Microphone and speech recognition
How PlayLingo uses the microphone in Speak mode — permissions, on-device recognition, speech model downloads, error messages and voice settings.
Speak mode uses your microphone to hear the line you say and light up the words it recognises. Recognition runs on your device with Apple’s speech recognition.
How to set up the microphone
- Choose Speak in the player and tap the microphone.
- The first time, iOS asks for access to the Microphone and Speech Recognition. Allow both.
- Denied it earlier? Open iOS Settings → PlayLingo and turn on Microphone and Speech Recognition.
Recording starts when you tap the microphone (or press M) and stops after about two seconds of silence or when you say the last word.
Your voice stays on your device
Speech is recognised on your iPhone, iPad or Mac. Your voice and what you said are not uploaded. Your last attempt is kept only so you can play it back, and it’s replaced by the next one.
Speech model download
Your device may need a speech model for the language you learn. Choosing Speak starts the download:
- “Preparing the language” — the speech model is downloading. A ring around the microphone shows progress.
- Meanwhile you can still record yourself, listen back and move on; the line still counts.
- “Speech model ready — your pronunciation is checked now” — words light up from the next line.
Which languages are checked
Words light up only for languages your device can recognise. For other languages Speak still works as recording practice: nothing lights up, you listen to your recording and move on when you’re happy, and the line counts.
Messages you may see
- “Microphone is off — turn it on in Settings to speak” — allow access in iOS Settings → PlayLingo.
- “Didn’t catch that” — nothing was recognised. Speak louder and closer, and start after the microphone turns on.
- “N words missing” — the line didn’t count. Say it again; tap the megaphone to hear it first.
- “Your settings skip this line — you can still say it” — see Exercise settings.
Speech settings
Open Speech in the player’s mode sheet, or in the app’s Settings:
- Speech Speed — how fast the app reads text aloud (0.2x–1.0x), with a sample button.
- Voice — pick a voice for the language you learn.
- Voices — opens iOS Settings to download better voices: Settings → Accessibility → Read & Speak → Voices.
They’re hidden when your device has no voice for the language.
Free or Pro
The microphone and recognition are free. Speak mode gives free lines every day, then needs Pro. See Speak mode.
Common questions
Why don’t the words light up?
The speech model is still downloading, or your device can’t recognise this language.
Related guides
- Speak modePractice speaking with shadowing in PlayLingo — the video pauses after each line, you repeat it out loud, and on-device speech recognition checks every word.
- Reverse modesWith a subtitle track in your native language, PlayLingo switches to Read, Build, Speak and Translate — you work with the translation in the language you learn.
- Exercise settingsEvery option in Exercise Settings for Build and Speak — lines per session, skipping short or long lines, translation, words per line — with defaults.
- Privacy basicsA short summary of how PlayLingo handles your data — voice stays on the device, what is sent for AI answers, tracking and deleting your account.