What is SayDart?
SayDart automatically learns the words you correct and the words you use most, so it takes less effort and understands you better the more you use it. In Outlook that means client names, colleagues' surnames, project code names and your team's jargon come out spelled your way after you fix them once.
SayDart is voice input for any app on Windows and Mac (beta). Because SayDart inserts text into whichever input box has focus, it works the same in classic Outlook, new Outlook, Outlook on the web and Outlook for Mac, with no add-in needed. Click into the message body, press your shortcut and talk; AI cleanup removes filler words and restarts and fixes punctuation before the text lands at your cursor. It never connects to your mailbox. Cloud learning in the Dictionary is on by default; it is guidance, not an accuracy guarantee, and you can turn it off in Dictionary > Learning settings.
SayDart has a free plan with a modest weekly limit. Pro costs $15/month, or $144/year ($12/month billed yearly, save $36 or 20%). Prices exclude tax.
How to dictate in Outlook with the built-in Dictate button
Microsoft's steps differ slightly by Outlook version. In each one, start a new email or a reply, put your cursor in the message body, then turn on Dictate and start speaking once it is listening.
| Outlook version | How to start dictation | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| New Outlook for Windows | Message tab > Dictate | Press Alt+` (the key with ~) or the Mic icon to resume dictation |
| Classic Outlook for Windows | Message tab > Dictate | Sign in to Microsoft 365 on a device with a microphone |
| Outlook for Mac | Message > Dictate | Shortcut: Option + F1. Microsoft says dictation here is only available to Microsoft 365 subscribers |
| Outlook on the web and Outlook.com | Message tab > Dictate | Allow the browser to use your microphone if asked |
Microsoft says dictation in Outlook needs a microphone and a reliable internet connection.
What Outlook dictation does
- Spoken punctuation and symbols. Say "comma", "question mark", "new line" or "at sign" and Outlook inserts the character.
- Settings behind the gear icon: spoken language, microphone, auto punctuation (where the language supports it) and a profanity filter.
- Languages. Dictation defaults to English (United States). Microsoft lists 15 supported languages and more preview languages, which it says may have lower accuracy or limited punctuation.
- Privacy. Microsoft says the service does not store your audio or transcribed text, and your speech is sent to Microsoft only to give you text results.
For quick replies in Outlook and nothing else, the built-in button may be all you need, and there is nothing to install.
Things to check before you rely on it
- Can't find the Dictate button? On Outlook for Mac, Microsoft says dictation is only for Microsoft 365 subscribers; in classic Outlook you need to be signed in to Microsoft 365.
- New Outlook and the web have fewer commands. Microsoft's Insider blog notes that not every voice command from classic Outlook for Windows is available in new Outlook for Windows and Outlook on the web.
- It stays in Outlook. Dictate types in Outlook and other Microsoft 365 apps that have it, not in your browser's other tabs, chat apps or AI tools.
- Microsoft's Outlook page does not describe removing filler words or a custom vocabulary for names and jargon, so expect to fix those by hand.
- Microphone errors such as "Another app is using your mic" usually mean another app or web page has the microphone; close it and try again.
How to dictate in Outlook with SayDart in 3 steps
- Open a reply or a new email. Fill in the recipients and subject, then click into the message body where the text should go.
- Press your voice shortcut and talk. The default is Right Alt on Windows and Right Option on Mac. Say the greeting, the point and the sign-off in one go, then press the shortcut again or click ✓.
- Review and send. SayDart inserts the cleaned-up text at your cursor. Read it once, fix anything that needs it, and press Send in Outlook yourself.
Tip: dictate the body only. Recipients, attachments and the subject are quick to set by hand, and the body is where talking saves the most effort.
SayDart in desktop Outlook, new Outlook and Outlook on the web
| Where you write | How SayDart works there |
|---|---|
| Classic Outlook for Windows (desktop) | Click into the message body and press Right Alt. No add-in to install and no Microsoft 365 sign-in needed for SayDart. |
| New Outlook for Windows | The same shortcut and the same steps: SayDart types at your cursor in the message body. |
| Outlook on the web and Outlook.com | Works in your browser's compose box with no browser extension, the same as in Gmail. |
| Outlook for Mac | Press Right Option. SayDart for Mac is in beta. |
SayDart only inserts the text you dictate. It does not read your inbox, choose recipients or send anything. If text ever fails to appear, open History, copy the result and paste it into the message.
Outlook Dictate vs SayDart
| Outlook Dictate | SayDart | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it works | Outlook and other Microsoft 365 apps that have Dictate | Outlook and almost any other app on Windows and Mac |
| How you start | Message > Dictate; Option + F1 on Mac | Right Alt on Windows, Right Option on Mac, from any app |
| Punctuation | Spoken commands; auto punctuation setting | Added automatically during cleanup |
| Filler words and restarts | Not described on Microsoft's Outlook page | Removed by Auto cleanup; choose Original to keep every word |
| Names and jargon | Not described on Microsoft's Outlook page | Dictionary that learns the words you correct and use most |
| If something goes wrong | Dictate again | History keeps the transcript and result versions on your computer |
| Reply in another language | Not described on Microsoft's Outlook page | Voice translation into 303 target languages and variants |
| Internet | Needed | Needed |
| Cost | Part of Outlook; Microsoft says Outlook for Mac dictation needs Microsoft 365 | Free plan with a modest weekly limit; Pro $15/mo, or $12/mo billed $144 yearly. Unlimited. |
Outlook facts come from Microsoft's support page and Insider blog linked above. You can use both: Dictate for a quick line inside Outlook, SayDart for longer emails and everything outside Outlook.
SayDart features for Outlook email
- Dictionary. Add client and colleague names once, or let cloud learning suggest them from your corrections, so they are spelled right in every reply.
- Style. In Style > Text, choose Formal for full capitalization and punctuation in client emails, or Casual for quick internal replies.
- Snippets. Say a trigger word to insert your signature, phone number or booking link word for word.
- Voice translation. Press your Translation shortcut and speak in your own language; the reply lands in the language you picked.
- Assistant. Select a draft, press the assistant shortcut and ask for a smoother version. If the selection is still in place, you can replace it with the answer.
- Assistant. Select a long email thread and press Right Alt + Space on Windows (Right Option + Space on Mac) to ask what the sender needs from you.
Example: an Outlook reply to a client
You say: "Hi Priya, um, thanks for sending the Q3 forecast. The numbers for the Northwind account look right. Could we move Thursday's review to Friday at ten? Best, Sam."
With cleanup on, SayDart drops the "um", adds punctuation and inserts the reply in the message body. If you corrected "Northwind" once before, the Dictionary already spells it your way. Check the date, then press Send.
For more ways to plan an email out loud, read email drafting by voice. Writing in Gmail instead? See voice typing for Gmail.
Pricing
SayDart is free to start. Pro is unlimited for $12/month, billed yearly ($144), or $15 month to month. Prices exclude tax.
Talk, don't type.
Download SayDart, open Outlook and dictate your next three replies.