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Recently bought an Ipad Pro along with a smart keyboard folio, only to discover that I can no longer use voice dictation on messages or apps like Duolingo without removing the keyboard. So frustrating and inconvenient!! Apple needs to add this feature!
iPad Pro, iOS 12
You do NOT have to remove the keyboard to use dictation. This just shows you are unfamiliar with the shortcuts available to you. To use the Dictation function, you need to bring up the onscreen keyboard. To do so, this is how:
Switch to software keyboard
You might need to use your software keyboard instead of the Smart Keyboard Folio or Smart Keyboard to do things like type accented characters or use dictation. To show the software keyboard, tap the down arrow key on your Smart Keyboard Folio or Smart Keyboard, then touch and hold 
until the software keyboard appears. To hide the keyboard again, tap 
.
Learn more about using iOS keyboards.
You do NOT have to remove the keyboard to use dictation. This just shows you are unfamiliar with the shortcuts available to you. To use the Dictation function, you need to bring up the onscreen keyboard. To do so, this is how:
Switch to software keyboard
You might need to use your software keyboard instead of the Smart Keyboard Folio or Smart Keyboard to do things like type accented characters or use dictation. To show the software keyboard, tap the down arrow key on your Smart Keyboard Folio or Smart Keyboard, then touch and hold until the software keyboard appears. To hide the keyboard again, tap .
Learn more about using iOS keyboards.
Again, I wish you were correct. Here is a transcript from the APPLE SUPPORT chat I had today:
Kshia
Have you been able to ever use Dictation with the Smart Keyboard connected in the past?
Judi Partlo
only 1 time. It came up once when I was using Duolingo and that was the only time.
Kshia
Ah I see. Let me check to see if this would be expected behavior. Just a minute.
Judi Partlo
sure
System Message
Just a few more moments. Your Advisor will be right with you.
Kshia
Thanks for your patience! I really do appreciate it!
Kshia
It appears that it would be expected behavior. You can only use the software keyboard with dictation. https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205237 You may have experienced a software glitch when you used it the first time.
Judi Partlo
so
i have to remove the keyboard every time I want to use dictation?
That's really unfortunate and makes things much more inconvenient
Kshia
Yes
ma’am. The keyboard has to be removed as dictation is not compatible
with the hardware Smart Keyboard at this time. I can submit feedback
about this matter on your behalf. Maybe we can implement this is the
future. I also encourage you to provide direct comments at http://www.apple.com/feedback/ - comments there are routed to people who have the most influence on our products, services, and policies.
Judi Partlo
yes, please do and I will also comment on there
Kshia
I most certainly will! I’m glad that we were able to assist you today! Have i answered all of your questions and concerns before we wrap up?
Judi Partlo
it
would be helpful if all your support people were aware of this so that
it didn't take all this time and multiple people to be told this
Kshia
I
do apologize for the inconvenience. When a case is escalated like this
one and the Advisor is not aware on how to educate the customer, we will
send feedback to the advisor so that they are aware should they come
across this matter again. Thanks for your feedback.
Judi Partlo
thank you
Sincerely,
Apple Support
This is the link I meant to give you: Use your Smart Keyboard Folio or Smart Keyboard with iPad Pro - Apple Support
They said in the transcript that you can only use dictation from the onscreen keyboard. This is indeed fact. But that does NOT mean you must remove the smart folio keyboard from your iPad to bring up the onscreen keyboard. In my first reply to you, I provided directions on how to bring up the onscreen keyboard from the folio keyboard, without EVER having to remove it.
There is no button on the folio keyboard to bring up dictation. You have to bring up the onscreen keyboard. BUT YOU NEVER HAVE TO REMOVE THE APPLE FOLIO KEYBOARD to bring up the onscreen keyboard.
If only this were true. I just got off of an Apple support chat and they verified that this is true. The first technician told me to try what you listed above - however, it does not work. You can press the down arrow and keyboard icon for hours and still nothing will come up. The advanced technician is the one who told me that you can only use the virtual keyboard and dictation function when the smart keyboard is disconnected.
That's rubbish. The support article I provided comes directly from Apple.
Perhaps someone else will help confirm what I provided you. If it's not working, that's another matter, but Apple doesn't publish support articles on features that do what they say.
Yes, we did try that, but unfortunately following those directions will not bring up the software keyboard - nothing happens. Do you have a smart keyboard? If so, and it works for you, please let me know and I will keep trying!
I don't particularly like the Smart Keyboard, but I did have one and YES, doing what I provided in Apple's Support Article DOES let you bring up the Onscreen Keyboard. Are you doing the following:
Tap the Down Arrow
Then hold HOLD the down Arrow until you see the icon for the Onscreen Keyboard Appear on your iPad Screen
Tap the Onscreen Keyboard icon and the Onscreen Keyboard will rise up
That's where you tap the dictation key
Yes, I'm starting to regret having bought it. When I press and hold the down arrow, absolutely nothing happens - I have held it for a long time, I've tapped and then held it, I've held it and tried pressing other icons, nothing. I actually took it into Best Buy this morning to see if they could help and the guy there told me you used to be able to bring it up but with a recent software version, you can't anymore. He tried numerous things with no luck either. Anyone else out there have one and are able to bring up the software keyboard without disconnecting?
If you have an Apple Store near you, go there, not to Best Buy. The Genius Bar at the Apple Store is the place to go.
Good idea - thanks
Can't use dictation with smart keyboard
