Email-aware wording
Assign Outlook its own per-app tone so dictated mail can be polished differently from notes, chats, or documents.
Fact-checked · Last verified August 24, 2026
How to dictate in Microsoft Outlook
How to dictate in Microsoft Outlook
for faster email drafting
To dictate an Outlook email, start a new message or reply, select Message > Dictate, wait for the listening indicator, and speak. The connected Microsoft feature is available in supported Outlook versions; WhisperJot adds an offline local option, per-app email tone, and reusable history.
Dictate
The built-in option
Outlook's included Dictate feature is available in Outlook for Microsoft 365 on Windows and Mac, new Outlook for Windows, Outlook on the web, and mobile. It requires a stable internet connection. Microsoft says audio is sent to provide the service and deleted after transcription. More than 50 languages are available, with English (US) as the default; settings include language, microphone selection, and an Auto Punctuation toggle. Voice commands handle punctuation.
- Create a new Outlook email or open a reply, then position the cursor in the message.
- Open the Message tab, select Dictate, and wait until Outlook shows that it is listening; on mobile, use the microphone icon.
- Speak the email and any supported punctuation commands, then select the control again when the draft is complete.
One hotkey across apps
Dictate in Microsoft Outlook with WhisperJot
- After installing WhisperJot, begin an Outlook message and focus the subject line or body where speech should be entered.
- Trigger capture with Option+Space on macOS or Ctrl+Alt+Space on Windows and Linux; holding fn is another Mac control.
- Dictate in push-to-talk, toggle, or hands-free mode and use the HUD's partial text to follow recognition as you speak.
- End capture to inject the cleaned text into Outlook, then retrieve earlier transcriptions later from local SQLite history if needed.
Locally stored history
Previous transcriptions remain in a local SQLite history, which can help recover wording from an earlier email draft.
Connected or offline choice
Outlook Dictate uses Microsoft's online service, while WhisperJot local engines work without internet after their first model download.
Names your way
Custom vocabulary can improve handling of the people, products, and organization terms that recur in business email.
Questions
Straight answers.
How do I dictate an email in Microsoft Outlook?
Start a new email or reply, click in the message, and choose Message > Dictate. Wait for Outlook to show that it is listening, then speak and use supported punctuation commands as needed. Select the control again to stop. In Outlook mobile, Microsoft provides a microphone icon for the same basic workflow.
Where is the Dictate button in Outlook?
In a new message or reply on supported desktop and web versions, Microsoft places Dictate on the Message tab. On mobile, look for the microphone icon. Availability covers Outlook for Microsoft 365 on Windows and Mac, new Outlook for Windows, Outlook.com on the web, and the mobile apps.
Does Outlook Dictate need an internet connection?
Yes. Microsoft's Outlook Dictate is cloud-based and requires a stable connection. Microsoft says the audio is sent to its service only to provide transcription and is deleted afterward. For disconnected work, WhisperJot can instead use a local engine that processes on-device by default after its initial model download.
What languages and settings are available in Outlook Dictate?
Outlook Dictate supports more than 50 languages and defaults to English (US). Its settings let you choose the dictation language and microphone and switch Auto Punctuation on or off. It also accepts voice commands for punctuation. Consult Microsoft's current help page when support for a specific language is essential.
Sources, checked August 24, 2026: Outlook Dictate help, Outlook Dictate on web (Microsoft blog). Vendor features change — check each product's documentation for current behavior.
Browse WhisperJot use cases, compare dictation apps, or check the system requirements.
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