macOS has built-in dictation. It works. But if you dictate often, you’ll hit limits around workflow, latency, and correcting technical terms.
TL;DR
- Turn on Dictation: System Settings → Keyboard → Dictation → On (details: /answers/turn-on-voice-typing-mac)
- Using speech-to-text: start with the Dictation shortcut (often Fn twice) (steps: /answers/use-speech-to-text-on-mac)
- Built-in Dictation is great for quick notes.
- Dedicated dictation apps help when you need system-wide hotkeys, long sessions, and better handling of jargon.
The built-in option
System Settings → Keyboard → Dictation → On. Press Fn twice to start, again to stop.
It's fine for quick notes. Depending on your macOS version, language, and settings, Dictation can be on-device or server-based. The common catches for heavy use are timeouts/limits, inconsistent latency on short bursts, and limited control over technical vocabulary.
If you’re looking for the “voice commands” side of dictation (punctuation + formatting), start here: /answers/mac-dictation-commands.
Apple’s own Dictation guide: Use Dictation on Mac (Apple Support).
When you need more
If dictation is part of your daily work, the built-in tool starts to chafe:
- Timeouts interrupt long thoughts
- Network hiccups break flow (try it on a train)
- Technical terms come out wrong with no way to fix them
- Privacy - your voice goes somewhere else
How Voice Type works
Hold a hotkey (⌥ Space by default). Talk. Release. Text appears.
Everything runs on your Mac. No upload, no server round-trip. We process in ~30-second windows, so when you stop, only the last window needs finishing. On an M1, that's about 2-3 seconds.
You can add custom vocabulary for terms the model doesn't know. Names, products, jargon - spelled exactly how you want.
Which to use
Built-in dictation: Quick notes, occasional use, you don't mind cloud processing.
Voice Type: Daily use, long sessions, technical vocabulary, offline requirement, privacy matters.
The built-in option is free. Voice Type is $19.99 after a 7-day trial. Try both and use what fits.
Explore: /speech-to-text-mac · /voice-typing-mac · Why offline dictation stays fast · Short utterances and network costs
Frequently asked questions
What is the shortcut key for voice typing on Mac?
The default shortcut is pressing the Fn key twice (or the Microphone key on newer MacBooks). You can customize this in System Settings → Keyboard → Dictation. Options include Control twice, Fn twice, or a custom key combination. Apple's keyboard shortcuts guide has the full list.
Does Mac dictation work offline?
It depends. On macOS Ventura and later with Apple Silicon, Dictation can run on-device for supported languages. However, some features still require internet. For guaranteed offline dictation, dedicated apps like Voice Type process everything locally using the Whisper model, with no network requirement.
Why is my Mac dictation not working?
Common fixes: (1) Check that Dictation is enabled in System Settings → Keyboard → Dictation. (2) Verify microphone permissions in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone. (3) Try a different input source. (4) Restart the dictation service by toggling it off and on. Apple's troubleshooting guide covers additional steps.
How accurate is voice typing on Mac?
Built-in Dictation works well for common words but struggles with technical jargon, proper nouns, and specialized vocabulary. Third-party apps using OpenAI's Whisper model (like Voice Type, Superwhisper, or MacWhisper) typically achieve higher accuracy, especially for technical content. According to OpenAI's research, Whisper approaches human-level accuracy on many benchmarks.
Sources
- Apple's Dictation documentation: Use Dictation on Mac (Apple Support)
- Apple Silicon and on-device processing: Mac computers with Apple silicon
- Dictation troubleshooting: If Dictation isn't working on Mac
- OpenAI Whisper research: Robust Speech Recognition via Large-Scale Weak Supervision
- Whisper paper: Radford et al., 2022 (arXiv)
- macOS Ventura dictation changes: WWDC22 - What's new in Dictation
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