How voice typing works on Android
VoicePad transforms your Android phone into a voice typing machine. Speak naturally, and Whisper AI converts your words to text — all without internet.
The Float Orb overlay
A floating microphone button that hovers above every app. Tap to start, speak your message, tap to stop. Your words appear instantly in any text field.
Type into any app
VoicePad uses Android's AccessibilityService to inject text directly into any app. No keyboard switching, no copy-paste. Just tap and speak.
Background operation
Start voice typing, lock your screen, keep talking. VoicePad continues transcribing in the background. Perfect for long messages or notes while walking.
Apps that work with voice typing
Messaging
- WhatsApp — type messages by voice in any chat
- Telegram — voice type in groups, channels, DMs
- Signal — private messaging with private voice typing
- SMS — built-in Android messages
Email & productivity
- Gmail — compose emails entirely by voice
- Outlook — Microsoft 365 email support
- Google Docs — create documents hands-free
- Notion — notes, databases, wikis
Browsers & AI
- Chrome — search bars, web forms, any text input
- ChatGPT / Claude — talk to AI using your voice
- Any web form — if you can tap it, voice type into it
Technical implementation
| Component | Implementation |
|---|---|
| AI engine | Whisper via whisper.cpp (JNI) |
| Acceleration | CPU (ARM NEON SIMD) |
| Audio capture | AudioRecord API |
| Voice activity | Silero VAD (ONNX) |
| Text injection | AccessibilityService API |
| UI framework | Jetpack Compose |
| Float overlay | System overlay permission |
| Codebase | Kotlin Multiplatform (KMP) |
Standard Android APIs — no root required. AccessibilityService enables text injection into any app, the same approach used by password managers.
VoicePad vs Gboard voice typing
| Feature | VoicePad AI | Gboard Voice |
|---|---|---|
| Works offline | ✓ Always | Limited quality offline |
| Privacy | ✓ 100% on-device | Voice sent to Google |
| Accuracy | Whisper (95-98%) | Good online, poor offline |
| Works in any app | ✓ Float Orb | Keyboard only |
| Background typing | ✓ | ✗ |
| Custom vocabulary | ✓ | Limited |
| Price | €50 one-time or free | Free |
System requirements
| Requirement | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Android version | Android 8 (Oreo) | Android 12+ |
| RAM | 3 GB | 4 GB+ |
| Storage | 300 MB | 500 MB |
| Processor | Snapdragon 660 | Snapdragon 7 series+ |
| Permissions | Microphone, Accessibility, Overlay | |
Works on Samsung, Google Pixel, OnePlus, Xiaomi, Motorola. Whisper Small runs real-time on mid-range phones from the last 4-5 years.
Frequently asked questions
Get voice typing for Android
Free standard tier available now. Founding members get lifetime Pro access — — spots remaining.
Get VoicePad AI for Android