Dictate in any app · AI chat

Voice typing in Microsoft Copilot

Copilot is embedded across Windows and Office, so it is reached mid-task, mid-document. Typally types what you say straight into Microsoft Copilot — hold a key, talk, let go — so you can dictate anywhere Microsoft Copilot lets you type.

Yes, we build Typally. That is also why the section on Microsoft Copilot's built-in option is honest: people who switch after trying both are the ones who stay.
Dictate into Microsoft Copilot Free — 100 minutes of dictation every month. No card, no trial countdown.
Try Typally free

In short

  • Microsoft Copilot's own dictation: Voice input in some surfaces, varying by which Copilot you are in — Windows, Edge, Word, Teams.
  • What Typally does instead: covers Microsoft Copilot and every other program on the machine with one hotkey.
  • Best used for: prompts in the windows sidebar

Does Microsoft Copilot have built-in dictation?

Voice input in some surfaces, varying by which Copilot you are in — Windows, Edge, Word, Teams. The behaviour is not consistent across them.

Why dictate in Microsoft Copilot at all?

Copilot appears in a dozen places with slightly different capabilities in each. A dictation habit that works everywhere is easier to keep than remembering which surface has a microphone.

In practice people use it for: Prompts in the Windows sidebar, in-document requests in Word, summarisation asks in Teams, and Edge browsing questions.

How to dictate in Microsoft Copilot

There is no Microsoft Copilot extension or add-in involved — Typally behaves like a very fast keyboard:

1

Start with the install

Windows or macOS build, signed in once.

2

Open Microsoft Copilot and click where you want the text

Click first. Typally types into Microsoft Copilot wherever the caret already is, with no idea what that field is for.

3

Hold the hotkey and talk

Say the whole thought, then let go. No time limit.

4

Read it before you move on

Copilot appears in several surfaces with different Enter behaviour. Check whether your return key sends or adds a line in the one you are using.

What Typally adds in Microsoft Copilot

Typally gives you one dictation habit that works in every Copilot surface — Windows sidebar, Edge, Word, Teams — rather than remembering which one currently has a microphone. It also covers everything else on the machine, and the prompt lands as editable text you can read before sending.

What this looks like in practice

Someone asks Copilot to draft a project update. Typed, the prompt is 'write a project update'. Spoken, it names the audience, the three things that changed, the one risk worth flagging and the tone to avoid — and the draft needs one edit instead of five.

One habit that makes it work better

Describe what the output should do, not just what it is about. 'Summarise this' gives you a summary; the spoken version specifying who reads it and what they need to decide gives you something usable.

What to watch out for in Microsoft Copilot

Copilot appears in several surfaces with different Enter behaviour. Check whether your return key sends or adds a line in the one you are using.

Frequently asked questions

Does Microsoft Copilot have voice input?

Some surfaces do, and it varies between the Windows, Edge, Office and Teams versions.

Can I dictate to Copilot inside Word?

Yes. The Copilot prompt box is a text field like any other.

Why use dictation when Copilot has voice?

One habit that works in every Copilot surface, plus every other app on the machine.

Try it in Microsoft Copilot

Free plan: 100 minutes of dictation a month, no card. Pro is $7.99/month if you want more.

Try Typally free

Also dictate in: ChatGPT · Microsoft Word · Microsoft Teams · see all apps