macOS User Guide
- Welcome
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- Connect to the internet
- Browse the web
- Adjust the volume
- Take a screenshot or screen recording
- View and edit files with Quick Look
- Jot a Quick Note
- Set up Screen Time for yourself
- Set up a Focus to stay on task
- Edit photos and videos in Photos
- Use Visual Look Up for your photos
- Get directions in Maps
- Create a recording in Voice Memos
- Use trackpad and mouse gestures
- Use the Touch Bar
- Use Touch ID
- Use keyboard shortcuts
- Get macOS updates
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- What is Family Sharing?
- Set up Family Sharing
- Set up other users on your Mac
- Set up Screen Time for a child
- Share purchases with your family
- Make a FaceTime call
- Use SharePlay to watch and listen together
- Send text messages
- Share a calendar with your family
- Find what people shared with you
- Find your family and friends
- Play games with your friends
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- Use Continuity to work across Apple devices
- Stream audio and video with AirPlay
- Use a keyboard and mouse or trackpad across devices
- Use your iPad as a second display
- Hand off tasks between devices
- Insert photos and documents from iPhone or iPad
- Insert sketches from iPhone or iPad
- Copy and paste between devices
- Use Apple Watch to unlock your Mac
- Make and receive phone calls on your Mac
- Send files between devices with AirDrop
- Sync music, books, and more between devices
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- Manage cookies and other website data in Safari
- Use Private Browsing in Safari
- View privacy reports in Safari
- Understand passwords
- Reset your Mac login password
- Create and autofill strong passwords
- Keep your Apple ID secure
- Set up your Mac to be secure
- Use Mail Privacy Protection
- Guard your privacy
- Pay with Apple Pay in Safari
- Use Sign in with Apple for apps and websites
- Protect your Mac from malware
- Control access to the camera
- Find a missing device
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- Change your display’s brightness
- Connect a wireless keyboard, mouse, or trackpad
- Connect other wireless devices
- Connect a display, TV, or projector
- Add a printer
- Use the built-in camera
- Use AirPods with your Mac
- Save energy on your Mac
- Optimize storage space
- Burn CDs and DVDs
- Control accessories in your home
- Run Windows on your Mac
- Resources for your Mac
- Resources for your Apple devices
- Copyright

If keyboard dictation on Mac doesn’t work as expected
If you’re having trouble using keyboard dictation on your Mac, something may not be set up correctly. Here are some solutions to try:
Be sure keyboard dictation is turned on in the Dictation pane of Keyboard preferences.
Open the Dictation pane for me
Note: If you can’t turn on keyboard 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 Apps Content & Privacy preferences in Screen Time. Also, when Voice Control is on, you can’t use keyboard dictation.
Choose the correct language and dialect. See Dictate messages and documents.
Be sure your system has a valid internet connection—choose Apple menu
> System Preferences, then click Network
.
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, general text dictation requests (for example, composing messages and notes, but not dictating in a search box) are processed on the device in many languages and no internet connection is required. Dictation in search uses server-based dictation.