Over time, keyboard apps have improved a lot and introduced many features to make typing easier. One such feature that is now available in almost every keyboard app is voice typing, which allows users to narrate their text instead of typing it out. Made for difficult situations where you have so much to write but so little time to type, it packs in convenience and accessibility. However, occasionally the feature itself encounters difficulties on Android phones and shows the message: no permission to enable voice typing. So, what exactly is this error and how can you fix it? Let’s find out.
How to Fix No Permission to Enable Voice Typing on Android 11/12
Basically, voice typing uses speech recognition technology to transcribe spoken words into text. It’s no longer just a pleasant feature to be happy about but a need. And you wouldn’t want it to catch you off-guard with no permission to enable voice typing when you are all in the mood to get a really long message written using it, on WhatsApp or anywhere else. No worries, we’ll help you fix it.
Note: Since smartphones don’t have the same Settings options, they vary from manufacturer to manufacturer. Hence, ensure the correct settings before changing any on your device. The steps were performed on the Samsung S20 FE 5G with Samsung Keyboard & Gboard, as shown in the illustrations below.
Method 1: Enable Voice Typing Feature in Keyboard App
Well, the error message straight away describes the lack of permission. This might be because the voice input feature for the respective keyboard on the device might not be enabled. So, let’s begin with enabling the same. Follow the steps below:
1. Open Settings, scroll down, and tap on General management.
2. Tap on Samsung Keyboard settings.
If you use Google Keyboard, tap on Gboard settings.
3. Scroll down and tap on Voice input.
4. Select Samsung voice input or Google Voice Typing, as appropriate.
Method 2: Allow Permission to Use the Microphone
In efforts to rule security & privacy, apps seek users’ permission to access the data and components of their smartphones. Just like you might have seen WhatsApp asking you for permission to access your gallery, you also need to allow the keyboard app to use the microphone.
Note: If you are using the Samsung keyboard, it by default has the all permissions. However, if it is any third-party keyboard app, you will have to manually grant it access to the microphone.
1. Open Settings and tap on Apps.
2. Navigate to the keyboard app from the list. Let’s say Gboard and tap on Permissions.
3. Tap on Microphone.
4. Select Allow only while using the app.
Now check if no permission to enable voice typing error is fixed.
Also Read: How to Turn Off Google Voice Typing on Android
Method 3: Allow Microphone Access from Privacy Settings
Android 12 introduced a new privacy-focused feature that gives users the ability to disable Camera and Microphone access on their smartphones. If the keyboard app still has no permission to enable voice typing messages, microphone access may have been disabled in this specific setting.
1. Tap on Settings, followed by Security and privacy.
2. Tap on Privacy.
3. Slide the toggle next to Microphone access to enable it.
Method 4: Clear Cache for Keyboard App
When we use an app it automatically collects cache data and files. When uncleaned for a long time, the files may go corrupt or damaged, which can affect the functionalities of the app. Follow the steps to clear it out:
1. Open Settings, and tap on Apps.
2. Select Gboard or the keyboard app you’re using from the list.
3. Tap on Storage and select Clear cache.
Method 5: Update App, then Device
Outdated apps are vulnerable and often encounter bugs & minor glitches. Such bugs are fixed over subsequent updates provided by the developers. We suggest you update the respective app.
1. Open the Google Play Store and search for Gboard.
2. Tap on Update.
Now, it is important to update the device as well. Follow the steps:
3. Open Settings, scroll down and tap on Software update.
4. Tap on Download and install.
5. Tap on Download and then Restart the device to install the update.
If you’re facing this issue with any particular app, such as WhatsApp that shows no permission to enable voice typing, there are chances the issue may be app-specific. So, update that particular app as well.
Method 6. Reinstall the keyboard app
Sometimes an app won’t stop glitching no matter what you try. The only option is to start fresh and hence uninstalling and reinstalling it can help. Here is how to do it:
1. Tap and hold the Gboard icon in the app drawer.
2. Select Uninstall from the pop-up.
3. Once uninstalled, install Gboard from the Google Play Store.
After installation, select voice input on it and allow it permission to access the microphone, following the steps given in Method 1 and Method 2.
Method 7: Use Different Keyboard App
Lastly, if all the solutions provided fail to bail you out, we recommend using a different keyboard app for Android with the voice typing feature. Speech-to-text apps also help you easily transcribe your voice into text effortlessly. Go through our blog on 16 Best Speech to Text Apps for Free for our top suggestions.
We hope our guide helped you fix the no permission to enable voice typing error on your Android smartphone. If you have any queries or suggestions for us, do let us know in the comments box below. Stay tuned to TechCult for solutions to more such tech-related issues.
