Asking Questions by Voice (Dictation) in Perplexity
Using speech input to converse with Perplexity hands-free
Tired of typing? Perplexity offers a convenient voice dictation feature so you can ask questions out loud. This is available primarily via the Perplexity mobile apps.
How to Use Voice Dictation in Perplexity
Here's how it works:
Open the Perplexity app on iOS or Android and look for the microphone icon (🎙️) next to the text input field. Tap and hold this icon, speak your question, then release it. Perplexity will convert your speech to text and generate an answer just as if you had typed the query. It's like having a conversation with your AI assistant. You can even enable a hands-free mode on mobile that lets you continue talking without holding the button, allowing for a more natural back-and-forth dialogue.
When Voice Input Shines
Voice dictation is fantastic for when you're on the go, multitasking, or simply prefer speaking over typing. For example, you might ask "What's the weather in Paris this weekend?" by voice while driving, or dictate a complex research question without fiddling with the keyboard.
Important Limitations & Tips
At the moment, the voice input feature is limited to the mobile app – the web/desktop version of Perplexity does not natively support microphone queries yet. (Desktop users who want voice control have used browser extensions as a workaround, but official support is focused on mobile.)
Also, be sure to allow the app microphone permissions, otherwise it won't hear you. When using dictation, speak clearly and naturally; the speech recognition is quite good at understanding natural language questions.
Once your query is processed, Perplexity will display the answer with relevant sources, just as with a typed query. You'll get the same cited, up-to-date information – only you saved time by simply asking aloud.
Try It Today
Give your fingers a rest! Try asking Perplexity a question with your voice on the mobile app. It's as easy as holding the mic button and speaking – experience the convenience of hands-free Q&A wherever you are.
Written by Dr. Hernani Costa and originally published at First AI Movers. Subscribe to the First AI Movers Newsletter for daily, no‑fluff AI business insights and practical automation playbooks for EU SME leaders. First AI Movers is part of Core Ventures.
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