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 the key, 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.
- Click the field where the text should go: an email body, document, chat box, or browser form.
- Hold the dictation shortcut. The default is Right Option on Mac and Right Ctrl on Windows.
- Speak naturally, then release. The finished text appears at the cursor.
- 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 hold the shortcut, 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 a shortcut you can hold comfortably
The default shortcut is Right Option on Mac and Right Ctrl on Windows. On Mac, open Settings and find Keyboard shortcut to switch between Right Option and Fn. Pick whichever key is easiest to hold while you speak.
The held dictation shortcut is visible and changeable in Settings.
- 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 release: 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.
Um, so I was, like, thinking we should move the launch to next Thursday, you know, because the blog post is, uh, not ready yet.
I was thinking we should move the launch to next Thursday, because the blog post is not ready yet.
The same cleanup turns a long, breathless update into paragraphs you can send, and writes numbers the way readers expect:
quick update on the beta we hit 82 percent of the signup target this week and the new onboarding flow is now live for everyone on the list next week i want to focus on the invite emails maya is drafting the first version and we should review it together on thursday
Quick update on the beta. We hit 82% of the signup target this week, and the new onboarding flow is now live for everyone on the list.
Next week I want to focus on the invite emails. Maya is drafting the first version, and we should review it together on Thursday.
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:
Just wanted to follow up on the proposal. Overall it looks good, but I found the pricing section a bit hard to follow, so I was wondering if we could go through it together this week.
The proposal looks good overall. The pricing section is a bit hard to follow, though. Could we walk through it together this week?
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?
HoldSay can place text into normal editable fields in email, documents, messages, browser fields, and AI chat tools. Click the destination field before holding the shortcut so its cursor is active.
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.