Avoid censorship: How to disable the swear filter during voice dictation

Maybe it has happened to you sometime using the voice dictationYou accidentally (or unintentionally) pronounce a swear word, and the system automatically replaces it with asterisks or censors it outright. This is a form of automatic censorship that we can avoid. In this article, we show you how. disable the swear filter in voice typing both on Windows 11 and Android and other platforms.

This filter (called Profanity Filter) is usually enabled by default. It's used as a safeguard for home, work, or educational environments. But what if you want your words to be exactly what you say, without them being hidden or deleted?

Why is there a swear filter in voice dictation?

Speech recognition and autocorrect technologies have been developed with the goal of providing safe and respectful environments for all users. That's why operating systems like Windows 11 and Android include a built-in filter to cover up speech. words considered offensive or profane, either through asterisks or directly replacing them with another more neutral expression.

However, This automatic censorship is often not well received by everyone.. Many users feel that it limits their freedom of expression oral and prefer transcribed texts to faithfully reflect what they actually say, without any modifications. Furthermore, there are times when these words may be part of titles, quotes, literary texts, or simply reflect the user's authentic way of speaking.

For this reason, both Microsoft and Google have listened to the community and added an option to easily customize this filter, giving you complete control over what is transcribed.

 

Windows 11: How to remove the profanity filter step by step

Until very recently, swearing meant seeing asterisks or substitute words in the document. This significantly limited the naturalness and accuracy of the transcription.

Recently, and after months of requests from the community, Microsoft has introduced an update to the channels Dev and Beta -known as Windows Insiders-, which gives the option to turn the swear filter on or off in Windows 11 voice typing. This feature will be gradually rolled out to all users in upcoming updates, so it will soon be available to anyone with the updated system.

How exactly does this option work and where can I find it?

1. Open voice dictation in Windows 11. You can do this by pressing Win + H in any text field.
2. Click on the settings icon (usually a cogwheel or gear) that appears when you have voice dictation open.
3. In the options panel, you will see the new option of profanity filter. By default, it is usually activated to censor offensive words.
4. If you want the words to be transcribed directly, disable the filter. So, if you feel like letting out a swear word, it will be reflected as is in the text, without asterisks or strange substitutions.

Remove the offensive words filter on Android

In the Android world, profanity filtering is also nothing new. For years, the most popular keyboards, such as the Google's Gboard, and native voice dictation features, include this setting enabled by default. This means that, If you say an offensive word, you'll see it replaced by asterisks or not even appear as a suggested option on the keyboard., which can be a real pain if you need to type something literally.

How to remove the swear filter on Gboard and Google Dictation? The steps are very simple and will only take a minute:

1. Press and hold the key «,» on the Gboard keyboard and access the icon gear (Settings).
2. Enter «Gboard Keyboard Settings > Text Correction».
3. Deactivate the option Filter offensive wordsWith this setting removed, the keyboard will no longer attempt to avoid profanity in suggestions or censor it from text input.

Regarding Google's own voice dictation, you can remove the profanity block from two sources:

• From «Gboard Keyboard Settings > Voice», disable "Block offensive words".
• Or from their own Google app voice settings, unchecking the corresponding option.

Once this is done, Both the keyboard and voice dictation will no longer filter or censor offensive terms., and you'll be able to express yourself freely. If you change your mind or need to for environmental reasons (for example, if you share the device with minors), you can reactivate it whenever you want.

Availability and future of these options

The incorporation of these controls in Windows 11 and Android systems reflects a trend towards give more power to the user about how their technology performs. Both Microsoft and Google have announced that they will continue to expand customization and accessibility options in the future.

If you still don't see the option available in your version of Windows 11, you'll probably have to wait for the next updates, since it comes to users first. Insider channels (Dev and Beta) and is subsequently integrated into stable releases. On Android, most recent phones with Gboard already support this setting. If your phone doesn't show it, check that you have the latest version of the keyboard or operating system.

Operating systems are moving away from imposing restrictions by default, opening the door to greater Personalization and freedom of expression according to each user's preferences.

Remember that if you ever need to, you can easily reactivate the swear filter by adapting your device to each situation. After all, technology is there to make your life easier, not hinder you.