Dictation Not Working on Mac

Dictation is a helpful tool for typing on your Mac without even needing to write, and most of the time, you’ll have no problems when using it. But sometimes, you may struggle to use the feature for several reasons. Often, these are issues related to your settings.

If you can’t access Dictation on your device, it can cause several problems. Because you must manually type, tasks may become more time-consuming and frustrating. The good news, however, is that this issue is normally quite easy to fix.

Today, I’ll show you what you can do if you can’t use Dictation on your Mac. You’ll discover several potential solutions to this challenge, from restarting your device to disabling Voice Control.

Before we start:

 

All the tips I’m about to discuss focus on manually fixing the problem with Dictation not working on Mac, and at least one of these solutions will normally work. However, you might sometimes need to get assistance from an expert. If that’s the case, MacKeeper’s Premium Services are on hand to help.

 

When using MacKeeper, you’ll get round-the-clock access to the Premium Services team. Our experts are well-versed in dealing with issues on several Apple devices, including an in-depth understanding of macOS. They should be able to get you up and running again before too long.

 

Here’s how to use MacKeeper’s Premium Services:

1. Download MacKeeper.
2. At the top of the left-hand toolbar, select Premium Services.
3. Select Chat Now.
4. Describe your problem in the text box and hit the Enter key. Be as detailed as possible, so our experts can help you more quickly.

What is Dictation on Mac

Dictation is a Mac feature that lets you speak to type text on your screen.  

Why is Dictation suddenly not working on Mac

Dictation might suddenly stop working on your Mac for several reasons. It’s normally due to software glitches or settings on your device. Some of the most common reasons why Dictation might suddenly stop working include:

• External microphones might not be correctly connected to your Mac
• Issues with Bluetooth on your device
• Glitches with Siri
• Too much sound in the background (e.g. working at an office or coworking space)
• Other settings enabled on your device (e.g. Voice Control)

How to fix the Dictation feature not working on Mac

The easiest way to fix Dictation is to ensure it’s switched on. Here’s how to do that:

1. Go to Apple logo > System Settings.
2. Select Keyboard.
3. Toggle Dictation on when you find it.

There are also several other things that you can do if your MacBook Dictation stopped working. Below is a list of your best options:

1. Restart your Mac
2. Connect your Mac to the Internet
3. Disable Voice Control
4. Use Dictation in a quiet room
5. Turn off Bluetooth devices
6. Update your macOS version
7. Choose the right microphone for Dictation
8. Close the Mac application and try again using Dictation
9. Turn Siri off and on
10. Close the Corespeechd process using Terminal
11. Delete the speech recognition settings files

I’ll now discuss the steps you need to follow for each of these.

1. Restart your Mac

Whether Dictation isn’t working, Microsoft Word keeps crashing on Mac, or something else is wrong, restarting your computer is often the best place to start. The process is very straightforward; follow the steps below.

1. Go to the Apple logo and expand the dropdown menu.
2. Select Restart.
3. When the pop-up window appears on your screen, click on the blue Restart button.
4. Wait for your MacBook to switch off and back on. It shouldn’t take longer than a few minutes to do both.
5. When the startup screen appears, enter your login details like normal. Then, try using Dictation as you normally would.

2. Connect your Mac to the Internet

To use Dictation on your Mac, you need to have a working Internet connection. If neither of the first two steps worked, check to ensure that your Wi-Fi is working as it should. Start by going to the Wi-Fi icon and toggling Wi-Fi if it isn’t already.

Important: 

 

If you’ve switched on the Wi-Fi toggle and your Internet still isn’t working, your best option is to restart your Wi-Fi connection. Here’s how to do that:

1. Go to your Wi-Fi connection by selecting the icon in the top right-hand corner.
2. Tap on the connection to disconnect your computer.
3. The Wi-Fi icon will then turn gray. Restart your router and wait for the connection to reappear. Ideally, you should wait 30–60 seconds before turning your router back on.
4. Switch your connection back on and see if you can now connect like normal.

3. Disable Voice Control

Voice Control can interfere with Dictation and stop the feature from working correctly. So, if you’re encountering Mac Dictation not working, try switching off the tool. Here’s how to disable Voice Control:

1. Go to Apple logo > System Settings and select Accessibility.
2. Under Motor, click on Voice Control.
3. Switch the Voice Control toggle off.

