Guides
Quick answers about dictation.
One problem per guide, answered in the first paragraph. The fix that needs nothing installed comes first, and what Flit does about it comes second.
Mac dictation
The dictation built into macOS: how to use it, and what to do when it stops or will not start.
-
How to dictate on a Mac: turn it on, start it, and say the punctuation
How to dictate on a Mac: turn on Dictation in System Settings → Keyboard, click into a text field, press the shortcut and speak. Every step and command.
Read the guide -
Mac dictation not working? The causes, in the order to check them
Mac dictation not working? Check that Dictation is on, Voice Control is off, and the shortcut and microphone are right. Every cause, in the order to check.
Read the guide -
How to stop the Globe (Fn) key opening the emoji picker on a Mac
Stop the Globe or Fn key opening emoji: System Settings → Keyboard → "Press 🌐 key to" → Do Nothing. Emoji stays on Fn-E and Control-Command-Space.
Read the guide -
Why Mac dictation keeps stopping, and how to keep it going
Mac Dictation stops by design after 30 seconds without speech. The other causes, and how to dictate long passages without it cutting out.
Read the guide -
Mac dictation commands: the full list, and what they cannot do
Every Mac dictation command: punctuation, new line, new paragraph, all caps, numerals and symbols. How to say them, and what Dictation cannot do by voice.
Read the guide -
Voice Control vs Dictation on a Mac: which one you want
Dictation types what you say. Voice Control runs the whole Mac by voice and replaces Dictation while it is on. The differences, and which one to turn on.
Read the guide -
The Mac dictation keyboard shortcut: what it is, and how to change it
The Mac dictation shortcut is whatever System Settings → Keyboard → Dictation → Shortcut says. How to find it, change it, or set your own.
Read the guide -
Dictating on a Mac with AirPods: choosing the microphone, and why the sound drops
Dictating with AirPods on a Mac: set Microphone source in Keyboard → Dictation. Why audio quality drops while the AirPods microphone is on, and the fix.
Read the guide -
How to change the dictation language on a Mac, and use more than one
Add languages under System Settings → Keyboard → Dictation, then switch as you dictate. The steps, the shortcut question, and which work offline.
Read the guide -
How to start dictation with a mouse button on a Mac
macOS starts Dictation from a keyboard shortcut only. Set a custom shortcut, then assign it to a side button in your mouse software. Steps and limits.
Read the guide -
How to transcribe an audio file on a Mac without uploading it
Transcribe an audio file on a Mac without uploading it: the transcript in Voice Memos, Whisper in Terminal, or a drop on the Transcribe tab in Flit. Steps for each.
Read the guide
Other dictation apps
Problems people report with the app they have, the fix, and when to switch.
-
Wispr Flow not working on Mac? The causes, and the fix for each
Wispr Flow not working on your Mac? Check its status page and your connection first, then permissions, the microphone and the shortcut. Every fix.
Read the guide -
Does Wispr Flow work offline? No, and what to use when you have no connection
Wispr Flow does not work offline: it says transcription always happens in the cloud. What happens with no connection, and what works without one.
Read the guide -
Is Wispr Flow safe? What it sends to the cloud, and how to limit it
What Wispr Flow sends to the cloud, from its own privacy pages: your audio, and on-screen text with Context Awareness on. Two settings limit it.
Read the guide -
How to uninstall Wispr Flow on a Mac completely
Remove Wispr Flow from a Mac completely: quit it and its helper, delete the app and its leftover Library files, then the login item and permissions.
Read the guide -
How to cancel a Wispr Flow subscription, and what happens after
Cancel Wispr Flow through whoever bills you: its billing page, Apple or Google Play. What happens to your access and data, and how refunds work.
Read the guide -
Superwhisper pricing: the free plan, Pro, and what the lifetime license costs
Superwhisper is free with local Whisper models. Pro is $8.49 a month, $84.99 a year or $249.99 once. What each includes, discounts, and refunds.
Read the guide -
Wispr Flow pricing: the free plan’s limit, Pro, Growth, and the student offer
Wispr Flow is free up to 2,000 words a week on desktop. Pro is $15 a month, or $12 billed annually. Growth, students and three-year costs.
Read the guide -
Superwhisper not working? The fixes, by what you see
Superwhisper not working on a Mac? Fix "No voice found", text that does not paste, a dead shortcut and slow dictation, from its own documentation.
Read the guide -
How to cancel a Superwhisper subscription, and what you keep
Cancel Superwhisper at superwhisper.com/billing, or through Apple or Google if you bought there. What you keep, the 30-day refund, and deleting an account.
Read the guide -
How to uninstall Superwhisper on a Mac completely
Uninstall Superwhisper on a Mac: quit it, delete the app, then delete the ~/superwhisper folder to remove recordings and history. Cancel billing first.
Read the guide
Dictate to AI tools
Speaking a prompt into Claude Code, Cursor and the rest.
-
Claude Code voice dictation: /voice, Mac Dictation, or a local app
Claude Code has a voice mode: type /voice and hold Space. How it works, what it needs, where your audio goes, and two other ways to dictate.
Read the guide -
Cursor voice input: how to dictate prompts, and what it needs
Cursor has voice input: the microphone in the chat box, or Cmd-Shift-Space. How to use it, what to check when it does nothing, and two other ways.
Read the guide -
Codex voice and dictation: the app, the command line, and the editor
Codex voice, explained: Dictate in the desktop app types your prompt, and /voice in the CLI is a spoken conversation. How to dictate in each.
Read the guide -
ChatGPT dictation on a Mac: how to use it, and what happens to the audio
ChatGPT dictation on a Mac: select Dictate in the composer, speak, edit and send. Where the audio goes, how long it is kept, and a local option.
Read the guide
Looking for rankings, research or news? Those are on the blog. Choosing between apps? See Flit against every alternative.
Your voice was always faster.
7 days free, then $19 USD once. No account, no subscription, nothing uploaded.
macOS 14 or later · Apple silicon