Speech Recognition

Transcribe live and pre-recorded audio to text using Apple's Speech framework. Covers SFSpeechRecognizer (iOS 10+) and the new SpeechAnalyzer API (iOS 26+).

Contents

• SpeechAnalyzer (iOS 26+)
• SFSpeechRecognizer Setup
• Authorization
• Live Microphone Transcription
• Pre-Recorded Audio File Recognition
• On-Device vs Server Recognition
• Handling Results
• Common Mistakes
• Review Checklist
• References

SpeechAnalyzer (iOS 26+)

SpeechAnalyzer is an actor-based API introduced in iOS 26 that replaces SFSpeechRecognizer for new projects. It uses Swift concurrency, AsyncSequence for results, and supports modular analysis via SpeechTranscriber.

Basic transcription with SpeechAnalyzer

import Speech

// 1. Create a transcriber module
guard let locale = SpeechTranscriber.supportedLocale(
    equivalentTo: Locale.current
) else { return }
let transcriber = SpeechTranscriber(locale: locale, preset: .offlineTranscription)

// 2. Ensure assets are installed
if let request = try await AssetInventory.assetInstallationRequest(
    supporting: [transcriber]
) {
    try await request.downloadAndInstall()
}

// 3. Create input stream and analyzer
let (inputSequence, inputBuilder) = AsyncStream.makeStream(of: AnalyzerInput.self)
let audioFormat = await SpeechAnalyzer.bestAvailableAudioFormat(
    compatibleWith: [transcriber]
)
let analyzer = SpeechAnalyzer(modules: [transcriber])

// 4. Feed audio buffers (from AVAudioEngine or file)
Task {
    // Append PCM buffers converted to audioFormat
    let pcmBuffer: AVAudioPCMBuffer = // ... your audio buffer
    inputBuilder.yield(AnalyzerInput(buffer: pcmBuffer))
    inputBuilder.finish()
}

// 5. Consume results
Task {
    for try await result in transcriber.results {
        let text = String(result.text.characters)
        print(text)
    }
}

// 6. Run analysis
let lastSampleTime = try await analyzer.analyzeSequence(inputSequence)

// 7. Finalize
if let lastSampleTime {
    try await analyzer.finalizeAndFinish(through: lastSampleTime)
} else {
    try analyzer.cancelAndFinishNow()
}

Transcribing an audio file with SpeechAnalyzer

let transcriber = SpeechTranscriber(locale: locale, preset: .offlineTranscription)
let audioFile = try AVAudioFile(forReading: fileURL)
let analyzer = SpeechAnalyzer(
    inputAudioFile: audioFile, modules: [transcriber], finishAfterFile: true
)
for try await result in transcriber.results {
    print(String(result.text.characters))
}

Key differences from SFSpeechRecognizer

Feature	SFSpeechRecognizer	SpeechAnalyzer
Concurrency	Callbacks/delegates	async/await + AsyncSequence
Type	class	actor
Modules	Monolithic	Composable (SpeechTranscriber, SpeechDetector)
Audio input	append(_:) on request	AsyncStream<AnalyzerInput>
Availability	iOS 10+	iOS 26+
On-device	requiresOnDeviceRecognition	Asset-based via AssetInventory

SFSpeechRecognizer Setup

Creating a recognizer with locale

import Speech

// Default locale (user's current language)
let recognizer = SFSpeechRecognizer()

// Specific locale
let recognizer = SFSpeechRecognizer(locale: Locale(identifier: "en-US"))

// Check if recognition is available for this locale
guard let recognizer, recognizer.isAvailable else {
    print("Speech recognition not available")
    return
}

Monitoring availability changes

final class SpeechManager: NSObject, SFSpeechRecognizerDelegate {
    private let recognizer = SFSpeechRecognizer()!

    override init() {
        super.init()
        recognizer.delegate = self
    }

    func speechRecognizer(
        _ speechRecognizer: SFSpeechRecognizer,
        availabilityDidChange available: Bool
    ) {
        // Update UI — disable record button when unavailable
    }
}

Authorization

Request both speech recognition and microphone permissions before starting live transcription. Add these keys to Info.plist:

