How to dictate into any app with HoldSay

Turn speech into polished text in any app.

Place a finished HoldSay dictation directly into the text field where you are already working.

Use it for email, documents, chat replies, AI prompts, and browser forms. Your words appear at the cursor in the app you clicked before speaking, already cleaned up: filler words removed, paragraphs broken, numbers formatted.

Hold or tap the shortcut, speak, and the words land at the cursor of the app you are already in.

Start with the destination field

HoldSay types into the field that has the cursor when you start dictating, so click the destination first.

Choose the field first, then use the HoldSay shortcut without leaving the app where you are writing.

1. Click the field where the text should go: an email body, document, chat box, or browser form.
2. Choose hold or tap. Hold the shortcut for a quick sentence, or tap it once to start hands-free. The default is Right Option on Mac and Right Ctrl on Windows.
3. Speak naturally, then finish. Release a held shortcut, or tap it again after a hands-free dictation. The finished text appears at the cursor.
4. Read the inserted text before you send it or continue writing.

Make sure the right cursor is active

HoldSay does not choose a window for you. It uses the cursor that is active when you start with either a hold or a tap, so with several windows open, click inside the editable area itself:

The destination remains in front while the voice card shows the current dictation state.

• Email: the message body or reply area, not the inbox list.
• Documents: the exact point where the text should begin.
• AI chat: inside the prompt box.
• Messaging: the message field, then review before pressing Send.
• Browser forms: the editable text field.

HoldSay can place text anywhere ordinary typing works. If nothing appears in one app, dictate the same sentence into a plain text field. If it lands there, the original app has a shortcut conflict or a field that is not a normal editable field.

Check the microphone and dictation language

Open Settings and confirm the microphone and dictation language. The built-in microphone is a good starting point; an external microphone or AirPods work too.

Choose the microphone you are actually speaking into before the real recording.

To dictate with AirPods, connect them, select the AirPods microphone in Settings, and dictate a short test sentence.

Use the shortcut your way

The default shortcut is Right Option on Mac and Right Ctrl on Windows. Hold it while speaking and release it to finish, or tap once to start hands-free and tap again to stop. On Mac, open Settings and find Keyboard shortcut to switch between Right Option and Fn.

The same shortcut supports both hold-to-talk and tap-to-toggle dictation.

• Works in a plain text field but not in one app: likely an app-specific shortcut conflict, so try a different shortcut.
• No text appears after you finish: confirm the destination field had an active cursor, then check the microphone in Settings.

See what HoldSay cleans up

Every dictation is cleaned up on your device before the text reaches the cursor. In the default Raw mode, HoldSay removes filler words, adds punctuation, breaks a long thought into paragraphs, and formats numbers. Said out loud, a sentence is rarely this tidy:

Raw shows the continuous transcript without invented speaker names or formatting.

The same cleanup turns a long, breathless update into paragraphs you can send, and writes numbers the way readers expect:

When a dictation runs longer than 30 seconds, Polish mode adds a deeper on-device AI pass that tidies the wording while keeping your meaning. The same dictation, both ways:

Whichever mode you use, read the inserted text before sending, especially names, numbers, addresses, and dates. If a name or term regularly comes out wrong, add it in Settings under My Dictionary.

Common questions

Can I dictate into any app with HoldSay?

Yes. HoldSay can place text into normal editable fields in email, documents, messages, browser fields and AI chat tools. Click the destination field first so its cursor is active, then hold the shortcut while speaking or tap once to start and tap again to stop.

Do I have to keep holding the shortcut?

No. HoldSay supports both hold-to-talk and hands-free dictation. Hold and release for a quick sentence, or tap once to start, let go, and tap again when you are done.

Does HoldSay remove filler words and add paragraphs?

Yes. Every dictation gets an instant on-device cleanup that removes filler words, adds punctuation, breaks long thoughts into paragraphs, and formats numbers. Polish mode additionally rewrites wording on dictations longer than 30 seconds.

Does HoldSay dictation work offline?

Yes, after the local speech models are ready. Initial model downloads, license verification, and update checks still need a network connection.

Can I dictate with AirPods?

Yes. Select the AirPods microphone in HoldSay Settings and make a short test after connecting them. The active input can change when headphones reconnect, so confirm the microphone if the transcript is empty or weak.

If a label on this page does not match the app, email support@holdsay.com. Include Mac or Windows and the HoldSay version shown in Settings.