Set up speech recognition

Prompt Flower uses iOS speech recognition, on the device only. For this, iOS needs a language pack from Apple for your script’s language. Usually it is already there. If it is missing, the script scrolls at a fixed pace, and the top right shows:

On-device speech recognition for … is not available – speed mode is on. Tap to set it up.

In this case the app sends no audio to a server. It waits until on-device recognition is ready.

Where to check the status

Settings › Speech recognition shows one row for German and one for English:

• On device: everything is ready.
• Download: iOS can download the language (iOS 26).
• Set Up: iOS needs a setting from you, or a download did not work.

Tapping Download or Set Up, or the orange notice in the prompter, opens the instructions for your iPhone.

iOS 26: download the language

1. Tap Download Language.
2. iOS downloads the language pack from Apple once. The app shows the progress as a percentage (Downloading …).
3. Afterwards it reads “Available on this iPhone.” From now on voice follow works without internet.

If the download fails (“The language could not be downloaded.”), check your internet connection and try again.

iOS 17 and 18: through dictation

On these versions, on-device recognition comes with iOS dictation. To set it up:

1. Open Settings › General › Keyboard › Keyboards › Add New Keyboard and choose the language (for example English).
2. Under Settings › General › Keyboard, turn on Enable Dictation.
3. iOS downloads the language over Wi-Fi. This can take a few minutes.
4. Back in Prompt Flower: Check Again.

The Open Settings button in the instructions takes you to the iOS settings. You also see these instructions on iOS 26 if the new recognition does not cover a language.

In the prompter

As soon as the language is ready, an open prompter switches back to following your voice by itself.

Other messages

• No access to speech recognition. You declined the permission. Allow it under iOS Settings › Prompt Flower › Speech Recognition (and Microphone).
• Speech recognition could not start. Close the prompter and open it again. If that does not help, restart the iPhone and check Troubleshooting.