• NSSpeechRecognitionUsageDescription
• NSMicrophoneUsageDescription

import Speech
import AVFoundation

func requestPermissions() async -> Bool {
    let speechStatus = await withCheckedContinuation { continuation in
        SFSpeechRecognizer.requestAuthorization { status in
            continuation.resume(returning: status)
        }
    }
    guard speechStatus == .authorized else { return false }

    let micStatus: Bool
    if #available(iOS 17, *) {
        micStatus = await AVAudioApplication.requestRecordPermission()
    } else {
        micStatus = await withCheckedContinuation { continuation in
            AVAudioSession.sharedInstance().requestRecordPermission { granted in
                continuation.resume(returning: granted)
            }
        }
    }
    return micStatus
}

Live Microphone Transcription

The standard pattern: AVAudioEngine captures microphone audio → buffers are appended to SFSpeechAudioBufferRecognitionRequest → results stream in.

import Speech
import AVFoundation

final class LiveTranscriber {
    private let recognizer = SFSpeechRecognizer(locale: Locale(identifier: "en-US"))!
    private let audioEngine = AVAudioEngine()
    private var recognitionRequest: SFSpeechAudioBufferRecognitionRequest?
    private var recognitionTask: SFSpeechRecognitionTask?

    func startTranscribing() throws {
        // Cancel any in-progress task
        recognitionTask?.cancel()
        recognitionTask = nil

        // Configure audio session
        let audioSession = AVAudioSession.sharedInstance()
        try audioSession.setCategory(.record, mode: .measurement, options: .duckOthers)
        try audioSession.setActive(true, options: .notifyOthersOnDeactivation)

        // Create request
        let request = SFSpeechAudioBufferRecognitionRequest()
        request.shouldReportPartialResults = true
        self.recognitionRequest = request

        // Start recognition task
        recognitionTask = recognizer.recognitionTask(with: request) { result, error in
            if let result {
                let text = result.bestTranscription.formattedString
                print("Transcription: \(text)")

                if result.isFinal {
                    self.stopTranscribing()
                }
            }
            if let error {
                print("Recognition error: \(error)")
                self.stopTranscribing()
            }
        }

        // Install audio tap
        let inputNode = audioEngine.inputNode
        let recordingFormat = inputNode.outputFormat(forBus: 0)
        inputNode.installTap(onBus: 0, bufferSize: 1024, format: recordingFormat) {
            buffer, _ in
            request.append(buffer)
        }

        audioEngine.prepare()
        try audioEngine.start()
    }

    func stopTranscribing() {
        audioEngine.stop()
        audioEngine.inputNode.removeTap(onBus: 0)
        recognitionRequest?.endAudio()
        recognitionRequest = nil
        recognitionTask?.cancel()
        recognitionTask = nil
    }
}

Pre-Recorded Audio File Recognition

Use SFSpeechURLRecognitionRequest for audio files on disk:

func transcribeFile(at url: URL) async throws -> String {
    guard let recognizer = SFSpeechRecognizer(), recognizer.isAvailable else {
        throw SpeechError.unavailable
    }
    let request = SFSpeechURLRecognitionRequest(url: url)
    request.shouldReportPartialResults = false

    return try await withCheckedThrowingContinuation { continuation in
        recognizer.recognitionTask(with: request) { result, error in
            if let error {
                continuation.resume(throwing: error)
            } else if let result, result.isFinal {
                continuation.resume(
                    returning: result.bestTranscription.formattedString
                )
            }
        }
    }
}

On-Device vs Server Recognition

On-device recognition (iOS 13+) works offline but supports fewer locales:

let recognizer = SFSpeechRecognizer(locale: Locale(identifier: "en-US"))!

// Check if on-device is supported for this locale
if recognizer.supportsOnDeviceRecognition {
    let request = SFSpeechAudioBufferRecognitionRequest()
    request.requiresOnDeviceRecognition = true  // Force on-device
}

Tip: On-device recognition avoids network latency and the one-minute audio limit imposed by server-based recognition. However, accuracy may be lower and not all locales are supported. Check supportsOnDeviceRecognition before forcing on-device mode.

Handling Results

Partial vs final results

let request = SFSpeechAudioBufferRecognitionRequest()
request.shouldReportPartialResults = true  // default is true

recognizer.recognitionTask(with: request) { result, error in
    guard let result else { return }

    if result.isFinal {
        // Final transcription — recognition is complete
        let final = result.bestTranscription.formattedString
    } else {
        // Partial result — may change as more audio is processed
        let partial = result.bestTranscription.formattedString
    }
}

Accessing alternative transcriptions and confidence

recognizer.recognitionTask(with: request) { result, error in
    guard let result else { return }

    // Best transcription
    let best = result.bestTranscription

    // All alternatives (sorted by confidence, descending)
    for transcription in result.transcriptions {
        for segment in transcription.segments {
            print("\(segment.substring): \(segment.confidence)")
        }
    }
}

