Dictation not working after OS 8 update

Hi there Gingergirlie3,

We understand you're unable to dictate text when sending messages from your Apple Watch. We're glad you've taken the time to connect with us here in Apple Support Communities, and we'd like to learn more to see how we can help.

To begin, have you checked to be sure Enable Dictation is turned on in Settings  > General > Keyboard on your paired iPhone? Learn more here:

Dictate text on iPhone

Next, do you see the option to select the microphone to dictate text in Messages on your Apple Watch? Learn more about how that works here:

Send messages from Apple Watch

Send over these details, and we'll take a closer look from there.

Cheers.

The option to reply on watch with your voice is gone on the face of the watch when you have an open message. Now you have to tap text/imessage then select microphone bottom right. Pretty cumbersome process!!!! Should have left it the way it was.

I had this same issue to and it took a while to figure it out. After watching a YouTube video, it turns out that Apple now makes you go a longer route. While you are within the messaging app on your watch, tap on a current thread, then tap the icon in the bottom left hand corner that looks like an A, then tap on the icon that looks like a sound wave !|!||!|! From there you would record a message, tap the middle of the screen and it will auto send.

Cumbersome for sure. Not sure why this change was needed. I would really like to get the option back because it makes texting so much easier. The option to write the text one letter at a time on a small area is ridiculous and should not be there by default.

wish I had never updated. Trying to figure out now how to rollback the update.

Just noticed this after updating my iPhone to iOS 15.1 and WatchOS 8.1. Why was an easy to use option removed? Now the process to respond using the mic takes extra steps which defeats the purpose of sending a quick message using voice dictation through the mic. Apple, please bring it back to the way it was.

I totally agree, it's very cumbersome now to use the microphone. That was the main reason I use my watch. Apple needs to restore that feature. They put more auto replies on it but takes more time to scroll through them than it used to be to just say what you want and press send.

This change is total crap. This watch is now useless for me. I work with both hands a lot and can answer messages across the shop with one touch of a button.. Now I can't do that. If I have to tap 3 or 4 times and even then the button is smaller and harder to use, why even bother. Sad because I still have a year on this contract with Verizon. Why don't you just make an app that no matter what you select, it randomly does something else. That would be about as useful. Thanks for nothing. Last Apple Watch for me!!!!!

Sincerely,

A very ticked off user

This is a terrible update. It’s not talk to text anymore. Now it’s talk to voice memo. Apple please bring back the old way. It was much easier and very handy. If anyone figures out how to reverse the update I’d love to know.

Please bring back the older version of voice/text on the Iwatch. This new method is ridiculous. The most used application for me is now useless. I can’t navigate to the microphone without my glasses and just end up using my phone. BAD move Apple😡

Please switch back to the microphone on face when text message is open. This two step process is not convenient. Why would this have been changed to begin with. The ease of voice texting from Apple watch prior to the update was so good. This change makes no sense. Ugh!

I think most are complaining--I know I am--about the removal of the feature that allowed you to dictate a text message. The new system--which requires a cumbersome two-touch process--produces voice memos, not texts as the final product. I am trying to send a text and would like to dictate it as I have in the past. Apple should warn users when features like this are being removed with an update: I would have never updated had I known.

You can make a suggestion here;

Feedback - Apple Watch

voice message was moved slightly. Have a look on my photos.

Same for me. I agree when you tap of messages the microphone for dictation should of stayed at the bottom of the text. Not as efficient as it was.