4. Use Dictation in a quiet room

Sometimes, you might not actually have problems with Dictation on your Mac. Instead, it could be issues with the sound levels in the room you’re currently in. This is likely to be more of an issue if you’re using your MacBook in public; even in some libraries, the surrounding sound has been far too high.

If you’re having problems with Dictation on your Mac, try using the feature in a quiet room. For example, if you’re at work, you can book a meeting room. If Dictation still doesn’t work after doing that, you can move on and try some of the other solutions on this list.

Note from our experts:

 

When getting your first Apple computer, it’s worth learning how to use a MacBook to its full capabilities. Many features aren’t found on Windows, Linux, or ChromeOS, which can lead to a big learning curve. This MacBook guide for beginners is a good starting point.

5. Turn off Bluetooth devices

Bluetooth devices can also interfere with Dictation on your Mac, and turning these off can help you use the tool more effectively. The easiest option is to just turn off the Bluetooth device (e.g. your headphones). However, you can also disable the feature on your Mac altogether if it isn’t necessary.

Here’s how to disable Bluetooth on your Mac:

1. Go to the Control Center at the top of your screen.
2. Tap Bluetooth to switch it off.

Our quick heads-up: Besides not connecting external devices, you also won’t be able to use AirDrop while your Bluetooth is switched off.

6. Update your version of macOS

Not having the most recent macOS software can cause all sorts of glitches, and Dictation not working might be one of those for you. Fortunately, it’s quite easy to upgrade your software. Here’s how to do that:

1. Go to Apple logo > System Settings and choose General.
2. Click on Software Update.
3. Your Mac will look for new software updates. When it does, select Update Now if one is available.
4. Agree to the licensing conditions when you see the pop-up window,and if needed, verify via Touch ID or your passcode.
5. Wait for the update to be completed. Your device will restart a few times during the process.

7. Choose the right microphone for Dictation

You might sometimes be unable to use Dictation because you haven’t picked the right microphone. This is an easy problem to fix, and you can do it by following the instructions listed below:

1. Go to Apple logo > System Settings and navigate to Keyboard > Dictation.
2. Expand the dropdown menu next to Microphone source.
3. Choose the correct microphone that you want to use.

Hint from our team: 

 

If you want to record audio on your Mac, you should also change your microphone.

8. Close the Mac application and try again using Dictation

If your Mac Dictation stops working, it could be a problem with a specific app. You can verify this by trying the feature with a different one. If this is the case, close the app by doing the following:

1. Find the app in your Dock.
2. Hover over the app icon and press control and your trackpad simultaneously.
3. Press Quit.

9. Turn Siri off and on your Mac

Siri might also cause problems with Dictation if the app doesn’t work properly. So, if none of the steps above have worked so far, try turning Siri off and on again.

1. Go to Apple logo > System Settings > Siri & Spotlight.
2. Toggle Ask Siri off.
3. Wait a few seconds before toggling Ask Siri on again.

10. Close the Corespeechd process using Terminal

You can also use Terminal to potentially fix the problem with Dictation not working on your Mac. It’s possible to do this by closing the Corespeechd process. Follow the instructions below to do that:

1. Put your Mac in Safe Mode by turning off your computer and then holding the standby button until you see your Options button.
2. Tap Options and select Continue.
3. Open Terminal by going to Utilities > Terminal.
4. In Terminal, type this command: csrutil disable and turn your Mac off and on again.
5. Open Terminal on your Mac again. Type launchctl remove com.apple.corespeechd and hit the Enter key.

11. Delete the speech recognition settings files

As a final resort, you can also consider deleting your speech recognition settings files. To do this, you should follow the instructions listed below:

1. Open Finder and select Go > Go to Folder.
2. Type ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.assistant.plist in the text box.
3. Delete the com.apple.assistant.plist file.

Multiple ways to fix Dictation not working on your Mac

Dictation normally functions without problems, but you’ll occasionally run into issues—and when you do, it’s vital that you fix them as soon as possible. You can try several solutions, such as disabling Voice Control, turning off Bluetooth devices, and using Dictation in a quiet room.

However, you might need something more permanent. If that’s the case, contact subject-matter experts for support. MacKeeper’s Premium Services team is full of qualified technicians who can help you get Dictation working again, and they’re available 24/7.