Android Voice Access — Speech-to-Text with Hardware Keyboard

For using speech-to-text dictation in DeX (or any Android) with a physical keyboard — not Gboard's Alt+D, but the proper system-level Voice Access feature.

Setup

Settings → Accessibility → Interaction and Dexterity → Voice Access

1. Tap Voice Access shortcut toggle to enable it
2. Tap the gear/settings icon next to the toggle to configure the shortcut type
3. Choose Accessibility gesture (2-finger swipe up from bottom) — works even in DeX

How It Works

• When Voice Access is listening: a persistent notification says "Voice Access is OK" (you can speak freely, live transcription into any focused text input)
• When paused: the notification says "Voice Access is paused"
• Tap the notification to toggle between OK / paused
• While active, it live-transcribes everything you say into the currently focused text field

This is way better than Gboard's Alt+D for DeX because:

• No virtual keyboard needed at all
• Works system-wide in any app
• You can see the notification status at a glance
• No faffing with on-screen keyboard visibility settings

Activation Key (Hardware Keyboard Shortcut)

In Voice Access settings, tap Configure activation key to assign a physical key:

• Assigned key: Press the key or switch you want to use as a toggle
• Behavior: Tap to start / tap to stop, or press-and-hold

Built-in keyboard shortcut: <kbd>Action</kbd>+<kbd>Alt</kbd>+<kbd>V</kbd>

• On a Windows keyboard, the "Action" key is the Windows key
• On a Mac keyboard, it's the Command (⌘) key
• First time you press it, a confirmation dialog appears

Notes

• Make sure Voice Access has microphone permission granted
• The mic indicator shows in the status bar on Android 12+ when listening
• Audio is processed on-device (and optionally sent to Google servers for recognition — but not saved unless you opt in to "Help improve Voice Access Commands")
• Works on lock screen too (configurable in Voice Access settings → Listening behavior on screen wake up)