Mac dictation not working? Check these, in order

Settings paths are for macOS 13 Ventura and later, checked against Apple's guides for macOS 27. On macOS 12 and earlier, read System Preferences for System Settings.

First: is it the shortcut or Dictation itself?

1. Start it from the menu. Click in a text field and choose Edit > Start Dictation. If that works, Dictation is fine and your shortcut is the problem; skip to the shortcut step.
2. Check Dictation is on. Open System Settings > Keyboard and look at Dictation.

It listens but types nothing

3. Check the microphone source. In Keyboard settings under Dictation, open the microphone source menu. A headset, display or iPhone microphone may be selected; pick the one you are speaking into, or Automatic.
4. Watch the input level. Open System Settings > Sound > Input and speak. If the level meter does not move, the problem is the microphone, not Dictation.
5. Turn off Voice Control. Open System Settings > Accessibility > Voice Control. Apple says that while Voice Control is on, you dictate through Voice Control and standard Dictation is not available.

The shortcut does nothing

6. Re-pick the shortcut. In Keyboard settings, open the Dictation Shortcut menu and choose it again, or choose Customize and press a combination no other app uses.
7. Check the fn or Globe key setting. If your shortcut is pressing fn or Globe twice, the "Press fn key to" or "Press Globe key to" option in Keyboard settings must say Start Dictation. Apple ties the two together: with Show Emoji & Symbols chosen there instead, a double press will not start Dictation.

Wrong words, or it stops working away from Wi-Fi

8. Match the language. Dictation transcribes in the language shown next to the cursor. If you set up several, click it to switch, or press the Globe key. Add missing languages under Languages > Edit.
9. Check on-device processing. Keyboard settings says whether your language is processed on your device. If it is not, Dictation needs a working internet connection to Apple. If it is, the speech model must finish downloading first.

The Dictation switch is greyed out

10. Check Screen Time. Open System Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy > App & Feature Restrictions. Siri & Dictation must be allowed. On a child account, the family organiser changes this.

Still nothing

11. Turn Dictation off and on. Switch Dictation off in Keyboard settings, wait a few seconds, and switch it on again.
12. Restart your Mac. Then try Edit > Start Dictation in TextEdit, which rules out the app you were typing in.

If it's a third-party dictation app

Apps that dictate on their own need your permission to use the microphone. Open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone and make sure the app is switched on. Apps that type for you, such as Dictate, usually also need Accessibility in the same pane. After changing either, quit and reopen the app.

When it works but not the way you want

Some "not working" reports are really "not working for me". Apple Dictation stops after 30 seconds of silence, needs the language chosen in advance, and is a mode you switch on and off. If those are the problem, the full setup guide may help, and the shortcut guide covers the fn and Globe options. Dictate, the app we make, is a hold-to-talk alternative that runs entirely on your Mac; Apple Dictation vs Dictate compares them fairly.