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 organiser 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
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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.