Guides
Mac dictation guides
Short, step-by-step answers for dictating on a Mac, whether you use the built-in tool or an app.
How to
How to dictate on a Mac
The whole flow from Apple's own pages: turn it on, start, speak, add punctuation, stop, switch language and pick a microphone.
How to turn on Dictation on a Mac
Four settings, once: the switch, the audio prompt, the shortcut and the on-device check.
The Mac dictation shortcut: start, stop and change it
Apple gives you three ways to start Dictation and one place to change the shortcut. Here is each, and the gaps in Apple's documentation.
Mac dictation commands: Apple's list as of macOS 27
The words Apple's page lists for punctuation, symbols, line breaks and capitalization, plus where editing commands live instead.
Dictation not working on your Mac: what to check, in order
Apple publishes a short checklist for this. Here it is from quickest check to least likely, plus the places where Apple gives no advice at all.
Speech recognition on Mac: Dictation or Voice Control?
macOS has two ways to use your voice. They do different jobs, and only one of them can be on at a time.
How to do voice to text on a Mac
There are three ways to get spoken words into text on a Mac. Which one fits depends on whether you are typing live, going hands-free or working from a recording.
Does Dictation work offline on a Mac?
Apple's Ventura 13 and Sonoma 14 pages say no internet is required on Apple silicon for supported languages. Its newer pages do not say that. Here is what each says, and how to find out for your Mac.
Articles
How dictation apps change what you meant
A tidy-up step can fix your punctuation and quietly change your meaning. We measured how often, on 204 test sentences.
Local vs cloud dictation: where does your voice go?
Every dictation app turns speech into text somewhere. Where that happens decides what you have to trust, and whether it works on a plane.
How to dictate prompts to an AI assistant on your Mac
Prompts are long and talking is quick. The catch is a cleanup step that may act on what you say, not just type it.
Dictation on a Mac for RSI, injury and disability
When typing hurts or is not possible, speaking is a way to keep working. Here is what a Mac offers, and a free licence if you need it.
Try Pepys Dictate on your Mac
Free for 2,000 words a week, or $9.99 once, plus tax where applicable, for unlimited use on up to 3 Macs. Speech recognition and formatting run on your Mac.
Apple silicon, macOS 13 or later. More about Pepys Dictate