MAC DICTATION GUIDE
How to use dictation
on a Mac.
Every Mac includes Apple Dictation. Turn it on in System Settings, choose a shortcut, then speak into any text field. This guide covers the setup, the shortcut options, the voice commands for punctuation, and when a dedicated dictation app is worth adding.
Quick answer
- Choose Apple menu › System Settings › Keyboard.
- Under Dictation, turn it on and click Enable.
- Click in a text field and press Fn / Globe twice (or your chosen shortcut). Speak, then press Esc or the shortcut again to stop.
1. Turn on dictation in System Settings
Apple Dictation is part of macOS, so there is nothing to install. These are the current steps from Apple’s Mac User Guide:
- Choose Apple menu › System Settings, then click Keyboard in the sidebar. You may need to scroll down.
- Go to Dictation and turn it on.
- If a prompt appears, click Enable.
- If asked whether to share audio recordings with Apple, choose the option you prefer. You can change this later.
On older Macs running macOS Monterey or earlier, the same controls live in System Preferences › Keyboard › Dictation.
2. The Mac dictation shortcut
The shortcut is how you start dictating from the keyboard. In Keyboard settings › Dictation, open the Shortcut pop-up menu. Apple’s built-in options include:
- Press Globe/Fn twice. Tap the Fn or Globe key in the lower-left corner of most Mac keyboards two times.
- Control twice. Press Control two times.
- Customize. Choose it, then press the key combination you want to use.
If your keyboard has a Microphone key in the function row, pressing it also starts dictation.
Using another dictation app too? If two apps listen for the same key, both can react. Give each tool its own shortcut, or turn off the one you don’t use.
3. Start and stop dictating
- Click where you want the text to appear: a document, email, message or search field.
- Start dictation with your shortcut, the Microphone key, or Edit › Start Dictation in the menu bar.
- Speak normally.
- Stop by pressing Esc, the Microphone key or your shortcut again.
Apple notes that dictation stops automatically after 30 seconds of silence. If it keeps stopping while you think, press the shortcut again to resume.
4. Punctuation and formatting commands
Say these words while dictating and macOS inserts the mark instead of the word. The list below is from Apple’s commands for dictating text on Mac.
Punctuation
comma
,period
orfull stop
.question mark
?exclamation mark
!colon
:semicolon
;apostrophe
’dash
/hyphen
– -ellipsis
…open / close parenthesis
( )
Formatting
new line
line breaknew paragraph
blank linetab key
tabno space on / off
join wordsnumeral
digitsroman numeral
IV
In some languages you can also say an emoji name, such as “heart emoji”. For supported languages, Apple can add some punctuation automatically. Auto-punctuation can be turned on or off in Dictation settings.
5. Languages, microphone and privacy
- Languages: in Keyboard settings › Dictation, click Edit next to Languages and select each language or region you use. With more than one selected, click the language abbreviation beside the cursor or press the Globe key to switch.
- Microphone: the Microphone source menu in Dictation settings lets you pick a headset or external mic.
- Where speech is processed: Apple says to check Keyboard settings. When supported, it states that your voice inputs and transcripts for general text dictation are processed on your device and not sent to Siri servers. Availability varies by language and Mac.
6. Tips for better voice typing on Mac
- Speak in full phrases. Recognition uses context, so whole sentences are usually more accurate than single words.
- Use a closer microphone in noisy rooms. A headset mic picks up less background sound than a laptop’s built-in mic.
- Dictate first, edit after. Pausing to fix every word breaks the flow. Correct the draft in one pass at the end.
- Select the right language. Choosing your language and region explicitly avoids mixed-up spellings.
- Need full hands-free control? Apple’s Voice Control, in Accessibility settings, is designed for controlling the whole Mac by voice.
7. When a dedicated dictation app for Mac helps
Apple Dictation is a solid free starting point. People who dictate many times a day often want a few things it doesn’t focus on. Dictation Key is a free dictation app for Mac built around those workflows.
| What you want | Apple Dictation | Dictation Key |
|---|---|---|
| Hold to talk | Shortcut toggles dictation on and off | Hold Fn/Globe or any key you choose, release to insert. Double-tap for hands-free, tap again to finish, Esc cancels. |
| Long pauses | Stops after 30 seconds of silence | Doesn’t stop on pauses. Each dictation can run up to 3 minutes. |
| Offline, on-device | Depends on language and Mac; check Keyboard settings | Audio processed on your Mac. Works offline after a one-time model download. |
| Filler and stutter cleanup | Not a listed feature | Removes “um” and “uh” and accidental repeats in English. On Apple silicon, Smart cleanup also fixes punctuation and self-corrections with an AI model that runs on your Mac. |
| Spoken lists | Use “new line” commands | “This is my list: one cat, two dog, three elephant” becomes a numbered list (English). |
| Names and jargon | General vocabulary | Personal dictionary: save “cube her netties” → “Kubernetes” once |
| Audio and video files | Not included | Transcribe files up to 1 hour. Searchable library. Export TXT, Markdown, SRT, VTT. |
On Apple silicon, Dictation Key transcribes while you speak for English and 24 European languages using Parakeet models. Hindi, Japanese, automatic language detection, Intel Macs and file imports use Whisper, which transcribes after you finish. It needs only Microphone and Accessibility permissions, and it skips recognized password fields.
Try hold-to-talk dictation.
Free for Mac. macOS 14+, Apple silicon and Intel. No subscription.
Frequently asked questions
What is the dictation shortcut on a Mac?
Apple’s default choices include pressing the Globe/Fn key twice or pressing Control twice. You can change it in System Settings › Keyboard › Dictation › Shortcut, including Customize to record your own keys. Keyboards with a Microphone key can also start dictation with that key.
Why does Mac dictation stop by itself?
According to Apple, Dictation stops automatically after 30 seconds without speech. Press your shortcut again to continue.
How do I add punctuation when dictating on a Mac?
Say the punctuation mark, such as “comma”, “period”, “question mark” or “exclamation mark”. Say “new line” or “new paragraph” for line breaks. In supported languages, Apple can also add some punctuation automatically when auto-punctuation is on.
Does Mac dictation work offline?
It depends on your Mac and language. Apple says to check Keyboard settings, which state whether your voice inputs and transcripts for general text dictation are processed on your device. Dictation Key processes audio on your Mac and works offline after a one-time model download.
Can I hold a key to dictate instead of pressing it twice?
Apple’s built-in Dictation toggles on and off with its shortcut. Dictation Key adds hold-to-talk: hold Fn/Globe (or a key you choose), speak, and release to insert the text. Double-tap for hands-free dictation and tap again to finish.
Is there a free dictation app for Mac?
Yes. Apple Dictation is built into macOS. Dictation Key is a free dictation app for Mac with no subscription and no account needed to transcribe. It requires macOS 14 or later and runs on Apple silicon and Intel Macs.
Keep reading
Sources
- Apple, “Dictate messages and documents on Mac”, Mac User Guide: support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/use-dictation-mh40584/mac (accessed September 24, 2026)
- Apple, “Commands for dictating text on Mac”, Mac User Guide: support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/commands-for-dictating-text-on-mac-mh40695/mac (accessed September 24, 2026)