How to Use Dictation on Mac: Setup, Shortcuts, and Commands

To use Dictation on a Mac, open System Settings, click Keyboard, turn on Dictation, then put the cursor in any text field and press your Dictation shortcut (or the Microphone key, if your keyboard has one). Speak, then press Escape or the shortcut again to stop. The steps below follow Apple's own Mac User Guide, read in October 2026, and macOS versions differ slightly, so your menus may look a little different.

If you outgrow the built-in option, the last sections cover what a dedicated app adds and when it is not worth installing one.

Turn on Dictation

Two settings in the same pane are worth a look. Languages (the Edit button) controls which languages you can dictate in and lets you switch while dictating. Microphone source lets you choose a specific microphone, or leave it on Automatic so the Mac picks the one you are most likely to use.

Start, stop, and fix text

1. Click where you want text to appear.
2. Press the Microphone key if your keyboard has one, use your Dictation shortcut, or choose Edit > Start Dictation from the menu bar.
3. Wait for the cursor to pulse or for a tone, then speak.
4. Press Escape, the Microphone key, or your shortcut to stop.

Dictation also stops on its own after 30 seconds without detected speech. Apple does not describe a time limit on how long you can keep talking, as long as you keep talking. On a Mac with Apple silicon you can type while you dictate, so you can fix a word without stopping.

Words macOS is unsure about are underlined in blue. Click one to pick an alternative, or type or dictate the correction.

Punctuation and formatting by voice

You can speak punctuation: say the mark's name, such as "exclamation mark". Say "new line" for one Return or "new paragraph" for two. Say an emoji's name, such as "heart emoji", to insert it.

In supported languages, macOS also inserts commas, periods, and question marks for you. If it adds too many or you prefer to say every mark, turn off Auto-punctuation in System Settings > Keyboard > Dictation. Apple keeps a separate command list for Dictation; check its Mac User Guide for the full set instead of relying on a cheat sheet from a third party.

Limits worth knowing

• Dictation is not available in every language or region, and some features vary. Apple publishes a feature availability page for macOS.
• If Voice Control is on, it handles dictation and standard Dictation is unavailable.
• Pressing and holding the Microphone key activates Siri (if Siri is on) instead of Dictation.
• Whether your dictation is processed on your Mac or by Apple depends on your setup. Apple says you can read the text under Dictation in Keyboard settings to see which applies to you.

If Dictation stops responding, work through the fixes in our troubleshooting guide.

When Apple's Dictation is enough

For short messages, search queries, and quick notes, the built-in Dictation is a good choice. It is free, needs no install, and works in text fields across macOS. Start there. If it covers what you write, you do not need anything else.

What a dictation app adds on Mac

People move to a dedicated app when they dictate every day and want more control over the result. Avaan is built for that case:

• A hotkey you choose. In Avaan's settings under Recording Shortcuts you set a primary and an optional secondary shortcut, and pick Toggle (press to start, press to stop) or Push to Talk (hold to record, release to stop).
• Modes. Modes (Pro) format your text for the app you write in, such as a polished email in Mail or a casual message in Slack. Our guide to AI dictation on Mac shows what that looks like.
• Pro cloud transcription. Pro sends your speech to cloud models and includes 10 hours of cloud transcription a month. Audio goes to the speech providers listed on the subprocessors page.
• File transcription. Drop in an audio file and get a transcript.
• Free local transcription. On Mac, local transcription is free, needs no account, and works offline, and that audio stays on the Mac.

Pro costs $7.99 a month or $79.99 a year, and every account starts with a 7-day Pro trial, no card. See Avaan pricing for the current terms, or download Avaan for Mac and compare it with Apple's Dictation on your own writing.

Get cleaner results with either tool

Most dictation problems come from the audio, not the software: the microphone is far from your mouth, the room is noisy, or the wrong input device is selected. In System Settings > Sound > Input you can choose the input device and adjust its volume. Our voice-to-text tips cover microphone placement and speaking habits in more detail.

If an app cannot use the microphone at all, check System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone and make sure the switch for that app is on.