ThumbFree puts a small yellow bubble next to the text field you are typing in. Tap it, speak, and your words are typed in, in any app. It works on your phone, without the internet. It needs Android 13 or newer.
Not installed yet? Get ThumbFree on Google Play.
1. Open ThumbFree and pick your language: English, or Other languages. That starts the speech model's download, about 731 MB (740 MB for other languages), over Wi-Fi unless you choose mobile data. The first screen waits until the model is downloaded and loaded. 2. Try the yellow bubble once, inside the app. The first tap asks for the microphone; choose "While using the app". 3. Turn on the bubble in Android Settings. Tap Agree and open settings, then tap ThumbFree, turn on "Use ThumbFree" (leave "ThumbFree shortcut" off), and tap Allow when Android asks. 4. You're all set. In any app, tap where you type. Tap the yellow bubble, speak, then tap it again.
The bubble doesn't show. It appears only while a text field has focus. Check that "Use ThumbFree" is on in Android's settings (Accessibility > ThumbFree). ThumbFree never types into password fields.
It stopped working after I force-stopped it or updated my phone. Android turns an accessibility service off when its app is force-stopped. Open Accessibility > ThumbFree and turn "Use ThumbFree" on again.
It asks for the microphone again. If you chose "Only this time", Android takes the permission back later. Open ThumbFree, tap Allow and choose "While using the app".
Does it work offline? Yes. Once the speech model is on your phone, ThumbFree needs no internet, even in airplane mode.
Which languages? The English model is the most accurate for English and is recommended. The Multilingual model understands 25 European languages: pick Other languages when you set it up, or switch later in Settings > Speech model.
It spells a name wrong. Add it in the Dictionary tab, and ThumbFree spells it your way from then on.
Where are my recordings? Only on your phone, in History. They are never uploaded and not included in backups. By default ThumbFree keeps takes for 7 days and at most 200 takes; change this in Settings > History.
How much space does it need? About 731 MB for the English model, or 740 MB for the Multilingual one. While it downloads, keep about 1 GB more free.
Questions, bugs or ideas: thumbfree.app@gmail.com. Please don't send recordings: tell us what you said and what ThumbFree typed.