How to dictate on a Mac.
Your Mac can type what you say in any app. Here's how to turn on the built-in Dictation in under a minute, the voice commands worth knowing, and what to use when you dictate every day.
Updated October 2026 · macOS 26
Built-in Dictation
Turn it on in three steps.
Open Keyboard settings
Apple menu › System Settings › Keyboard, then scroll to Dictation.
Switch Dictation on
Pick your language and a shortcut. Recent keyboards have a Microphone key 🎤 for it.
Talk
Click into any text field, press the shortcut, speak, and press it again to stop.
Voice commands
Say the punctuation when you need it.
Apple's Dictation adds most punctuation by itself in supported languages. These spoken commands cover the rest.
| Say | Types |
|---|---|
| “period” | . |
| “comma” | , |
| “question mark” | ? |
| “exclamation point” | ! |
| “new line” | ↵ |
| “new paragraph” | ↵↵ |
| “open quote / close quote” | “ ” |
| “smiley” | 🙂 (emoji by name) |
Good to know
Where the built-in one stops.
For daily dictation
Hold a key. Talk. Let go.
TypeVoice works like the built-in Dictation, but you hold a key while you talk and the text lands clean: fillers, stutters and false starts removed, numbers and lists formatted, your names spelled right. It runs entirely on your Mac and never stops because you paused to think.
Comparing options? TypeVoice vs Apple Dictation · The best dictation apps for Mac
Talk more. Fix less.
Free for 7 days · $79 once · Runs entirely on your Mac
Steps and commands from Apple's macOS User Guide, checked October 2026. Apple, Mac and macOS are trademarks of Apple Inc.
Questions
Questions people ask.
How do I turn on dictation on a Mac?
Open System Settings › Keyboard, scroll to Dictation and switch it on. Choose a language and a shortcut, then press the shortcut in any text field to start talking.
What is the dictation shortcut on Mac?
Recent Mac keyboards have a Microphone key (🎤) that starts Dictation. You can pick a different shortcut in System Settings › Keyboard › Dictation › Shortcut.
Does Mac dictation work offline?
On Apple silicon Macs, for languages with on-device support, yes. On Intel Macs or other languages, Apple's guide says speech is sent to Apple. TypeVoice always runs offline.
Why does Mac dictation stop by itself?
Apple's Dictation stops after about 30 seconds of silence. TypeVoice keeps listening while you hold the key, however long you pause.
How do I add punctuation when dictating on a Mac?
Say it: "comma", "period", "question mark", "new line" or "new paragraph". Dictation also adds punctuation automatically in supported languages.