# Quick answers about dictation.

Canonical page: https://flit.fyi/guides

> Quick answers about dictation on a Mac: what to do when it stops, mishears or will not start, with the fix that needs nothing installed first.

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](https://flit.fyi/how-to-dictate-on-mac): 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.
- [Mac dictation not working? The causes, in the order to check them](https://flit.fyi/mac-dictation-not-working): 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.
- [How to stop the Globe (Fn) key opening the emoji picker on a Mac](https://flit.fyi/globe-key-opens-emoji-picker-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.
- [Why Mac dictation keeps stopping, and how to keep it going](https://flit.fyi/mac-dictation-keeps-stopping): Mac Dictation stops by design after 30 seconds without speech. The other causes, and how to dictate long passages without it cutting out.
- [Mac dictation commands: the full list, and what they cannot do](https://flit.fyi/mac-dictation-commands): 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.
- [Voice Control vs Dictation on a Mac: which one you want](https://flit.fyi/voice-control-vs-dictation-mac): 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.
- [The Mac dictation keyboard shortcut: what it is, and how to change it](https://flit.fyi/mac-dictation-keyboard-shortcut): The Mac dictation shortcut is whatever System Settings → Keyboard → Dictation → Shortcut says. How to find it, change it, or set your own.
- [Dictating on a Mac with AirPods: choosing the microphone, and why the sound drops](https://flit.fyi/airpods-dictation-mac): 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.
- [How to change the dictation language on a Mac, and use more than one](https://flit.fyi/change-dictation-language-mac): Add languages under System Settings → Keyboard → Dictation, then switch as you dictate. The steps, the shortcut question, and which work offline.
- [How to start dictation with a mouse button on a Mac](https://flit.fyi/mac-dictation-mouse-button): 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.
- [How to transcribe an audio file on a Mac without uploading it](https://flit.fyi/transcribe-audio-file-mac): 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.

## 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](https://flit.fyi/wispr-flow-not-working): Wispr Flow not working on your Mac? Check its status page and your connection first, then permissions, the microphone and the shortcut. Every fix.
- [Does Wispr Flow work offline? No, and what to use when you have no connection](https://flit.fyi/does-wispr-flow-work-offline): Wispr Flow does not work offline: it says transcription always happens in the cloud. What happens with no connection, and what works without one.
- [Is Wispr Flow safe? What it sends to the cloud, and how to limit it](https://flit.fyi/is-wispr-flow-safe): 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.
- [How to uninstall Wispr Flow on a Mac completely](https://flit.fyi/uninstall-wispr-flow-mac): 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.
- [How to cancel a Wispr Flow subscription, and what happens after](https://flit.fyi/cancel-wispr-flow-subscription): 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.
- [Superwhisper pricing: the free plan, Pro, and what the lifetime license costs](https://flit.fyi/superwhisper-pricing): 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.
- [Wispr Flow pricing: the free plan’s limit, Pro, Growth, and the student offer](https://flit.fyi/wispr-flow-pricing): 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.
- [Superwhisper not working? The fixes, by what you see](https://flit.fyi/superwhisper-not-working): 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.
- [How to cancel a Superwhisper subscription, and what you keep](https://flit.fyi/cancel-superwhisper-subscription): 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.
- [How to uninstall Superwhisper on a Mac completely](https://flit.fyi/uninstall-superwhisper-mac): Uninstall Superwhisper on a Mac: quit it, delete the app, then delete the ~/superwhisper folder to remove recordings and history. Cancel billing first.

## 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](https://flit.fyi/dictate-to-claude-code): 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.
- [Cursor voice input: how to dictate prompts, and what it needs](https://flit.fyi/dictate-to-cursor): 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.
- [Codex voice and dictation: the app, the command line, and the editor](https://flit.fyi/dictate-to-codex): 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.
- [ChatGPT dictation on a Mac: how to use it, and what happens to the audio](https://flit.fyi/dictate-to-chatgpt-mac): 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.

Looking for rankings, research or news? Those are on the [blog](https://flit.fyi/blog). Choosing between apps? See [Flit against every alternative](https://flit.fyi/alternatives).

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