> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.intelligence-management-platform.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Dictation

> Speak your message instead of typing it — IMP transcribes your recording into the message box.

export const RightsCallout = ({right, flags}) => <Info>
    Who sees this: requires {right === "none" ? "no special rights — available to every signed-in user" : `the ${right} right (or super admin)`}.
    {flags && flags !== "none" ? ` Only visible when the server enables ${flags}.` : ""}
  </Info>;

<RightsCallout right="none" flags="Transcripts (a transcription backend must be configured)" />

When your deployment has a transcription backend configured, a microphone button appears in the composer next to the send button. Recordings are transcribed server-side (Whisper-style speech-to-text) and the text lands in the message box — nothing is sent until you press send.

<Frame caption="Dictation in action: click the mic button, speak, and the transcribed text lands in the message box ready to send.">
  <video autoPlay muted loop playsInline src="https://mintcdn.com/exulu/HUjjVgs8aB3PSMha/videos/dictation.mp4?fit=max&auto=format&n=HUjjVgs8aB3PSMha&q=85&s=8688e51ff821a7dd8fb501aba0e1a0cd" data-path="videos/dictation.mp4" />
</Frame>

## Dictate a message

<Steps>
  <Step title="Start recording">
    Click the microphone button (**Start recording**). The first time, your browser asks for microphone permission — allow it.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Speak">
    While recording, the button shows a pulsing stop symbol. Speak normally; you can dictate several sentences.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Stop">
    Click the button again (**Stop recording**). The button shows a spinner while the audio is **Transcribing**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Review and send">
    The transcribed text is appended to whatever is already in the message box. Read it, fix anything the transcription got wrong, and send. Dictation never sends automatically.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  Transcription uses your interface language as a hint, which makes short recordings in languages other than English noticeably more accurate. Set your language in the user menu.
</Tip>

## If the microphone doesn't work

If recording can't start, IMP shows a **Microphone unavailable** message explaining why:

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Permission was denied">
    "Microphone permission was denied. Click the lock/permissions icon next to the URL and allow microphone access for this site." — re-enable the permission in your browser's site settings, then try again.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="No microphone found">
    "No microphone was found on this device." — plug in or enable a microphone, then reload the page.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Microphone is busy">
    "The microphone is in use by another application." — close the other app (video call software is the usual culprit) and try again.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Not a secure connection">
    Recording requires HTTPS (or localhost). If your deployment is served over plain HTTP, browsers block microphone access entirely — ask your administrator.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

If a recording fails to transcribe, IMP shows "Transcription failed" — your recording is discarded, so dictate again.

<Note>
  Dictation transcribes short voice input into the message box. To transcribe whole meetings or audio files, use [**Transcripts**](/user-guide/transcripts/overview) in the sidebar instead.
</Note>