Support · Updated 2026-11-11

Turn on English speech recognition

EnglishR's speaking practice uses your phone's built-in speech recognition. If the app says it can't recognise spoken English on this device, the phone usually doesn't have English (US) for its keyboard or voice input yet. Follow the steps for your phone, then reopen EnglishR and try again.

Tip: menu names differ between phones. Can't find an item? Type the suggested word into the search box at the top of Settings.

First

  • Connect to the internet (Wi-Fi or mobile data) and tap again: the first time, the phone may need to download English data.
  • Let EnglishR use the microphone: Settings → Apps → EnglishR → Permissions → Microphone. On iPhone: Settings → EnglishR → turn on Microphone and Speech Recognition.

Samsung Galaxy

  1. Settings → General management → Samsung Keyboard settings → Languages and types → Manage input languages: download if needed, then turn on English (US). Search Settings for: Languages and types
  2. Still not working: Settings → General management → Language packs → download English (United States). Older phones may not have this item; skip it then.

Google Pixel and most other Android phones

Xiaomi, OPPO, vivo, Motorola, Sony… usually use the Gboard keyboard and Google's voice input.

  1. Add English (US) to the keyboard: Settings → System → Languages & input → On-screen keyboard → Gboard → Languages → Add keyboard → English (US). Search Settings for: Gboard
  2. Download English for voice: in Gboard → Voice typing → Languages / Offline speech recognition → download English (US). On a Pixel you can also use Settings → System → Languages → Speech → On-device recognition. Search Settings for: speech recognition

iPhone / iPad

  1. Settings → General → Keyboard: turn on Enable Dictation.
  2. On the same screen → Keyboards → Add New Keyboard → English (US).
  3. Stay online for a while so the phone can download the English data.

Still not working?

Search Google for steps and add your phone's model to the search (Settings → About phone). Or message us with your phone's model: we'll find a fix and add it to this page.

Questions, feedback or a problem? We'd love to hear from you.

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