Mac voice to text shortcut: how to start dictation with a key

What is the voice to text shortcut on a Mac?

There isn't one fixed key. Apple Dictation starts with whichever of these your Mac is set up for: the Microphone key in the row of function keys (on keyboards that have one), the Dictation shortcut chosen in System Settings › Keyboard › Dictation, or Edit › Start Dictation in the menu bar. A popular choice is pressing the Fn (Globe) key twice. Click where you want the text before you press it, then start talking.

Every way to start and stop Apple Dictation

How do you turn on Dictation and choose a shortcut?

1. Open the Apple menu › System Settings and click Keyboard in the sidebar.
2. Go to Dictation and turn it on. Confirm if macOS asks.
3. Click the Shortcut pop-up menu and pick a shortcut to start Dictation.
4. For a combination that isn't listed, choose Customize, then press the keys you want to use.

On a Mac with Apple silicon you can keep typing while Dictation listens, so you don't have to stop it to fix a word. The full walkthrough, including the microphone and language settings, is in how to use voice to text on a Mac.

Why isn't the dictation shortcut working?

• Dictation is off: the shortcut does nothing until Dictation is switched on in Keyboard settings.
• It's a different shortcut: check the Shortcut pop-up; it may not be the key you're pressing.
• The Globe key opens emoji or switches language: “Press 🌐 key to” is set to Show Emoji & Symbols or Change Input Source. Our Fn (Globe) key guide explains all four options.

If it starts but nothing gets typed, work through Mac dictation not working.

Can you hold a key to talk instead?

Apple Dictation is press to start, press to stop. If you dictate all day, holding one key while you talk is quicker, and that's how SayWrite works: hold fn, speak, let go, and the text is typed where your cursor is. SayWrite never presses Return, so a message or prompt waits for you to read it.

• Auto mode (the default): tap Fn to start and again to stop, or hold it and let go when you're done. Toggle and Hold modes are in Settings.
• Control-Option-D works as an alternative shortcut, handy on keyboards without an Fn key.
• Fn + Space: tap Space while holding Fn to turn on AI Polish, which rewrites a ramble into clean writing on your Mac.
• Esc cancels a recording, and nothing is typed.

To use Fn this way, set “Press 🌐 key to” to Do Nothing and give SayWrite Accessibility access; the install guide covers both. Speech is processed on your Mac, in English.

Which shortcut should you use?

For occasional dictation, the Microphone key or a double press of Fn is fine and free. If you talk to your Mac for hours, or switch between ChatGPT, Slack, Mail and a code editor, a hold-to-talk key with cleanup built in saves the most effort. Compare the two approaches in SayWrite vs Apple Dictation, or download SayWrite and try it free, with no card.