Fixing macOS Dictation
macOS Dictation not working?
Check these, in this order.
This guide is about Dictation, the voice typing built into macOS (System Settings > Keyboard > Dictation). Most problems with it come from four settings: Dictation itself, the microphone it listens to, Voice Control and the language. Work through them in order; the last section covers what to do if Dictation works but does not fit how you write.
It does not start
Check System Settings > Keyboard > Dictation is on, and note which shortcut is set; pressing a different key does nothing.
Check System Settings > Accessibility > Voice Control is off. While Voice Control is on, standard Dictation is unavailable.
It starts but hears nothing
In Keyboard > Dictation, set Microphone source to the microphone you are actually using. Automatic picks the device it thinks is most likely, which may be a monitor or headset you are not speaking into.
In System Settings > Sound > Input, select the same microphone and speak: the input level should move. If you use an external microphone, raise its input volume.
It stops on its own
Dictation has no length limit, but it ends after 30 seconds without speech. That is by design and cannot be changed. If you often stop for longer than that to think or read, see the last section.
It mishears you
Make sure the dictation language matches what you speak: add it under Keyboard > Dictation > Languages, and switch with the language indicator next to the cursor. Dictation works in one language at a time, so sentences that mix Chinese and English often go wrong. A model that detects language on the fly handles that better; see mixed Chinese–English dictation.
Another option: a dictation app
For long writing, mixed languages or text you need to keep, a separate dictation app can do more than built-in Dictation: most let you decide when recording ends and keep a history. Options include Superwhisper, VoiceInk, Wispr Flow and TypeAloud, which we make; see the roundup.
Details checked on 26 Oct 2026 against Apple: Use Dictation on Mac.
Common questions
- Why does Mac dictation stop after a while?
- It ends automatically when no speech is detected for 30 seconds. There is no setting to change this.
- Why is the Dictation option missing or greyed out?
- Voice Control may be on, since it replaces Dictation, or the language and region may not support Dictation.
- Dictation works in some apps but not others. Why?
- Dictation types into the focused text field. Password fields and some secure inputs do not accept it.
- Is there a tool that does not stop on silence?
- Most third-party dictation apps start and stop with a shortcut rather than a silence timer. See how to voice type on a Mac.
About TypeAloud
TypeAloud: free dictation for Mac, transcribed on your Mac.
This page was written by the team behind TypeAloud, our open-source dictation app: hold Ctrl+Shift, speak, release, and the text appears at your cursor. No word limit, no account.
Download for Mac