A LITTLE LESS TYPING

Your voice.
At home on Mac.

Hold a key. Say what’s on your mind.
Let go, and your words appear.

Free. Local. No account required.

Dictation Key app icon

Dictation Key for Mac

Apple silicon & Intel. One download.

Download for Mac

Checking the latest verified download…

Requires macOS 14 or later.

01 Audio stays on your Mac02 Works offline after setup03 Choose your own shortcut

FROM DOWNLOAD TO DICTATION

Three small steps.
Then just speak.

  1. 01 / INSTALL

    Make it at home.

    Open the downloaded disk image. Drag Dictation Key into Applications, then open it there.

  2. 02 / SET UP

    A quick introduction.

    The app walks you through two permissions and a one-time speech download. Keep it open until it’s ready.

  3. 03 / SPEAK

    Try your first sentence.

    Click a text field. Hold Fn / Globe, speak, then release. Double-tap for hands-free dictation.

GOOD TO KNOW

A smooth start.

Keep the app in Applications.
Find it in your Mac’s menu bar.

Which download is right for my Mac?

The same download works on Apple silicon and Intel Macs running macOS 14 or later. Check your version in Apple menu → About This Mac.

Why does it need two permissions?

Microphone lets the app hear you. Accessibility lets your shortcut work across apps and inserts the finished text. The setup guide shows you each step.

Why is the first setup taking a little longer?

The app downloads speech files to your Mac once. After setup, dictation works offline. You can change recognition and language options in Advanced settings.

What if my words don’t appear?

Click an editable text field before using your shortcut. Check that Accessibility is allowed for Dictation Key. You can also copy the text from Last dictation. Password fields are excluded.

Is there a Windows or phone app?

Dictation Key is currently a Mac app. This download won’t run on Windows, iPhone, iPad, Android, or Linux.

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