on the bubble#

1. Open the notice

   Tap Set up dictation bubble in the Bubble step of the guided setup, Dictate into other apps on the Record tab, or the Show dictation bubble switch in Settings → Dictation bubble.

2. Agree

   Read the notice and tap Agree and enable. No thanks leaves the bubble off.

3. Enable the service in Android

   Android's accessibility settings open. Turn on TypeWhisper's Dictation bubble there. While the service is still off, Settings → Dictation bubble says “Enable TypeWhisper in Android's accessibility settings.” and offers Open accessibility settings.

4. Allow the microphone

   If TypeWhisper has no microphone access yet, Settings → Dictation bubble says “Allow microphone access in the TypeWhisper app.” and shows Allow microphone. If you denied it before, the button reads Open microphone settings. When everything is set, it shows “Ready. Open a text field in another app to dictate.”

Dictate with the bubble#

1. Tap a text field

   Open a text field in another app. The bubble appears; drag it to where you want it.

2. Tap the bubble and speak

   Recording starts and the bubble shows a waveform with a small stop symbol.

3. Tap again to stop

   The bubble shows a spinner while TypeWhisper transcribes, then inserts the text at the cursor in the field you started in.

• The close button next to the bubble cancels the recording.
• If the field changed or could not accept text, the dictation waits and the bubble shows a paste symbol. Tap the bubble in a text field to insert it, or tap the close button to discard it.
• The bubble does not appear in TypeWhisper itself, in password and sensitive fields, on the lock screen, or while you dictate in the app or keyboard. The screen stays on while the bubble records. If it turns off anyway, the recording stops and is transcribed, and the bubble's paste button inserts it in a text field.

Bubble settings#

All options are in Settings → Dictation bubble.

• Send after dictating: Never, When you end with “send” or “senden”, or Always. This is separate from the keyboard's setting. Some apps only send with their own send button. Sending needs Android 11 or newer.
• Space after dictation: shared with the TypeWhisper keyboard.
• Appearance: Size Small, Medium or Large, Transparency up to 60% and Reset position. Transparency applies while idle; recording, processing and pending text stay fully visible.
• While recording: Left of the bubble and Right of the bubble each show Nothing, Time, Level, Profile or Engine. A preview shows the result.
• Show live text shows what you say next to the bubble. Nemotron Live streams it; other engines on this device recognize the last seconds again every 3 seconds, which uses more battery. Cloud engines show no live text, so your audio is not uploaded more than once.
• Engine for live text: Same as for dictation, or another engine on this device that is already downloaded. Live text size: Small, Medium or Large.

Profiles for apps and websites#

Apps without an assigned profile use your active profile. To translate or rewrite bubble dictations automatically, open a profile under Settings → Profiles (or Profiles in the bubble settings) and set Use automatically in these apps or Use automatically on these websites.

• Websites are recognized in Chrome, Edge, Brave, Opera, Vivaldi and DuckDuckGo while the dictation bubble is on. Android lets TypeWhisper read the address bar only through its accessibility service.
• You can paste a full URL; only the domain is kept. Subdomains are included, so example.com also covers docs.example.com.
• If a profile has both apps and websites, both must match. A profile for the app and website wins over one for the website alone, which wins over one for the app alone.
• The TypeWhisper keyboard uses the same assignments. Calendar Event profiles are not applied in the bubble.

History, private fields and turning it off#

• Bubble dictations appear in History with a Bubble tag and follow your recording retention settings.
• Private input fields are not saved. If Android cannot identify a field's privacy mode (including Android 12 and older), its dictations stay out of history.
• Password and sensitive fields are excluded; the bubble does not appear there.
• To turn the bubble off, switch off Show dictation bubble in Settings → Dictation bubble. To remove the accessibility access as well, also turn off Dictation bubble in Android's accessibility settings.
• If the bubble settings say the accessibility service is disconnected, turn Dictation bubble off and on again in Android's accessibility settings.