> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.augmental.tech/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Dictation vs Notes
Both start the same way, by holding a button and talking. What happens to the words
afterwards is the difference.
On Mac, use the **Buttons** and **Notes** items in Vox's left sidebar. On iPhone and
iPad, use the **Buttons** and **Notes** items in the bottom tab bar. Settings mentioned
in this article are in the **Settings** tab or sidebar item.
The text goes **into the app you are using**, as if you typed it. Dictations stay
on the device in dictation history and are not uploaded as Notes.
The text goes **into Vox**, saved and searchable. Nothing is inserted anywhere else.
## Use dictation when
You have a cursor somewhere and you want words at that cursor. Writing a Slack
message, filling a form, replying to an email, writing code comments.
## Use notes when
You want to say something now and deal with it later. Walking between meetings,
capturing an idea, leaving yourself a reminder. There is no target app and no cursor
involved, so it does not matter what is on screen.
## Telling them apart while you use them
Dictation is intended for a focused text field and inserts text there. Notes do not
insert anything into the app in front of you; they are saved in Vox. Notes also receive
more aggressive cleanup and formatting by default, while dictation stays closer to the
words you said, with lightweight cleanup. Dictation formatting can be enabled or left
off in **Settings → Basic → Dictation → Format dictation**.
## Switching between them
On Mac, open **Buttons** in the left sidebar, select a button, and choose a gesture row:
**Press**, **Double press**, or **Hold**. Set the action to **Start / Stop Dictation**
to type into the focused app, or **Start / Stop Note** to save a note in Vox.
On iPhone and iPad, open **Buttons** in the bottom tab bar and select a button and
gesture. iOS offers note capture actions such as **Start / Stop Note** and **Add to
Last Note**, but not **Start / Stop Dictation**; button presses default to note capture
because iOS cannot send keystrokes into another app.
## What happens to notes afterwards
Notes are listed in the **Notes** tab, newest first. You can search them, label them,
and copy the text out.
Notes upload to your account when you are online. If you are offline, Vox keeps the
capture locally and retries the upload later. Once uploaded, the note appears on your
other signed-in devices.
Dictations are retained locally. On Mac, open **Settings → Basic → Dictation →
Dictation history**. On iPhone and iPad, open **Settings → Basic → Dictation
history**. Notes are the better choice when you want a searchable, account-synced
record that is available on other devices.