Action Button and Shortcuts

Assign Monologue's Dictation to Clipboard shortcut and start dictation from a button or automation.

Quick Dictation starts or stops from the Action Button or an Apple Shortcut without tapping the microphone in the Monologue keyboard first. The setup assigns Monologue’s Dictation to Clipboard shortcut to the button.

Before you start

• Finish setting up the Monologue keyboard.
• Allow microphone access for Monologue.
• Allow Live Activities for Monologue in iOS Settings. The Action Button flow uses a Live Activity while recording.

Set up the Action Button

On a supported iPhone:

1. Open Monologue → Settings → Action Button.
2. Follow the guided setup to add the Dictation to Clipboard shortcut.
3. Open iOS Settings → Action Button.
4. Choose Shortcut, then select Dictation to Clipboard.

Dictate with the Action Button

1. Put the cursor where you want the result.
2. Press and hold the Action Button to start recording.
3. Press and hold it again when you finish.

Keep the Monologue keyboard selected when you want the result inserted at the cursor. The result is also available in History.

If the Action Button already runs another shortcut, changing it replaces that assignment.

Use Monologue in Apple Shortcuts

1. Open the Shortcuts app.
2. Create or edit a shortcut.
3. Search the action list for Monologue.
4. Add a dictation action and choose Blazing Fast or one of your custom modes when the action offers that option.

You can then run the shortcut from the Shortcuts app, a widget, Siri, or another automation supported by iOS.

Monologue also provides a Record Note shortcut for starting a Voice Note instead of returning text to the shortcut.

Quick Dictation still needs microphone permission. It also does not use the Pause Other Audio preference, so music or a call may continue playing while it records.