Free tool
Dictation not working on your Mac?
Say what is happening and get the checks that apply, in the order to try them.
These checks are the ones Apple's own pages give. Apple's Dictation pages do not mention restarting the Mac or third-party apps, so this tool does not either.
How it works
Each symptom lists checks taken from Apple's own support pages, with a link to the page each came from. Where Apple's pages say nothing, for example about restarting the Mac, the tool says nothing too.
Nothing you select leaves your browser. The steps use the System Settings path that Apple documents for macOS 13 and later.
Questions
Why does Mac dictation stop after a few seconds?
Apple says Dictation stops automatically when it detects no speech for 30 seconds. There is no limit on total length, so if it stops mid-sentence, check the microphone and whether a stop key was pressed.
Does Mac dictation need the internet?
It depends. Keyboard settings show whether speech is processed on the device. If it is not, your speech is sent to Apple's servers. Apple says supported languages on Apple silicon Macs can be processed on the device.
Why can I not turn Dictation on?
Something may be restricting it: Screen Time restrictions, a Family Sharing setting, a management profile on a work or school Mac, or Voice Control being on. The fixer lists where to check each one.
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