For live typing, turn on Dictation in System Settings > Keyboard, click in any text field and start it with the Microphone key, your shortcut or Edit > Start Dictation. For hands-free control, use Voice Control in Accessibility. For a recording you already have, transcribe the audio file instead.
The three ways
Dictation types what you say into whatever field has your cursor. Voice Control does that too and also lets you speak commands to navigate the desktop and apps. Transcribing a file is different: you record first and turn the whole recording into text afterwards.
The first two are built into macOS. The third needs a tool that accepts an audio or video file.
Dictation: type by voice in any app
Apple says you can speak to enter text anywhere you can type it. The steps below match Apple's macOS 27 page, and the Settings path is the same on Ventura 13, Sonoma 14, Sequoia 15 and Tahoe 26.
- Open the Apple menu > System Settings > Keyboard, scroll to Dictation and turn it on. Click Enable if asked.
- If you are asked whether to improve Siri and Dictation, you can allow audio sharing or click Not Now. You can change this later in Privacy & Security > Analytics & Improvements.
- To choose languages, click Edit next to Languages and select a language and region. Sonoma 14 uses the same Edit button, and Ventura 13 has a Language pop-up menu.
- Click in the text field where the words should go.
- Start Dictation by pressing the Microphone key if your Mac has one, using your Dictation shortcut, or choosing Edit > Start Dictation.
- Speak. Say "new line" or "new paragraph" for breaks, and say punctuation such as "comma" and "question mark" where you want it. In supported languages, Dictation also inserts commas, periods and question marks on its own.
- Stop with the Escape key, the Microphone key or the shortcut. On Ventura 13 the stop options are the shortcut, Return, or Done in the feedback window.
Dictation limits worth knowing
Apple says you can dictate text of any length without a timeout, but Dictation stops by itself when it detects no speech for 30 seconds.
Dictation is not available in all languages or regions, and features vary. Apple's macOS Feature Availability page lists what each language gets, including on-device processing, auto-punctuation and emoji. If Dictation misbehaves, our troubleshooting guide follows Apple's checklist.
Voice Control: hands-free
Voice Control is an accessibility feature at System Settings > Accessibility > Voice Control. Apple says that while it is on, you use Voice Control to dictate text and standard Dictation is not available.
In text fields it has a Dictation mode, on by default, plus Spelling, Command and Swift modes. It also supports editing by voice, such as "Replace cat with dog". The first time you use it your Mac needs the internet for a one-time download from Apple. Our guide to Dictation versus Voice Control has the details.
A recording you already have
Interviews, meetings and voice memos are recordings, not live speech. Apple describes Dictation as speaking to enter text, so use a tool that accepts an audio or video file for these.
Which one to use
Match the method to the job.
| You want to | Use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Type an email, note or message by voice | Dictation | Turn it on in Keyboard settings; Apple says it works anywhere you can type text. |
| Edit text and control the Mac without hands | Voice Control | It adds spoken commands to navigate apps and edit text. |
| Dictate while offline | Voice Control, or check Dictation first | Apple's Ventura 13 troubleshooting page says to use Voice Control offline, while its Ventura 13 and Sonoma 14 Dictation pages say Apple silicon Macs process supported languages on the device with no internet connection required. Our offline dictation guide covers the details. |
| Turn an interview or meeting recording into text | A file transcription tool | Apple describes Dictation as speaking to enter text. |
If you want more than the built-in tool
Pepys Dictate is a Mac app for the live-typing job: hold or tap a shortcut, speak, and clean text appears at your cursor in any app. It handles spoken corrections and removes filler words, and recognition runs on your Mac. How it compares with Apple Dictation lists where each wins.
Last updated October 5, 2026.