No Permission to Enable Voice Typing: What it Means & How to Fix It

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Troubleshoot this voice typing error on your Android

Co-authored by Darlene Antonelli, MA Reviewed by Luigi Oppido

Last Updated: October 21, 2024 Fact Checked

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• Enabling Voice Typing
|
• Allowing Microphone Permissions
|
• Clearing the Keyboard App Cache
|
• Updating the Keyboard App
|
• Video

|Show more |Show less

Have you ever tried to use voice-to-text on your Android and seen a "No Permission to Enable Voice Typing" error? This error can pop up on Gboard, SwiftKey, or even the default keyboard on your Samsung, Xiaomi, OnePlus, Pixel, or other Android phone. The error usually appears when you tap the microphone on your keyboard to compose a voice text, and it often means the keyboard doesn't have permission to access your microphone. Luckily, it's easy to fix! Read on to learn more about getting rid of that error message.

Fix the “No Permission to Enable Voice Typing” Error

Enable voice typing in your keyboard's settings. Then, give your keyboard app (like Gboard or Swiftkey) permission to access your microphone in Settings > Apps > (the app's name) > Permissions > Microphone.

Steps

Section 1 of 4:

Enabling Voice Typing

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1. 
   1
   Open your keyboard. One reason you see the "No Permission to Enable Voice Typing" error could be that voice typing is not yet enabled. To start troubleshooting, open any app that pulls up your keyboard, like a text message, a conversation in Messenger, or an email.

   • If you already have Voice typing enabled, skip to Allowing Microphone Permissions.
2. 
   2
   Press and hold the comma , then select

   

   . The comma is in the bottom left corner of your phone's keyboard. Holding down the comma will prompt a keyboard menu to open. Tap the gear icon to open Settings.
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3. 
   3
   Tap Voice typing. It's next to an icon of a microphone.
4. 
   4
   Tap the toggle next to "Use voice typing" to turn it on. It'll be pointing to the right when the feature is enabled.
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Section 2 of 4:

Allowing Microphone Permissions

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1. 
   1
   Open Settings. If Voice Typing is enabled but you're still getting "No Permission to Enable Voice Typing," tap the app icon that features a gear on it, or swipe down from the top of the screen to open the Quick Settings panel, then tap the gear.

   • Follow these steps if you're using a third-party keyboard like Gboard or SwiftKey.
   • The wording in the Settings menu may vary depending on your phone's manufacturer, but the steps are similar enough that any Android can follow along.
2. 
   2
   Tap Apps. You'll see this next to a grid icon.
3. 
   3
   Tap the name of your keyboard. You can browse the alphabetical list or use the search bar at the top to search for your app quickly.
4. 
   4
   Tap Permissions. This opens the "App permissions" page.
5. 
   5
   Tap Microphone. It's next to an icon of a microphone.
6. 
   6
   Tap Allow only while using the app. It's the first option on the menu. You should now be able to use voice typing on your Android keyboard without getting the "No Permission" error.
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Section 3 of 4:

Clearing the Keyboard App Cache

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1. 
   1
   Open your Android's Settings. If you still see "No Permission to Enable Voice Typing," the cache might be corrupted.
2. 
   2
   Tap Apps. You might see different wording on other Android devices.
3. 
   3
   Tap Gboard. If you're using a different keyboard app, tap that instead.
4. 
   4
   Tap Storage. You can see how much room the app is using on your phone.
5. 
   5
   Tap Clear cache. To be certain that the cache is deleted, restart your Android by pressing and holding the Power button and pressing Restart when the Power menu appears.

   • Try using the microphone icon again to see if you can speak a text without getting a "No Permission" error.
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Section 4 of 4:

Updating the Keyboard App

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1. 
   1
   Open the Google Play Store. Most apps update automatically, but you may need to manually update your keyboard app if the "No Permission to Enable Voice Typing" message still appears.
2. 
   2
   Search for your keyboard app. Tap the search icon at the bottom of your screen to start a search, then enter the name of your keyboard app, like Gboard or SwiftKey.
3. 
   3
   Tap Update (if available). If you don't see the option, then your app is up-to-date.

   • Once you confirm that the app is updated, try voice typing again.
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