How to dictate on a Mac
Your Mac can turn speech into text in almost any app. This guide shows how to set up Apple's built-in Dictation, the commands that add punctuation, what to check when it stops working, and a free app that types for you while you hold one key.
Quick answer
- Choose Apple menu › System Settings, then click Keyboard in the sidebar.
- Go to Dictation and turn it on. Click Enable if you're asked.
- Click where you want the text to go, in any app.
- Press the Microphone key, use your Dictation shortcut, or choose Edit › Start Dictation.
- Speak. Press Esc, the Microphone key or the shortcut again to stop.
Based on Apple's Mac User Guide. Menu names can differ slightly in older versions of macOS.
Set up Dictation the way you like
All of these are in System Settings › Keyboard › Dictation:
- Shortcut. Pick a shortcut from the Shortcut menu, or choose Customize to make your own.
- Microphone. Choose which microphone to use under Microphone source.
- Languages. Click Edit next to Languages to add more. While dictating, click the language indicator next to the cursor to switch.
- Auto-punctuation. In supported languages, Dictation adds commas, periods and question marks for you. You can turn this off.
- Privacy. The settings show whether your dictation is processed on your Mac or sent to Apple.
Say punctuation and new lines
Speak the name of what you want. A few common commands:
| Say | What happens |
|---|---|
| "comma", "period", "question mark" | Types the punctuation mark |
| "exclamation mark" | Types ! |
| "new line" | Presses Return once |
| "new paragraph" | Presses Return twice |
| "heart emoji" | Types the emoji you name |
Apple keeps the full list of dictation commands, including capital letters and symbols.
Good to know
- Dictation has no length limit, but it stops after 30 seconds without speech.
- On Macs with Apple silicon, you can keep typing while you dictate.
- Words Dictation isn't sure about are underlined in blue. Click one to pick another word.
- When Voice Control is on, standard Dictation isn't available.
Dictation not working? Check these
- Make sure Dictation is turned on in System Settings › Keyboard.
- Check that the right microphone is selected under Microphone source.
- Turn off Voice Control in System Settings › Accessibility if you don't need it, since it replaces standard Dictation.
- Click inside a text field first, so the text has somewhere to go.
- Turn Dictation off and on again, then restart your Mac if it still won't start.
A faster way: hold one key, in any app
If you dictate a lot, a dedicated app can save more time. WhisperWrite is free and types wherever your cursor is while you hold a key.
- Download WhisperWrite and drag it to Applications.
- Open it and allow Microphone and Accessibility.
- Let the speech model download once (about 610 MB).
- Hold Right Option, speak, and let go. Tap the key instead for hands-free.
| Apple Dictation | WhisperWrite | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, built in | Free |
| Start and stop | Microphone key, shortcut or Edit menu | Hold a key and let go, or tap for hands-free |
| Stops on its own | After 30 seconds without speech | When you let go (up to six minutes) |
| Clean-up | Auto-punctuation | Punctuation, filler words like "um" removed, optional AI Edit |
| Your own words | Not in Dictation settings | Dictionary for names and jargon, plus snippets |
| Languages | Many | English for now |
| Macs | Any recent Mac | Apple Silicon, macOS 14 or later |
Coming from Wispr Flow? See how WhisperWrite compares.
Questions
Is dictation free on a Mac?
Yes. Dictation is built into macOS and costs nothing. WhisperWrite, which dictates into any app while you hold a key, is free too.
What is the keyboard shortcut for dictation on a Mac?
Press the Microphone key if your keyboard has one, or choose Edit › Start Dictation. You can pick or customize a shortcut in System Settings › Keyboard › Dictation, using the Shortcut menu.
How do I add punctuation when dictating?
Say the punctuation, for example "comma", "period" or "question mark". Say "new line" for one Return and "new paragraph" for two. In supported languages, auto-punctuation also adds commas, periods and question marks for you.
Why does dictation stop by itself?
Mac Dictation has no time limit, but it stops after 30 seconds without speech. With WhisperWrite, dictation lasts as long as you hold the key, up to six minutes at a time.
Can I dictate offline on a Mac?
WhisperWrite works offline after a one-time download of its speech model. For Apple's Dictation, Keyboard settings show whether your dictation is processed on your Mac.
Write by talking, free.
Hold a key, speak, and your words appear in any app. No word limits, no subscription, no account. Speech recognition runs on your Mac.
Download WhisperWrite