messaging using voice on apple watch

Hello All,

I too lost the microphone with the latest update. I went to the Watch app on my IPhone and dictation was already enabled. Any other thoughts on what may have caused the microphone to disappear on texts

Apple Watch Dictation/Scribble...

I was the same as all of you.  With the new update I lost the voice dictation and scribble pad options on my Apple Watch screen options.  I checked to make sure my dictation in my phones settings was "enabled"...and it was.  I turned it off and turned it back on...nothing.  I turned it off, rebooted my phone and watch them turned out back on and rebooted again...nothing.  I few days ago I was messing with my watch imessages again.  I was in my daughters text to me, I tapped in the iMessage or SMS (if not an Apple device) to see if by some chance the voice dictation mic icons and scribble pad came back...they didn't.  In my frustration I swipped up on the screen...and to my surprise it swipped up to a bar with a "blue hand pic and the word scribble".  I tapped on it and "both" the scribble pad and dictation mic icon options were there.  As I investigated this more...I have learned that it only opens up the "dictation and scribble" options to that one (1) texts you are in...but it stays there after that.  So when you go on someone elses text to reply to them...you have to do that "iMessage swipe up, tap on scribble bar" to get the "scribble pad and dictation icon" process again to appear like it was before the update.  I hate that we have to do this extra step...but I'm glad I found it, figured it out and have it back on my Apple Watch iMessages.  I hope this helps and works for you too.

In the Watch app on the iPhone, go to General>Enable Dictation.

If you have the latest version of watchOS, are you aware of where to find it? The screen has changed as to how you respond to a message on the Watch. When you receive a message and wish to respond using dictation, you will see this screen.

Tap where is says Text Message, or it will say iMessage if an iMessage, then you will see this screen.

From there, you tap on the microphone in the lower right corner of the screen to be able to dictate.

When I updated my watch yesterday I still have the microphone icon but it will no longer pick up anything I say

Version 8.1 has pretty much rendered our watches unusable. Mic icon is very small in the lower right under the area where you can scribe. Another useless feature. Too many steps to get to voice dictation which we rely on. More times than not you have to tap a few times even to activate. This is a serious downgrade in this version. Not sure what they were thinking. Certainly not anything about convenience.

At the very least in the iphone app for the watch provide an option to bring back the previous message and call process screens for us old people. We don't have any interest in drawing pictures on our watch. Quick access to messages and replies as well as calls is all we needed. Was perfect before v8.1. Now too many steps, icons way to small and unresponsive to taps many times.

Sad we have no choice what version we prefer, updates are forced without any option to downgrade. Would be nice if they just updated security patches for those that are content with the version they are running.

I guess I could go back to an analog watch, ebay this watch and just use my iphone.

BTW, I've posted this to feedback, not sure they care or listen.

This also happened to me and I took way too long trying to fix it..uninstalled, reinstalled, check this checked that …did all the things… what worked is: I went to my settings, diction was on so i turned off for 30 seconds then turned back on and boom, the mic came back. Still too many steps to get there with this new update but at least it’s back!

Mine too :-(...

One minute there..."updated" and now both gone.

And I use both of those...ALL THE TIME.

The other stuff is nice...but not great.

A pain to scroll through it all now...on this small watch screen when your in a hurry.

Also I noticed that I can text on my watch from my phone. A screen pops up on my phones lock/home screen. When you tap on it...it opens a typing screen. This does me no good when I don't have my phone on me all the time. Not to mention...I can just text on my phone if I have it.

Please fix this issue and bring back our old version for messaging/texting...or merge the old with the new!

Because of this update my watch sits on the charger and has been for weeks. Back to analog watch and iphone. It's useless to me. I'm in my 60s and I'm not going to draw little pictures for messages. The mic icon location and use is ridiculous.

[Edited by Moderator]

I talked to Apple support 3x, first 2 times sucked. 3rd time I got a guy in Australia and he walked me through filing a bug report for this, a few days later it was fixed in Apple's latest update. Fun times!

Hey Jmp100, I too discovered that I lost this function due to the latest update. It should really be call annoying downgrade. I just wanted to let you know that I found a solution. As recommended below by Jdog2022 go to Settings, General, Dictations - turn it

off for 30 seconds and turn it back on. It worked. The only minor change here is you have one extra step. When you open your text to read and respond. The only thing you see is A for texting. However if you tap in the message area it will give you options and the microphone is at the bottom right right corner. Good luck.

I updated to the latest version of IOS and I watch dictation doesn’t work. Even with the new format I touch the mic symbol and nothing. I’ve enabled and disabled Siri and dictation multiple times and still not working! I need this feature so any help is appreciated

Apple Watch Dictation/Scribble...

I was the same as all of you.  With the new update I lost the voice dictation and scribble pad options on my Apple Watch screen options.  I checked to make sure my dictation in my phones settings was "enabled"...and it was.  I turned it off and turned it back on...nothing.  I turned it off, rebooted my phone and watch them turned out back on and rebooted again...nothing.  I few days ago I was messing with my watch imessages again.  I was in my daughters text to me, I tapped in the iMessage or SMS (if not an Apple device) to see if by some chance the voice dictation mic icons and scribble pad came back...they didn't.  In my frustration I swipped up on the screen...and to my surprise it swipped up to a bar with a "blue hand pic and the word scribble".  I tapped on it and "both" the scribble pad and dictation mic icon options were there.  As I investigated this more...I have learned that it only opens up the "dictation and scribble" options to that one (1) texts you are in...but it stays there after that.  So when you go on someone elses text to reply to them...you have to do that "iMessage swipe up, tap on scribble bar" to get the "scribble pad and dictation icon" process again to appear like it was before the update.  I hate that we have to do this extra step...but I'm glad I found it, figured it out and have it back on my Apple Watch iMessages.  I hope this helps and works for you too.

It won't let me post pictures...but you can look at my reply post on Jan 12, 2022 reply to Reena38 above. It has pictures👆🏼

That is not an option. You may provide feedback to Apple to explain your wishes, go here, Feedback - Apple Watch - Apple

Both the dictation and the scribble option disappeared