How to Do Speech to Text on Mac

There are three ways to convert speech to text on Mac. This guide walks through each method step by step, so you can pick the one that fits your workflow.

Quick summary:

Method 1: Apple Dictation (Built-in)

Every Mac includes speech to text. Here's how to set it up.

Step 1: Open System Settings

Click the Apple menu () in the top-left corner, then click System Settings.

Step 2: Enable Dictation

1. Click Keyboard in the sidebar
2. Scroll down to the Dictation section
3. Toggle Dictation to on
4. If prompted, click Enable to confirm

Step 3: Choose Your Language

In the same Dictation section, click the Language dropdown and select your language. Apple Dictation supports around 20 languages.

Note: On-device processing is only available for certain languages (English, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, Cantonese). Other languages require an internet connection.

Step 4: Start Dictating

1. Click into any text field (Notes, Mail, Messages, a browser text box, etc.)
2. Press Fn twice (the default shortcut) — a microphone icon appears
3. Start speaking
4. Press Fn twice again to stop, or just stop speaking

Dictation commands you can say:

• "Period" / "Comma" / "Question mark" — inserts punctuation
• "New line" — starts a new line
• "New paragraph" — starts a new paragraph
• "Cap" — capitalizes the next word
• "All caps on/off" — toggles uppercase

Limitations to Know

• No filler word removal ("um", "uh" stay in the text)
• No backtrack correction ("not Monday, I mean Tuesday" isn't cleaned up)
• Stops listening after silence — you can't pause to think
• Requires clicking a text field before dictating
• No meeting transcription support

For more details on what Apple Dictation can and can't do, see our complete speech to text guide.

Method 2: Hapi (Local AI, Free)

Hapi is a menu bar app that adds speech to text to your Mac with better accuracy, smart formatting, and meeting transcription — all processed locally.

Step 1: Download and Install

1. Go to speakhapi.com and download the app
2. Open the .dmg file and drag Hapi to your Applications folder
3. Launch Hapi from Applications

Step 2: Grant Permissions

On first launch, Hapi will ask for two permissions:

1. Microphone access — required for recording your voice
2. Accessibility access — required for the global hotkey and auto-paste

Follow the prompts to grant both in System Settings.

Step 3: Download the AI Model

Hapi downloads a small AI model (~100MB) on first launch. This only happens once — after that, everything runs locally with no internet needed.

Wait for the download to complete (usually under a minute).

Step 4: Start Using Speech to Text

1. Press the global hotkey (shown in the menu bar dropdown — you can customize it)
2. Speak your note
3. Press the hotkey again (or just stop speaking)
4. The formatted text is automatically pasted at your cursor

That's it. The text appears wherever you were typing — email, Slack, Notes, a browser, anywhere.

What Hapi Adds Over Apple Dictation

• Auto-paste — text goes directly to your cursor, no clicking needed
• Filler removal — "um", "uh", and verbal tics are stripped out
• Backtrack correction — "not Monday, I mean Tuesday" becomes "Tuesday"
• 25+ languages with automatic detection (no manual switching)
• Meeting transcription — records Zoom, Teams, Meet, and 8 other platforms
• Speaker detection — identifies who said what in meetings
• Always offline — no audio ever leaves your Mac

For a full feature comparison, see our best dictation app for Mac guide.

Method 3: Voice Control (Accessibility)

Voice Control is a macOS accessibility feature for controlling your entire Mac with voice commands. It includes dictation, but its main purpose is hands-free computer navigation.

Step 1: Enable Voice Control

1. Open System Settings
2. Click Accessibility in the sidebar
3. Click Voice Control
4. Toggle it on

A microphone icon will appear in the menu bar.

Step 2: Use Voice Commands

With Voice Control active, you can say:

• "Click [button name]" — clicks a button or link
• "Scroll down" / "Scroll up" — navigates pages
• "Select [text]" — selects specific text
• "Start dictation" — switches to text input mode
• "Show numbers" — overlays numbers on clickable elements
• "Sleep" / "Wake up" — pauses/resumes Voice Control

Step 3: Dictate Text

While Voice Control is active:

1. Click into a text field (or say "Click [field name]")
2. Say "Start dictation"
3. Speak your text
4. Say "Stop dictation" when done

When to Use Voice Control

Voice Control is designed for users who need hands-free Mac operation — typically due to motor impairments, RSI, or temporary injuries. If your primary goal is speech to text for productivity, Method 1 or 2 will be more practical.

Which Method Should You Choose?

Choose Apple Dictation if:

• You only dictate occasionally
• Short texts (messages, quick notes)
• You don't need formatting or filler removal

Choose Hapi if:

• You dictate regularly
• You want auto-paste into any app
• You need meeting transcription
• You work in multiple languages
• Privacy matters (fully local processing)

Choose Voice Control if:

• You need hands-free Mac navigation
• Typing is physically difficult
• You want to combine dictation with computer control

Troubleshooting

Dictation shortcut not working? Check that Dictation is enabled in System Settings > Keyboard. If you changed the shortcut, try resetting it to the default (Fn twice).

Microphone not detected? Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone and make sure the app you're using has permission.

Poor accuracy? Try a headset or external microphone — the built-in Mac mic picks up more background noise. Also make sure the correct language is selected.

Text not appearing? Make sure your cursor is in a text field before starting dictation (for Apple Dictation). Hapi doesn't have this limitation — it auto-pastes anywhere.

For more troubleshooting tips, see our complete speech to text on Mac guide.