How to Dictate Emojis with Voice in iOS 16

Apple’s iOS 16 update introduced an enhanced Dictation feature that allows users to seamlessly insert emojis using voice commands. By simply speaking the name of the emoji followed by the word "emoji," your iPhone automatically converts the spoken phrase into the corresponding icon. This guide provides a straightforward walkthrough on how to enable this feature, the exact phrasing to use, and examples of common voice commands.

How to Enable Dictation

Before using voice commands for emojis, ensure Dictation is active on your device:

  1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
  2. Tap General, then select Keyboard.
  3. Scroll down and toggle on Enable Dictation.

How to Dictate Emojis

Once Dictation is enabled, you can insert emojis in any text field—such as Messages, Notes, or Mail—using the following steps:

  1. Tap into any text field to bring up the on-screen keyboard.
  2. Tap the Microphone icon located in the bottom-right corner of the keyboard (or in the text box in Messages).
  3. Speak your sentence, and when you want to add an icon, say the description of the emoji followed by the word "emoji".
  4. Tap the Keyboard icon or the Microphone icon again to stop dictating.

Example Voice Commands

To ensure iOS recognizes the icon rather than typing out the words, clearly state the name of the symbol:

  • "Thumbs up emoji" inserts 👍
  • "Face with tears of joy emoji" or "Crying laughing emoji" inserts 😂
  • "Red heart emoji" inserts ❤️
  • "Fire emoji" inserts 🔥
  • "Winking face emoji" inserts 😉
  • "Party popper emoji" inserts 🎉
  • "Cat face emoji" inserts 🐱

Tips for Better Accuracy

  • Always say "emoji": If you only say "heart" or "fire," Dictation will usually type the literal words. Appending "emoji" tells the system to generate the symbol.
  • Use official names: If iOS fails to recognize a slang term, use the standard Unicode name for the icon (for example, "slightly smiling face emoji" instead of "kinda happy emoji").
  • Fluid editing: iOS 16 allows you to keep Dictation active while using the keyboard, so you can manually tap to select a different emoji from the suggestion bar without restarting voice input.