The Mac dictation shortcut: where it is, how to change it, and why it stops working

Short answer

The Mac dictation shortcut is set in System Settings > Keyboard, under Dictation, in the Shortcut pop-up menu. On keyboards with a Microphone key, pressing and releasing that key starts Dictation (holding it opens Siri). Apple's help names Press Fn (Function) Key Twice as one of the menu's choices, and Customize records a combination you press, for example Option-Z. The shortcut only works while Dictation is turned on, and not at all while Voice Control is on.

Shortcuts at a glance

Setting

Where the setting is and what the menu offers

Choose Apple menu > System Settings, click Keyboard in the sidebar (you may need to scroll down), go to Dictation, and open the Shortcut pop-up menu.

Apple's help names two of the menu's choices: Press Fn (Function) Key Twice, and Customize, for a combination that is not in the list. On keyboards with a Microphone key in the row of function keys, that key starts Dictation as well.

The pop-up also lists double-press options for modifier keys; which ones appear depends on your Mac and macOS version, so open the menu to see yours.

Change

How to change it, including a custom combination

1. Open System Settings > Keyboard and go to Dictation. If Dictation is off, turn it on; the first time, click Enable.
2. Click the Shortcut pop-up menu and choose a shortcut.
3. For a combination that is not in the list, choose Customize, then press the keys you want to use, for example Option-Z.

Depending on your Mac model, choosing a shortcut can change the "Press fn key to" option in Keyboard settings automatically. For example, if you choose Press Fn (Function) Key Twice, that option changes to Start Dictation (Press Fn Twice).

Keys

Microphone key, Fn key and Globe key

On keyboards with a Microphone key in the row of function keys, press and release it to start Dictation. Pressing and holding it activates Siri instead, when Siri is enabled.

The Fn key comes in when you choose a double-press shortcut such as Press Fn (Function) Key Twice, which can also change what the "Press fn key to" option does. If the Fn key behaves differently after you change the Dictation shortcut, check that option in Keyboard settings.

If you dictate in more than one language, the Globe key (if your keyboard has one) lets you choose the language while you dictate.

Fixes

When the shortcut does nothing or opens something else

1. Check that Dictation is on in System Settings > Keyboard. The first time you turn it on, click Enable.
2. Turn off Voice Control in System Settings > Accessibility > Voice Control. While it is on, standard macOS Dictation is not available.
3. If the Microphone key opens Siri, you are holding it: press and release it instead.
4. If another app uses the same key combination, check that app's shortcut settings, or choose a different Dictation shortcut.
5. Click in a text field before you press the shortcut, so the text has somewhere to go.

Mac dictation not working: what to check for each symptom

Menu

Starting and stopping without the shortcut

Click where you want the text and choose Edit > Start Dictation. Some apps do not show this menu item.

To stop, press Escape, the Microphone key (if your keyboard has one) or the Dictation shortcut. Dictation also stops by itself when no speech is detected for 30 seconds; otherwise there is no time limit.

Commands

Commands while you dictate

These spoken commands are always available while you dictate. Say "new line" (like pressing Return once) or "new paragraph" (like pressing Return twice); both appear when you finish dictating.

Say punctuation by name, such as "comma", "period" or "question mark". Say "caps on" to put the next phrase in Title Case and "caps off" to return to normal; say "numeral" to format the next phrase as a number.

Apple: Commands for dictating text on Mac

Another option

Dictivo's shortcut

Dictivo is this site's product. It is a separate dictation app with its own shortcut, which you set in Dictivo rather than in Keyboard settings. The default is Cmd+Shift+Space on Mac and Ctrl+Shift+Space on Windows: press it once to start recording and again to stop. To hold the keys while you speak instead, choose Press and hold under Dictation activation in Dictivo's Settings > Hotkeys.

Paste Last, Cmd+Shift+V on Mac and Ctrl+Shift+V on Windows by default, pastes the last transcript again. Both shortcuts can be changed in Settings > Hotkeys.

Dictivo's shortcut and the macOS Dictation shortcut are separate settings and do not change each other; if you use both, give them different keys. When a transcription finishes, Dictivo pastes the text into the app you are using. If you copy something else while it is still transcribing, it leaves your clipboard alone and keeps the transcript for Paste Last.

Try your first sentence with Dictivo · Dictivo pricing

Mac dictation shortcut questions

References

• Apple Support: Dictate messages and documents on Mac (checked 2026-10-09)
• Apple Support: Commands for dictating text on Mac (checked 2026-10-09)
• Apple Support: Use Voice Control commands to interact with your Mac (checked 2026-10-09)
• Apple Support: If Dictation on Mac doesn't work as expected (checked 2026-10-09)