Mac User Guide
- Welcome
- What’s new in macOS Tahoe
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- Intro to Apple Intelligence
- Translate messages and calls
- Create original images with Image Playground
- Create your own emoji with Genmoji
- Use Apple Intelligence with Siri
- Find the right words with Writing Tools
- Summarise notifications and reduce interruptions
- Use ChatGPT with Apple Intelligence
- Apple Intelligence and privacy
- Block access to Apple Intelligence features
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- Intro to Continuity
- Use AirDrop to send items to nearby devices
- Hand off tasks between devices
- Control your iPhone from your Mac
- Copy and paste between devices
- Stream video and audio with AirPlay
- Make and receive calls and text messages on your Mac
- Use your iPhone internet connection with your Mac
- Share your Wi-Fi password with another device
- Use iPhone as a webcam
- Insert sketches, photos and scans from iPhone or iPad
- Unlock your Mac with Apple Watch
- Use your iPad as a second display
- Use one keyboard and mouse to control Mac and iPad
- Sync music, books and more between devices
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- Get started
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- Accessibility features for vision
- Get started with VoiceOver
- Zoom in on what’s around you
- Zoom in on your Mac screen
- Increase font size and icons
- Adjust the display colours
- Hover to zoom in on text and colours
- Listen to or change how text appears in apps
- Customise onscreen motion
- Increase the size of what’s on your screen
- Make the pointer easier to see
- Have your Mac speak text that’s on the screen
- Resources for your Mac
- Resources for your Apple devices
- Copyright and trademarks
If Dictation on Mac doesn’t work as expected
If your Mac is having trouble recognising your dictated text or spoken commands, something may not be set up correctly. Here are some solutions to try:
Make 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.