If Dictation on Mac doesn’t work as expected
If your Mac is having trouble recognizing your dictated text or spoken commands, something may not be set up correctly. Here are some solutions to try:
Be sure Dictation is turned on in Keyboard settings. See Turn Dictation on or off.
Choose the correct language and region.
Be sure you’re using the correct Dictation keyboard shortcut. See Set the Dictation keyboard shortcut.
If your Mac doesn’t have an internal microphone, make sure an external microphone is connected to your Mac and selected in Sound or Keyboard settings.
If you’re using an external microphone, make sure its input volume is sufficient. If your Mac isn’t responding to your voice, select the microphone in Sound settings and increase its input volume (choose Apple menu
in the sidebar—you may need to scroll down—then click Input).Be sure the microphone is not obstructed by objects, such as clothing or your body, while you’re speaking. Check the user guide that came with your Mac to locate the built-in microphone. See Find the Getting Started guide for your Mac.
Position yourself as you would normally use your Mac, then speak clearly at a volume that’s not too quiet or too loud.
Avoid background noise. If you use Dictation in a noisy environment or a room with excessive echo, it may help to use a headset microphone.
You may need an internet connection. To check your connection, choose Apple menu
in the sidebar (you may need to scroll down).You can check Keyboard settings to see whether you need an internet connection or whether your voice inputs and transcripts for general text Dictation (for example, composing messages and notes, but not dictating in a search box) are processed on your device and not sent to Siri servers. Choose Apple menu
in the sidebar (you may need to scroll down), then see the text below Dictation (Dictation must be enabled). For more information, click About Ask Siri, Dictation & Privacy.
Additionally, you can dictate text of any length without a timeout. You can turn off Dictation manually, or it stops automatically when no speech is detected for 30 seconds.