Aqua Voice for Android
By Finnian Brown
2 min read
Aqua Voice for Android is live on Google Play.
It's been the most requested Aqua app since the iPhone keyboard shipped in April.
"Please don't forget us Android crew, we out here." (@cyburke)
"when android" (@iomancer)
Your keyboard stays
On iPhone, Aqua is a keyboard. On Android, it's a button.
Android lets Aqua type straight into other apps, so you don't have to switch keyboards. Keep Gboard, Samsung Keyboard, or whatever you already use. Tap into a text box and the Aqua button appears above your keyboard. Tap it and talk, then tap the checkmark. Or hold it, talk, and let go.
You say | Aqua types |
|---|---|
"um yeah thursday at 2 o'clock works for me, uh, I'll update the invite" | Thursday at 2 o'clock works for me. I'll update the invite. |
Drag the button to either edge, or drag it down to hide it for ten minutes. Shake your phone to bring it back. Settings has five sizes.
Edit with your voice
On a phone, fixing a sentence usually means retyping it on glass. Instead, select the text, tap Edit above the Aqua button, and say the change. Aqua rewrites the selection in place.
You select | You say | You get |
|---|---|---|
We need coffee, milk, eggs, and bread. | "Make this a list" | • Coffee • Milk • Eggs • Bread |
Thank you very much for taking the time to review this in such detail. | "Make it shorter" | Thanks for reviewing this so carefully. |
If you use Edit Mode on your computer, it's the same idea, built for your thumb.
Your setup comes with you
Already use Aqua? Sign in, and your dictionary, replacements, and custom instructions are there. Changes sync both ways.
If you pay for Aqua, Android is included: one subscription covers Mac, Windows, iPhone, and Android. New to Aqua? Starter includes 1,000 free words, and paid plans are available in the app through Google Play.
Dictate in English, Japanese, German, and dozens of other languages, or let Aqua detect yours.
What Android asks for
Setup asks for four permissions:
- Microphone, so Aqua can hear you.
- Display over other apps, so the Aqua button can float over them.
- Accessibility, so Aqua can type for you. It reads the visible text, the text-field layout, and the name of the app you're using, so your words land in the right place. Password fields are excluded.
- Background use, so the mic is ready when you switch apps.
Your audio and text are sent to Aqua's servers for transcription. Turn on Privacy Mode and your transcription data won't be stored or used to improve the product.
Get it
Aqua Voice for Android runs on phones and tablets with Android 10 or later.
Get it on Google Play, then say the next thing you were going to type.
