Dictation not typing out any contact names in messages

For most of my text messages I verbally dictate since it's generally more accurate than when I type. Since the last update, iphone no longer types anyone's proper name when I say it. For instance I will say "Hey Chris can you and Bill meet at 5PM today?" and iphone will type "Hey can you and meet at 5PM today". If the name is in my contacts, iphone will not type it and will just leave a blank. Even if I say "Chris Chris Chris can you meet..." it will just type "Can you meet..." So it's not a matter of not hearing me, iphone is purposely not typing the name of the person. Why is this? It's driving me nuts because after I dictate my message I always have to manually type in the person's name. Is there a setting I can change so that it will recognize and type out the name?

Posted on Apr 13, 2023 06:11 PM

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Posted on May 7, 2023 07:41 PM

This fixed it for me on my iPhone SE running 16.4.1:


  1. I went to Settings > Siri & Search
  2. I scrolled down and selected Messages
  3. I turned off "Learn from this App"


It instantly solved the problem.


BTW, I think the reason this happens is because it is trying to process names in our contacts. When I tried dictating names that were not in my contacts (like Maxwell or Reginald), there was no delay in showing the names.

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

May 7, 2023 07:41 PM in response to coreyfromhonolulu

This fixed it for me on my iPhone SE running 16.4.1:


  1. I went to Settings > Siri & Search
  2. I scrolled down and selected Messages
  3. I turned off "Learn from this App"


It instantly solved the problem.


BTW, I think the reason this happens is because it is trying to process names in our contacts. When I tried dictating names that were not in my contacts (like Maxwell or Reginald), there was no delay in showing the names.

Apr 13, 2023 07:58 PM in response to coreyfromhonolulu

Hello coreyfromhonolulu!


Please make sure your iPhone is updated to the most recent iOS update: iOS 16.4.1.


Also, please try a Forced Restart.


If these steps provide no solution to your problem, please Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support.


I would also provide Product Feedback - Apple, so Apple can fix this issue in an upcoming iOS update. It may be beneficial to link this thread, as you provided helpful details about the issue.


I hope this is helpful. Good Luck!


May 1, 2023 01:52 PM in response to coreyfromhonolulu

I and others that I know are having the same issue with dictation not inserting names into the text string.


The only work around I have found is to dictate the message and then toggle off the dictation button before hitting the send button on the message.


I feel like the overall dictation accuracy has also gotten worse since the update to 16.4.1.


iPhone 14 Pro, iOS 16.4.1

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Dictation not typing out any contact names in messages

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