What is the dictation shortcut on a Mac?

It depends on your Mac and your settings. If your keyboard has a Microphone key in the top row, pressing it starts Dictation. Your shortcut is shown, and can be changed, in System Settings, Keyboard, Dictation, in the Shortcut pop-up menu.

How do I turn off dictation on a Mac?

Choose Apple menu, System Settings, then Keyboard. Go to Dictation and switch it off. To keep Dictation but stop it starting by accident, choose a different shortcut instead.

Why does Dictation start when I press fn?

Your Dictation shortcut is probably set to press fn twice. Apple says choosing that shortcut changes the “Press fn key to” setting to Start Dictation. Pick a different shortcut, or change what fn does, in Keyboard settings.

Can I hold a key to dictate on a Mac?

Not with Apple's Dictation: you press to start and press again to stop, and holding the Microphone key opens Siri. Inkbie works the other way round: hold fn, talk, let go and it's typed.

Can I use Inkbie and Apple Dictation together?

Yes. If fn already starts Dictation, give Inkbie a different talk key in its Settings, like Right ⌥, Right ⌘ or your own shortcut.

Mac dictation shortcut: find it, change it or turn it off

By petersindex, who makes Inkbie · Updated 5 October 2026 · macOS 27

Short answer: the Dictation shortcut is in System Settings, Keyboard, Dictation, in the Shortcut pop-up menu. Choose a different one there, or choose Customize and press your own keys. If your keyboard has a Microphone key in the top row, press and let go of it to start Dictation. To turn Dictation off, switch it off in the same place.

Find or change the shortcut

1Open Keyboard settingsChoose Apple menu, System Settings, then click Keyboard in the sidebar. You may need to scroll down.
2Go to DictationIf Dictation is off, turn it on and click Enable. The Shortcut pop-up menu shows the shortcut you have now.
3Choose a shortcutClick the Shortcut pop-up menu and pick one from the list. Apple's guide gives Press Fn (Function) Key Twice as one of the choices.
4Or make your ownChoose Customize, then press the keys you want to use. Apple's example is Option-Z.
5Use itClick where you want the words, press your shortcut and talk. Press it again, or Escape, to stop. Dictation also stops by itself after 30 seconds without speech.

Turn it off, or stop it starting by accident

Turn Dictation off: In System Settings, Keyboard, go to Dictation and switch it off. The shortcut stops doing anything until you turn Dictation back on.
Pick a shortcut you won't hit: If Dictation keeps starting when you don't want it, choose Customize in the Shortcut menu and press a combination you'd never press by chance.
Check what fn does: Apple notes that choosing a shortcut can change the “Press fn key to” setting in Keyboard settings by itself. Choose Press Fn Key Twice, for example, and fn changes to Start Dictation (Press Fn Twice). If fn surprises you, look there.
Microphone key opens Siri?: Press and let go of the Microphone key to start Dictation. Pressing and holding it opens Siri instead, if Siri is on.
Shortcut does nothing?: Check Dictation is turned on. And if Voice Control is on, Apple says standard Dictation isn't available: you dictate through Voice Control instead.

A faster way: hold to talk

Inkbie is free voice typing for Mac. Hold fn, talk for as long as you hold it, let go and your words are typed wherever your cursor is. It runs on your Mac, works offline after one download, and learns your names and jargon. No account, no word limit.

Download for Mac How Inkbie works →

Questions

What is the dictation shortcut on a Mac?: It depends on your Mac and your settings. If your keyboard has a Microphone key in the top row, pressing it starts Dictation. Your shortcut is shown, and can be changed, in System Settings, Keyboard, Dictation, in the Shortcut pop-up menu.
How do I turn off dictation on a Mac?: Choose Apple menu, System Settings, then Keyboard. Go to Dictation and switch it off. To keep Dictation but stop it starting by accident, choose a different shortcut instead.
Why does Dictation start when I press fn?: Your Dictation shortcut is probably set to press fn twice. Apple says choosing that shortcut changes the “Press fn key to” setting to Start Dictation. Pick a different shortcut, or change what fn does, in Keyboard settings.
Can I hold a key to dictate on a Mac?: Not with Apple's Dictation: you press to start and press again to stop, and holding the Microphone key opens Siri. Inkbie works the other way round: hold fn, talk, let go and it's typed.
Can I use Inkbie and Apple Dictation together?: Yes. If fn already starts Dictation, give Inkbie a different talk key in its Settings, like Right ⌥, Right ⌘ or your own shortcut.