Microsoft Office Mobile for Android testing new voice capture feature

Office App Android Galaxy S
Office App Android Galaxy S (Image credit: Dan Thorp-Lancaster/Windows Central)

What you need to know

  • Office Insiders can now try out a new voice capture feature for the Office Mobile app on Android.
  • The feature can transcribe speech to text and highlight text during audio playback.
  • Microsoft 365 subscribers can also use the feature to attribute text to speakers.

Microsoft Office for Android has a new voice capture feature for Office Insiders to test out. The feature supports live speech-to-text transcription, highlighting text during playback to make it easier to follow along, and the ability to share captured content with other Microsoft 365 apps and services. A similar feature is also rolled out to Word online last August.

Sanjay Joshi, program manager of the Office Mobile team, shared the news in an Insider blog post.

Source: Microsoft (Image credit: Source: Microsoft)

If you're a Microsoft 365 subscriber, you can also use the new voice capture feature to partition and transcribe input from different speakers, which is also known as speaker diarisation.

Finished recordings are saved as voice cards. You can view all of your voice cards in a list view and review any specific recordings. Voice recordings also appear on the Home tab of the Office Mobile app.

The new voice capture feature rolls out with Build 16.0.14026.20096 or later of the Office Mobile app for Android. Microsoft explains in its Insider blog post that since features are released over time, you might not see the new option just yet.

If you're not an Insider yet, you can join the Office Insider program through Microsoft's website.

Sean Endicott
News Writer and apps editor

Sean Endicott is a tech journalist at Windows Central, specializing in Windows, Microsoft software, AI, and PCs. He's covered major launches, from Windows 10 and 11 to the rise of AI tools like ChatGPT. Sean's journey began with the Lumia 740, leading to strong ties with app developers. Outside writing, he coaches American football, utilizing Microsoft services to manage his team. He studied broadcast journalism at Nottingham Trent University and is active on X @SeanEndicott_ and Threads @sean_endicott_.