Dictation on a Mac lets you speak instead of type, anywhere you can normally enter text.

Turn on dictation

  • Open Apple menu > System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS).
  • Go to Keyboard and find the Dictation section.
  • Turn Dictation on and, if available, choose your language , microphone , and whether to use features like enhanced or on-device dictation.

Start using dictation

  • Place the text cursor where you want to type (Mail, Notes, Pages, browser, etc.).
  • Use the default shortcut (usually press the Fn key twice , or a Microphone key like F5 on newer keyboards) or choose Edit > Start Dictation in some apps.
  • When the small microphone icon appears, start speaking clearly; your words will turn into text in real time.

Handy commands and punctuation

You can control layout and punctuation with your voice.

  • Say commands like “new line” or “new paragraph” to move the cursor and structure your text.
  • Say punctuation such as “period” , “comma” , “question mark” , “open quote” , “close quote” while dictating.
  • Some macOS versions let you enable auto‑punctuation so the system guesses punctuation from your speech rhythm.

Shortcuts, languages, and power tips

  • In System Settings > Keyboard > Dictation, you can change the keyboard shortcut (for example, Control key twice or Command+D) to something that feels natural.
  • Add multiple languages and switch between them while dictating using the shortcut or language picker near the cursor.
  • For more advanced control, macOS also offers Voice Control , which adds richer commands and custom phrases for editing and controlling the Mac by voice.

If dictation isn’t working

  • Check that Dictation is turned on and the correct microphone is selected in settings.
  • Make sure the microphone isn’t muted and try dictating in another app to rule out app‑specific issues.
  • On some older Intel Macs, basic dictation may need an internet connection , while newer Apple silicon models can often work on‑device.

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Learn how to use dictation on Mac step by step: turn it on in System Settings, start and stop with keyboard shortcuts, use punctuation commands, and troubleshoot common issues.

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