Dictation & shortcuts
Hold, speak, release
- Put the text cursor where you want the words.
- Hold Right Option (⌥) and wait for the waveform that shows Voice is listening.
- Speak, then release the key.
- Wait for processing and review the inserted text.
A quick tap does nothing. The language badge follows the keyboard language selected when you start speaking.
Keyboard controls
| Control | What it does |
|---|---|
| Hold Right Option | Listen while you hold; release to finish |
| Double-tap the dictation key | Start hands-free dictation |
| Tap the key during hands-free dictation | Finish the recording |
| Escape | Cancel dictation |
| Space while holding the key | Switch between dictation and agent mode |
| Triple-tap the dictation key | Open paste history |
Other keys pressed during a hold cancel it so normal Option shortcuts can keep working.
Use Fn / Globe instead
Choose Fn / Globe in Settings → Dictation if you prefer it to Right Option. While Fn is the dictation key, Voice sets the macOS “Press 🌐 key to” action to “Do Nothing”; it restores your previous choice when you change keys or quit.
Context-aware dictation
Enable Read the screen while dictating in Settings → Dictation to let text in the foreground window help with names, acronyms, and terminology. For example, when a coding agent explains a login issue using “OIDC” and “PKCE”, Voice can use those spellings in your dictated follow-up.
Voice inserts the transcription directly, without a separate pass to remove filler words or rewrite your grammar. Review the result; screen context helps recognition but does not guarantee every word. To rephrase or change the tone, use agent mode.
Screen reading is optional. Turn it off in Settings when you do not want to include the foreground window’s text.
Names and specialist words
Add preferred spellings in Settings → Dictionary. Voice can also learn a corrected spelling after you edit a dictation. Dictionary entries stay on your computer and are included as context when processing dictation.
Next: Dictate your intentions.
Last updated: October 5, 2026