If Dictation on Mac doesn’t work as expected
If you’re having trouble using Dictation on your Mac, something may not be set up correctly. Here are some solutions to try:
Be sure Dictation is turned on in the Keyboard settings.
Note: If you can’t turn on Dictation, Screen Time Content & Privacy Restrictions may be preventing you from using it. A family organizer for a Family Sharing group can set up Screen Time for a child and restrict access to Siri & Dictation. See Change App Restrictions settings in Screen Time. Also, when Voice Control is on, you can’t use Dictation.
Choose the correct language and dialect. See Dictate messages and documents.
Be sure you’re using the correct dictation keyboard shortcut.
Be sure your system has a valid internet connection—choose Apple menu
in the sidebar. (You may need to scroll down.)
Tip: If you need to dictate text when you’re offline, use Voice Control. See Control your Mac and apps using Voice Control.
On a Mac with Apple silicon, dictation requests are processed on your device in many languages—no internet connection is required. When dictating in a search box, dictated text may be sent to the search provider in order to process the search.