Dictate in any app · Project

Voice typing in Todoist

Todoist parses typed natural language brilliantly, which makes dictation into it a mixed blessing. Typally types what you say straight into Todoist — hold a key, talk, let go — so you can dictate anywhere Todoist lets you type.

Yes, we build Typally. That is also why the section on Todoist's built-in option is honest: people who switch after trying both are the ones who stay.
Dictate into Todoist Free on Windows and macOS. No payment details needed to start.
Try Typally free

In short

  • Todoist's own dictation: None on desktop. Its quick-add parses typed phrases like 'tomorrow at 3' into real dates.
  • What Typally does instead: types into the focused window, so it works in Todoist and everywhere else you write.
  • Best used for: task descriptions

Does Todoist have built-in dictation?

None on desktop. Its quick-add parses typed phrases like 'tomorrow at 3' into real dates.

Why dictate in Todoist at all?

Task titles are short, so typing them is fine. The description field, where you record why the task exists and what done looks like, is where things get abandoned.

In practice people use it for: Task descriptions, comments, project notes, and the weekly review where you write what actually happened.

How to dictate in Todoist

Because Typally types at the system level rather than plugging into Todoist, setup is the same everywhere:

1

Get Typally running

Install, sign in, and it waits in the tray.

2

Click into the right box in Todoist first

Put the cursor in the field you are about to fill — Todoist decides where the text lands, not Typally.

3

Talk while holding the key

The recording lasts exactly as long as you do.

4

Read it before you move on

Quick-add interprets words like 'tomorrow' and 'every Monday' as scheduling instructions, so a dictated sentence containing them can set a due date you did not intend.

What Typally adds in Todoist

Typally types into the description and comment fields — deliberately not the title, because Todoist's quick-add parses date words out of typed text and a dictated 'tomorrow' will set a due date you did not intend. Type the title, speak the description, and the natural-language parsing stays intact.

What this looks like in practice

Someone doing a weekly review dictates two lines into each of the six tasks that keep rolling over, explaining what is actually blocking them. Four turn out to be blocked on the same thing, which was invisible while they were bare titles.

One habit that makes it work better

Type the task title so the natural-language date parsing works, then dictate the description. Speaking a date is where dictation and Todoist's parser disagree most.

What to watch out for in Todoist

Quick-add interprets words like 'tomorrow' and 'every Monday' as scheduling instructions, so a dictated sentence containing them can set a due date you did not intend.

Frequently asked questions

Does Todoist support voice input?

Not on desktop. Mobile relies on the phone keyboard's microphone.

Why does dictating a task set the wrong date?

Todoist's quick-add parses date words out of the text. Type titles with dates, dictate descriptions.

Can I dictate Todoist comments?

Yes. Open the task and click into the comment field.

Try it in Todoist

Start on the free plan (100 minutes a month, no card). Pro lifts the cap and adds meeting notes for $7.99/month.

Try Typally free

Also dictate in: Google Keep · Asana · Notion · see all apps