How to use dictation on a Mac
4 minute read · updated October 28, 2026
1 sources: 1 product documentation
Choose Apple menu > System Settings > Keyboard, go to Dictation and turn it on. Place the cursor, then press the Microphone key, use the Dictation shortcut, or choose Edit > Start Dictation, and speak. Press Escape or the same key to stop; Dictation also stops after 30 seconds without speech.
Mac Dictation lets you speak to enter text anywhere you can type.[1] It can help when you think faster than you type, when your hands are tired, or when you want a rough first draft of an email or report before you tidy it up.
Turn on Dictation
Set up and use Dictation on a Mac
- Open System Settings from the Apple menu and click Keyboard in the sidebar.[1]
- Go to Dictation and turn it on, then click Enable.
- If asked about improving Siri and Dictation, click Share Audio Recordings or Not Now.[1]
- In an app, click where you want the text to go.
- Press the Microphone key (if your keyboard has one), use the Dictation keyboard shortcut, or choose Edit > Start Dictation.[1]
- When the cursor pulses or you hear the ready tone, speak.
- To finish, press Escape, the Microphone key or the Dictation shortcut.[1]
Apple says you can dictate text of any length without a timeout, and that Dictation stops on its own when no speech is detected for 30 seconds. On a Mac with Apple silicon you can type while Dictation is on; it pauses while you type and resumes after you stop.[1] Press and release the Microphone key to dictate; pressing and holding it starts Siri instead.[1]
Punctuation and formatting by voice
- Say the name of a punctuation mark, such as "comma" or "exclamation mark."
- Say "new line" for one Return, or "new paragraph" for two.
- Say the name of an emoji, such as "heart emoji."[1]
Apple adds commas, periods and question marks automatically in supported languages. To stop that, go to System Settings > Keyboard, find Dictation, and turn off Auto-punctuation.[1]
Settings worth trying
- Shortcut: in Keyboard settings, under Dictation, use the Shortcut pop-up menu, or choose Customize to set your own, such as Option-Z.[1]
- Languages: click Edit next to Languages to add another language and region. While dictating, click the language next to the cursor to switch.[1]
- Microphone source: choose which microphone Dictation listens to, or leave it on Automatic.[1]
Fixing mistakes
Apple says words Dictation is unsure about are underlined in blue, for example "flour" when you meant "flower." Click the underlined word and choose an alternative, or type or dictate the right word.[1] For names and terms that come out wrong every time, a text replacement lets you type a short code that expands to the correct spelling.
Troubleshooting
- Pressing the Microphone key opens Siri. Press and release the key quickly rather than holding it.[1]
- The Mac hears the wrong microphone. Change the Microphone source in Keyboard settings under Dictation.[1]
- The shortcut you chose changed another setting. Apple notes that picking a Dictation shortcut can change the "Press fn key to" or "Press Globe key to" option in Keyboard settings automatically.[1]
- You want to check privacy. In Keyboard settings, the text below Dictation says whether your voice input for general dictation is processed on your device; click About Ask Siri, Dictation & Privacy for details.[1]
If the same few words need fixing after every session, collect them in the word list tool; it produces a list to practice and codes for Text Replacements.
Quick answers
What is the dictation shortcut on a Mac?
Press the Microphone key if your keyboard has one, or set a shortcut in System Settings > Keyboard > Dictation using the Shortcut pop-up menu. Edit > Start Dictation also works.[1]
Why did Mac dictation stop by itself?
Apple says Dictation stops automatically when no speech is detected for 30 seconds.[1]
Can I dictate in two languages on a Mac?
Yes. Add languages with the Edit button next to Languages in Dictation settings, then switch by clicking the language next to the cursor or with the Globe key.[1]
Review status
Source-checked, not expert-reviewed
Drafted with AI assistance. Each factual claim was checked against the source it links to on 2026-10-28. No clinician, psychologist or dyslexia specialist has reviewed this page. See the claims register.
Sources
- [1]Dictate messages and documents on Mac. Apple, 2026. Accessed 2026-10-28. Product documentation
Related reading
- How to use dictation on iPhoneTurn on Dictation on iPhone, tap the microphone key, add punctuation and line breaks by voice, fix words by voice, and switch off Auto-Punctuation.
- How to make your Mac read text aloudTurn on Speak selection in Read & Speak (Spoken Content on macOS Sequoia), use Option-Esc, choose a voice and rate, and highlight words as they are read.
- How to set up text replacement shortcuts for words you often misspellMake a short code expand to a word you often misspell: Text Replacement on iPhone and Mac, Office AutoCorrect on Windows, and the Gboard dictionary.
- How to use voice typing and dictation on WindowsPress Windows logo key + H to start voice typing, say punctuation and editing commands, change settings, and when to use voice access or Dictate in Word.