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iPhone tips & tricks

A few small habits make TalkWriter feel effortless on iPhone and iPad. Here are the ones our users reach for most.

Available on: iOS 16 and later · iPhone and iPad

Switch keyboards in a flash​

The fastest way to get to TalkWriter in any app:

  • Tap and hold the 🌐 globe key (bottom‑left), then choose TalkWriter — this jumps straight to it.
  • A quick tap of the globe cycles to the next keyboard, which is great once TalkWriter is one of just two keyboards you use.
Fewer keyboards, faster switching

Trim your keyboard list to just TalkWriter plus one system layout. With only two, a single globe tap toggles between them.

Dictate long notes in the app​

For anything longer than a quick message — a journal entry, an email draft, a brain‑dump — open the Dictation tab in the app and use the big mic. It's a roomy, distraction‑free space to speak freely, with automatic punctuation and filler‑word removal, and your dictation history is saved in that tab.

Keep an eye on meetings from the Dynamic Island​

While a meeting records, the Dynamic Island (on supported iPhones) and your lock screen show a Live Activity with the TalkWriter logo. You can lock your phone or hop between apps and the recording keeps going. Tap it to jump back into the meeting. More in Manage notifications and Meetings on mobile.

Make TalkWriter your main keyboard​

iOS remembers your last keyboard per app, so once you switch to TalkWriter in your favorites, it tends to stick. Many people keep TalkWriter as their everyday keyboard and only flip back to a system layout for a specific need. Set it up once in Set up the keyboard on iPhone.

Rewrite a message before you send it​

Typed something quickly and want it to land better? Select the text, tap Rewrite on the keyboard, then pick a Tone, Style, and Intensity and Apply. Professional, Friendly, Concise, Confident, and 30+ more. If you select a very long passage, iOS may ask you to copy the text first so TalkWriter can read it — follow the quick guide and it resumes automatically.

iPad notes​

Everything works the same on iPad, with a little more room:

  • The keyboard is wider and shows more controls in the top bar, so the language chip and Rewrite are easier to reach.
  • The in‑app Dictation screen is excellent for longer writing sessions on the bigger display.

FAQs​

Do I have to switch keyboards every time? No — iOS remembers your choice per app. Set TalkWriter once where you use it most and it stays put.

Can I dictate without the keyboard? Yes. Use the Dictation tab in the app and tap the big mic — ideal for longer notes.

Where do my dictated notes go? The in‑app dictate screen keeps a history in the Dictation tab, and it syncs to your account across devices.

Still stuck?​

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