How to dictate into any app on a Mac
Saying a sentence is usually faster than typing it, and every Mac can already do it. Here's how to turn on macOS's own Dictation, where it falls short, and how to hold one key, talk, and have the words land wherever your cursor is.
Option 1: macOS's built-in Dictation
Every Mac has it, and it's free:
- Open System Settings › Keyboard and turn on Dictation.
- Pick the shortcut you'll use to start it. On recent Mac keyboards the microphone key works out of the box.
- Click into any text field, press the shortcut, and talk. Press it again to finish.
On your Mac or not: for many languages, Apple's dictation runs on your Mac once macOS has downloaded that language. Until then, Apple processes what you say on its servers. You can see and add languages in the same Dictation settings.
Where it falls short: it's a toggle, so you press to start and press again to stop, which makes short bursts awkward. And it only knows the languages Apple supports.
Option 2: hold a key and talk, with Halo
Halo adds push-to-talk dictation to every app: hold a key, say what you want to write, let go, and it's typed wherever the cursor is, whether that's a message, an email, a document or a terminal. With the Apple engine, your words appear under the notch while you speak, so you can see what's being heard.
- Open Halo's Settings and go to Dictation, then turn on Dictation.
- Choose the Key: Hold Fn, Hold Right ⌥, Hold Right ⌘, or a shortcut that starts and stops.
- Choose the Engine: On this Mac (Apple), which is free, or Groq (Whisper).
- Allow the access macOS asks for (the microphone, and speech recognition for the Apple engine), then hold the key in any app and talk.
Apple or Whisper: which engine
- On this Mac (Apple): free, shows words while you speak, and stays on your Mac once macOS has downloaded your language. If it hasn't, Halo's Settings tell you, and where to add it.
- Groq (Whisper): Whisper large-v3, which understands about 99 languages and copes well with accents. It transcribes when you let go. You add your own Groq key (they offer a free one at console.groq.com), your audio goes to Groq only while you dictate, and the key stays in your Keychain.
Which one to pick
- You dictate now and then, in one language Apple supports: macOS's built-in Dictation is enough.
- You want push-to-talk in every app, or dictate many short bursts a day: Halo with the Apple engine.
- Your language or accent trips Apple up: Halo with Whisper.
Questions
Does Mac dictation work offline?
For many languages, yes, once macOS has downloaded the language. Until then, Apple processes your speech on its servers. Halo's Apple engine uses the same recognition, and Halo's Settings tell you when your language isn't downloaded yet.
Can I dictate into any app on a Mac?
Into most text fields, yes, with macOS's Dictation. Halo types where the cursor is in any app, including terminals and code editors.
Is there push-to-talk dictation on Mac?
Not built in: macOS's Dictation starts and stops with a shortcut. Halo lets you hold Fn, Right Option or Right Command while you talk and types the words when you let go.
Which languages does dictation support?
macOS's Dictation and Halo's Apple engine support the languages Apple offers on your Mac. Halo's Whisper engine, with your own Groq key, understands about 99 languages.
Is dictation free?
macOS's Dictation is free, and so is Halo's Apple engine. Whisper through Groq needs your own Groq key, and Groq bills you directly if you go past their free tier.
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