Adding punctuation (iOS 16+)

let request = SFSpeechAudioBufferRecognitionRequest()
request.addsPunctuation = true

Contextual strings

Improve recognition of domain-specific terms:

let request = SFSpeechAudioBufferRecognitionRequest()
request.contextualStrings = ["SwiftUI", "Xcode", "CloudKit"]

Common Mistakes

Not requesting both speech and microphone authorization

// ❌ DON'T: Only request speech authorization for live audio
SFSpeechRecognizer.requestAuthorization { status in
    // Missing microphone permission — audio engine will fail
    self.startRecording()
}

// ✅ DO: Request both permissions before recording
SFSpeechRecognizer.requestAuthorization { status in
    guard status == .authorized else { return }
    AVAudioSession.sharedInstance().requestRecordPermission { granted in
        guard granted else { return }
        self.startRecording()
    }
}

Not handling availability changes

// ❌ DON'T: Assume recognizer stays available after initial check
let recognizer = SFSpeechRecognizer()!
// Recognition may fail if network drops or locale changes

// ✅ DO: Monitor availability via delegate
recognizer.delegate = self
func speechRecognizer(
    _ speechRecognizer: SFSpeechRecognizer,
    availabilityDidChange available: Bool
) {
    recordButton.isEnabled = available
}

Not stopping the audio engine when recognition ends

// ❌ DON'T: Leave audio engine running after recognition finishes
recognizer.recognitionTask(with: request) { result, error in
    if result?.isFinal == true {
        // Audio engine still running, wasting resources and battery
    }
}

// ✅ DO: Clean up all audio resources
recognizer.recognitionTask(with: request) { result, error in
    if result?.isFinal == true || error != nil {
        self.audioEngine.stop()
        self.audioEngine.inputNode.removeTap(onBus: 0)
        self.recognitionRequest?.endAudio()
        self.recognitionRequest = nil
    }
}

Assuming on-device recognition is available for all locales

// ❌ DON'T: Force on-device without checking support
let request = SFSpeechAudioBufferRecognitionRequest()
request.requiresOnDeviceRecognition = true // May silently fail

// ✅ DO: Check support before requiring on-device
if recognizer.supportsOnDeviceRecognition {
    request.requiresOnDeviceRecognition = true
} else {
    // Fall back to server-based or inform user
}

Not handling the one-minute recognition limit

// ❌ DON'T: Start one long continuous recognition session
func startRecording() {
    // This will be cut off after ~60 seconds (server-based)
}

// ✅ DO: Restart recognition when approaching the limit
func startRecording() {
    // Use a timer to restart before the limit
    recognitionTimer = Timer.scheduledTimer(withTimeInterval: 55, repeats: false) {
        [weak self] _ in
        self?.restartRecognition()
    }
}

Creating multiple simultaneous recognition tasks

// ❌ DON'T: Start a new task without canceling the previous one
func startRecording() {
    recognitionTask = recognizer.recognitionTask(with: request) { ... }
    // Previous task is still running — undefined behavior
}

// ✅ DO: Cancel existing task before creating a new one
func startRecording() {
    recognitionTask?.cancel()
    recognitionTask = nil
    recognitionTask = recognizer.recognitionTask(with: request) { ... }
}

Review Checklist

• NSSpeechRecognitionUsageDescription is in Info.plist
• NSMicrophoneUsageDescription is in Info.plist (if using live audio)
• Authorization is requested before starting recognition
• SFSpeechRecognizerDelegate is set to handle availabilityDidChange
• Audio engine is stopped and tap removed when recognition ends
• recognitionRequest.endAudio() is called when done recording
• Previous recognitionTask is canceled before starting a new one
• supportsOnDeviceRecognition is checked before requiring on-device mode
• Partial results are handled separately from final (isFinal) results
• One-minute limit is accounted for in server-based recognition
• For iOS 26+: AssetInventory assets are installed before using SpeechAnalyzer
• For iOS 26+: SpeechTranscriber.supportedLocale(equivalentTo:) is checked

References

• Speech framework
• SpeechAnalyzer
• SpeechTranscriber
• SFSpeechRecognizer
• SFSpeechAudioBufferRecognitionRequest
• SFSpeechURLRecognitionRequest
• SFSpeechRecognitionResult
• SFSpeechRecognitionRequest
• AssetInventory
• Asking Permission to Use Speech Recognition
• Recognizing Speech in Live Audio