When voice typing stops working, the fix is usually in one of four places: the microphone, the keyboard setting, the app permission or the keyboard app itself. Check them in that order so you do not erase settings before you need to.
Start with a simple test. Open a notes app or another app with a plain text field, tap the microphone on your keyboard and say one short sentence. The exact failure matters: the microphone icon can be missing, listening can start without writing words, the phone can ask for permission, or the keyboard can stop responding.
Check Android's microphone access first
Android can block microphone access across the device. On supported phones, swipe down and check the microphone control in Quick Settings. If the microphone is off, turn it back on. Google also notes that a privacy indicator can show which app or service is using the camera or microphone.
Then check the keyboard app's permission. For Gboard, Google's path is Settings > Apps or App management > Gboard > Permissions > Microphone, then "Allow only while using the app." If you use a different voice keyboard, check that app's microphone permission the same way.
Make sure voice typing and the keyboard are on
A keyboard update can remove Gboard from the active keyboard list. Google's fix is Settings > System > Keyboard > On-screen keyboard, then turn Gboard on. You can also touch and hold the Globe key in a text field and choose Gboard.
Next, open a text field, tap Settings on the keyboard, tap Voice typing and turn Voice typing on. Google's Gboard help also lists Faster voice typing for responsiveness and Advanced voice typing features on Pixel 6 or newer.
Remember the normal starting point: open an app where you can type, tap the text field, tap the microphone and speak when "Speak now" appears. Google says talk-to-write works in most places where you can type, but not with every language.
Refresh Gboard without resetting everything
Start with the reversible fixes. Update Gboard from Google Play, force close and reopen the keyboard, then restart the phone. Google says restarting can clear minor problems caused by apps and processes running in the background.
If voice typing still fails, clear the Gboard app cache: Settings > Apps or Apps & notifications > Gboard > Storage and cache > Clear cache. Do not jump straight to Clear data or Clear storage. Google warns that those reset Gboard to its default state.
If the problem started immediately after an update, Google lists uninstalling Gboard updates as a way to return to a more stable version. Reinstalling Gboard is a later step, and Google warns not to remove it if it is your only keyboard app.
Match the fix to the symptom
| What happens | Check first | Why |
|---|---|---|
| The microphone icon is missing | Keyboard selection and Voice typing setting. | The feature may be off, or another keyboard may be active. |
| The phone says microphone access is blocked | Quick Settings and the keyboard app's Microphone permission. | Android can block the mic before the keyboard can listen. |
| Listening starts, but no words appear | Try a plain text field and check the language. | Talk-to-write is not available in every place or language. |
| The keyboard freezes or stops responding | Update, force stop, restart, then clear cache. | These refresh the app without resetting learned settings. |
| The failure started after an update | Install the newest update, or uninstall updates if Google Play is current. | The installed version may have a bug fixed later or introduced recently. |
Test EkkoBoard the same way
If EkkoBoard is the keyboard that is not listening, check its Android microphone permission and make sure EkkoBoard is the active keyboard. Then test in a plain note before trying a message thread or form.
EkkoBoard's dictation tutorial shows two starting styles: tap to talk, or press and hold while you speak. If one does not respond, try the other after the permission and keyboard checks. A successful test in a simple field tells you the keyboard can hear you; a failure only in one app points back to that app or its field.
Stop before a bigger reset
Clear data, uninstall updates and reinstalling are useful only after the smaller checks fail. They can remove settings or change the keyboard's state. If those steps still do not restore voice typing, use the phone maker's support path and keep the exact symptom: the icon is missing, permission is denied, listening produces no text, or the keyboard freezes.