Apple's latest Macs are some of the best computers out there, as they offer a rich suite of productivity apps. However, macOS Sonoma doesn't just include handy apps, but it also features built-in utilities that help users simplify their workflows. These include a voice dictation feature that enables a person to rely on their speech to insert text in a field. So, how does the speech-to-text dictation feature work on a Mac? Read on.

Voice dictation requirements

Voice dictation works on pretty much all recent Mac models. However, unless your Mac packs an Apple silicon chip, you may need an internet connection for the feature to work. Additionally, you may face a 60-second limit for using the feature at a time. These restrictions don't apply on M-powered machines, so if this is your case, you can use voice dictation offline and indefinitely.

How to set up voice dictation on macOS

Before actually using the voice dictation feature, you need to ensure that it's enabled by following the steps below:

  1. Launch the System Settings app.
  2. Go to the Keyboard section.
  3. Enable the Dictation toggle.
  4. You can then optionally customize the Languages, Microphone source, Shortcut, and Auto-punctuation settings as needed.
    dictation settings on macOS

How to use voice dictation on a Mac

Once you've verified that voice dictation is enabled, it's time to actually use this feature by following these steps:

  1. Click on any text field.
  2. Hit the Microphone/F5 button (or whatever button you've set as the Shortcut in the previous section) on the keyboard.
  3. Start talking, and macOS will automatically type whatever you're saying until you hit the button again or remain silent for 30 seconds.
  4. Note that you can also say the name of the punctuation, such as "exclamation mark," to insert them. You can similarly say the name of an emoji or special character to insert it or say "new line" to jump to a new line. To view the full list of commands, you can visit the dedicated page.

Is the built-in dictation feature good enough?

Setting up and using the built-in voice dictation feature is incredibly easy and straightforward on macOS. So now, when you're not in the mood or unable to type, you can easily rely on the Mac's speech-to-text functionality to insert sentences using your voice. It's particularly more convenient on Apple silicon Macs since it works without internet or a time limit. This enables you to get more work done while spending less time.

If you're using an Intel-powered Mac, then the 60-second limit and slower processing may make relying on this feature more challenging for some users. In this case, you may want to look into third-party alternatives, such as MacWhisper. However, those on M-powered Macs will likely be satisfied with the built-in functionality, as it's accurate, fast, and intuitive to use.