How to use dictation on a Mac

2 min read · 5 steps · Updated 2 October 2026

Dictation turns speech into text in any app where you can type. It adds punctuation automatically and can be faster than typing for emails and notes.

The pictures are diagrams of the keys to press.

Step by step

1. Open System Settings and click Keyboard

   Click the Apple menu and choose System Settings.

   Done

2. Switch on Dictation

   Scroll down to the Dictation section. Choose your language, and add others if you speak more than one.

   Done

3. Check the shortcut

   The default is the microphone key on the F5 key of newer Mac keyboards, or pressing the Control key twice. You can change it in the Shortcut menu.

   Done

4. Click in a text field and start dictating

   Press the shortcut. A microphone icon appears at the cursor. Speak normally.

   Done

5. Stop

   Press the shortcut again, or press Escape.

   Done

Good to know

Say "new line" or "new paragraph" to move down. Punctuation is added by itself in most languages, and you can also say "comma" or "question mark".

On Macs with Apple silicon, dictation for many languages runs on the Mac without sending audio to Apple, and you can type while it is listening.

Dictation stops by itself after about 30 seconds of silence.

For controlling the whole Mac by voice, look at Voice Control under System Settings, Accessibility.

In short: System Settings, Keyboard, Dictation on. Press Control twice and speak.