How to use voice typing in Firefox (2026)
TLDR: the quickest path is a dictation add-on with its own engine, Voxtyper, which works in Firefox out of the box and adds punctuation and capitalization for you. Your operating system's dictation (Win+H or macOS Dictation) is a free fallback. And Google Docs voice typing will not work in Firefox at all, so for that you need one of these methods too.
Firefox has no built-in voice typing, and the menu you would look for is not there. The good news: you can still dictate in Firefox, you just have to use a method that brings its own speech engine instead of relying on the browser. Here are the three that actually work, step by step.
Why Firefox has no built-in voice typing
In-browser dictation usually runs on the browser's built-in speech recognition. Chrome, Edge, and Safari ship that turned on; Firefox keeps it disabled by default, partly for privacy reasons. That single fact explains why the popular browser dictation tools, and Google Docs voice typing, are missing in Firefox: they are built on a feature Firefox does not expose. A tool works in Firefox only if it brings its own speech engine or uses your operating system's dictation. The three methods below do exactly that, and they are worth the small setup: a Stanford study found speaking is about three times faster than a phone keyboard, with 20% fewer errors.
Method 1: A dictation add-on with its own engine (recommended)
This is the closest thing to the dictation experience Chrome users get, and it is the only method that adds punctuation and capitalization for you automatically. We make one of these, Voxtyper, so the steps below use it; the approach is the same idea whatever tool you choose.
- Install the add-on from Firefox Add-ons.
- Click into the text field where you want your words, an email, a doc, a form.
- Press Ctrl + Space to start recording (you can rebind this shortcut).
- Speak naturally. Pause briefly for commas, longer for periods; the punctuation and capitalization are added for you.
- Press Ctrl + Space again to stop. The finished text drops into the field.
Because Voxtyper brings its own state-of-the-art engine, it works in Firefox exactly as well as in Chrome, reads the whole sentence in context for accuracy, and returns text in under a second. It types what you said without rewriting it, and your audio is never stored.
Method 2: Your operating system's dictation (free)
This is not an add-on, it is already built into your computer, and because it runs at the system level it types into Firefox like any other app. It is the best free option for occasional use.
On Windows
- Click into a text field in Firefox.
- Press Win + H to open the voice typing toolbar.
- Turn on automatic punctuation from the toolbar's settings gear if you want commas and periods added for you.
- Start speaking. Press the mic button or Win + H again to stop.
On macOS
- Enable Dictation in System Settings, Keyboard, Dictation, and turn on Auto-punctuation there.
- Click into a Firefox text field and press the Dictation shortcut (Fn twice by default).
- Speak, then press the shortcut again to stop.
OS dictation recognizes words one at a time rather than reading the whole sentence, so accuracy trails a dedicated engine, and Windows voice typing can be inconsistent in some web apps.
Method 3: An offline add-on (for the technically inclined)
If you want dictation that never sends audio anywhere, an open-source add-on like Speechfire runs a local speech model on your own machine. It works in Firefox, but it is not a one-click setup: you install and run a local server (and FFmpeg), and it supports Windows and Linux but not macOS. Worth it if privacy is paramount and you are comfortable on the command line.
Special case: how to dictate in Google Docs on Firefox
This is the question that sends most people looking. Google Docs voice typing only works in Chrome, Edge, and Safari, so in Firefox the Tools menu has no Voice typing option at all. You have two real choices: open the document in a supported browser, or use a method from above that works inside Firefox. A dictation add-on with its own engine is the cleanest fix, since it types straight into the Google Docs editor in Firefox and punctuates as you go. For a fuller breakdown of the options, see our best dictation extensions for Firefox.
Which method should you use?
| If you want | Use |
|---|---|
| Accurate dictation with punctuation, daily | A dictation add-on with its own engine (Voxtyper) |
| A free option for the occasional note | Your OS dictation (Win+H or macOS) |
| Fully offline, audio never leaves your PC | An offline add-on (Speechfire) |
| To dictate into Google Docs in Firefox | A dictation add-on with its own engine |
Frequently asked questions
Does Firefox have built-in voice typing?
No. Firefox has no built-in voice typing. It keeps the speech recognition API that powers in-browser dictation disabled by default, so you need either an add-on that brings its own engine or your operating system's dictation.
Why does Google Docs voice typing not work in Firefox?
Google Docs voice typing relies on the browser's built-in speech recognition, which works in Chrome, Edge, and Safari but is off in Firefox, so the Voice typing menu item never appears. Use a tool with its own engine to dictate into Google Docs from Firefox.
What is the easiest way to voice type in Firefox?
Install a dictation add-on that brings its own engine. With Voxtyper you click into any text field, press Ctrl + Space, speak, and press it again; punctuation and capitalization are added for you, and it behaves the same in Firefox as in Chrome.
Can I voice type in Firefox for free?
Yes. Your operating system's dictation is free and works inside Firefox: Windows Voice Typing (Win + H) or macOS Dictation, both with an optional automatic-punctuation setting. Voxtyper also has a free tier of 20 minutes a month, or 60 minutes signed in.
Does Voice In work in Firefox?
No. Voice In is Chrome and Edge only, because it depends on the browser speech recognition API that Firefox disables. For Firefox, use a tool that brings its own engine, or your operating system's dictation.
The simplest way to dictate in Firefox: Voxtyper brings its own engine, punctuates and capitalizes for you, and is free to try.
