Frequently asked questions
If something is not working rather than unclear, the help pages are the better place to look.
Privacy
Does my voice get sent anywhere?
Speech recognition runs on your device, so your audio does not need to be sent to a transcription service to be turned into text.
Is my voice stored?
Transcription produces text in the field you are typing in. LocalType does not keep an archive of your recordings.
Why does LocalType request internet access?
To download the speech model you choose. Once that model is installed, transcription runs locally and no longer needs a connection.
Do you use my speech to train your models?
No. The transcription happens on your device, so there is nothing collected to train on.
What happens in password fields?
Voice input is automatically disabled there, so a password cannot be dictated by accident.
Does LocalType track what I do?
There is no behavioural tracking in the product, and no advertising.
Using it
Is LocalType a keyboard or a dictation app?
A keyboard. Voice typing is a key on it, not a separate app you switch to.
Can I use it in other Android apps?
Yes, anywhere a keyboard opens: messaging, email, notes, your browser, forms.
Can I still type normally?
Yes. You can use LocalType all day without touching the microphone.
Do I need an account?
No. There is no sign-up and nothing to log in to.
Which Android versions are supported?
Android 8.0 and newer. Whether an older phone has the memory to run a speech model comfortably is a separate question, and something we test across a range of devices.
Offline and models
Does it work without internet?
Yes, once a speech model has been downloaded. That first download needs a connection; transcription afterwards does not.
What is a speech model?
The file that turns your voice into text. Because it runs on your phone rather than on a server, it takes up storage and memory while it works.
How much space does it take?
The app itself is modest; the speech model is the bulk of it. That is 60 MB, 190 MB or 539 MB depending on which of the three you pick.
Can I change models later?
Yes. Switching means downloading the new one, which needs a connection at that moment.
Will it work on an older phone?
A smaller model usually will, at some cost in accuracy. This is the honest limit of running speech recognition locally.
Languages
Which languages are supported?
Eighteen, listed in full on the languages page.
Do I have to select a language first?
Not necessarily. LocalType can recognise which of the supported languages you are speaking.
Is accuracy the same in every language?
No. Speech models are trained on uneven amounts of material per language, and results vary with accent and background noise.
Can I dictate in two languages without switching?
That is what automatic language recognition is for. How well it holds up depends on the languages and the recording, and it is something we keep working on.
Trial and continued use
Can I try LocalType for free?
Yes. You can try every feature free for 14 days. After that, voice typing requires a yearly payment.
Can I get it now?
Yes. LocalType is available on Google Play, and the download buttons on this site link directly to the app.
Does the keyboard keep working after the trial?
Yes. Typing stays free. Only voice typing requires payment after the trial.
Still stuck?
If something is not behaving the way this page describes, the help pages cover the usual causes. If that does not settle it, get in touch.
Detailed answers and setup guides
Start here when you want more detail than a short answer can provide.
Voice typing is not working
Work through keyboard selection, microphone access, the model and available memory.
Read moreAndroid keyboard permissions
What the warnings mean and which permissions voice typing actually needs.
Read moreSet up an Android keyboard
A straightforward guide to enabling and selecting a newly installed keyboard.
Read moreSpeech to text glossary
Short explanations of the terms used throughout the site and the app.
Read moreGet LocalType for Android
Private voice typing that runs on your phone, with speech recognition on the device itself.
Get it on Google Play