How to Transcribe in Other Languages on iPhone (and Install a Language for Offline Use)

TL;DR

SpeakSense lists the languages your device's speech engine supports; pick one before recording or when transcribing a file. A language that is not installed is downloaded by iOS the first time. Choose the right language; the app does not guess mid-recording.

The problem

A transcript in the wrong language is worse than none: English words invented from Mandarin speech, or a Spanish interview turned into gibberish. And most multi-language tools need an internet connection to switch.

Choose a language

  1. On the recording screen, tap the language. Search the list; recently used languages appear at the top.
  2. Languages already installed show Downloaded.
  3. Pick one before you start; it can’t be changed during recording.
  4. For an existing note, open it, tap Transcribe this recording, and pick the language there.

Installing languages

The language models belong to iOS. The first time you use a language, iOS may prompt or download it (“Preparing the language pack…”). Afterwards the language works without a connection.

Tips

  • If a recording has two languages, split the work: transcribe once in each, and keep the part that’s right.
  • Choose the regional variant that matches the speaker (US vs UK English, for instance).
  • Translation (Premium) is separate: it creates a second line beneath each sentence in another language.

FAQ

Which languages are supported? Whatever your iPhone’s on-device speech engine supports; the picker shows the list and marks the ones already downloaded.

Do I need internet for a new language? The first time you use a language, iOS may need to download it. After that it works offline.

Can it handle two languages in one recording? It transcribes in the single language you choose. Switch language and re-transcribe for the other part.

Why is my transcript nonsense? The language is probably wrong. Re-run transcription with the correct one.

The app SpeakSense →