How to Control Your Mac With Your Voice (Voice Control)
Voice Control lets you use your Mac without touching the keyboard, mouse or trackpad. You can open apps, click buttons, scroll, write and edit text, all by speaking.
It's built for people with limited movement in their hands or arms. It's also handy if you have a repetitive strain injury or an arm in a sling.
How to turn on Voice Control
1. Click the Apple menu > System Settings.
2. Click Accessibility.
3. Click Voice Control.
4. Turn on Voice Control.
2. Click Accessibility.
3. Click Voice Control.
4. Turn on Voice Control.
The first time, your Mac downloads some files. This needs an internet connection and takes a few minutes. After that, Voice Control works offline, and your voice stays on your Mac.
A microphone icon appears on screen to show Voice Control is listening.
Pause and resume listening
• Say "Go to sleep" to pause Voice Control.
• Say "Wake up" to resume.
• Say "Wake up" to resume.
Use these when you're talking to someone else in the room.
Basic commands
Say this | What happens
"Open Safari" | Opens the app
"Quit Mail" | Quits the app
"Click Done" | Clicks the button or link with that name
"Scroll down" / "Scroll up" | Scrolls the page
"Go back" | Goes to the previous page
"Press Return" | Presses a key
"Show commands" | Lists everything you can say
"Open Safari" | Opens the app
"Quit Mail" | Quits the app
"Click Done" | Clicks the button or link with that name
"Scroll down" / "Scroll up" | Scrolls the page
"Go back" | Goes to the previous page
"Press Return" | Presses a key
"Show commands" | Lists everything you can say
"Show commands" is the most useful one to learn first. It shows the commands that work in whatever you're doing.
Click things that have no name: "Show numbers"
Some buttons and links have no obvious name. Say "Show numbers".
A number appears next to every clickable item on screen. Say the number, such as "Twelve", to click it. Say "Hide numbers" to remove them.
To see names where they exist, say "Show names".
Click anywhere on screen: "Show grid"
To click a spot with no button, such as a point on a map or a photo:
1. Say "Show grid". A numbered grid covers the screen.
2. Say a number to zoom into that square. Repeat to narrow it down.
3. Say "Click" followed by the number, for example "Click five".
2. Say a number to zoom into that square. Repeat to narrow it down.
3. Say "Click" followed by the number, for example "Click five".
Say "Hide grid" when you're done.
Writing and editing text
When the cursor is in a text box, just speak and your words are typed.
Useful editing commands:
• "Select previous word" or "Select all"
• "Delete that" removes what you just said
• "Replace cat with dog"
• "Capitalise that"
• "New line" and "New paragraph"
• "Undo that"
• "Delete that" removes what you just said
• "Replace cat with dog"
• "Capitalise that"
• "New line" and "New paragraph"
• "Undo that"
To switch how speech is treated, say "Dictation mode" (speech is typed, commands still work), "Command mode" (commands only), or "Spelling mode" (spell words letter by letter).
Teach it your own words
Voice Control can learn names and specialist terms.
1. In System Settings > Accessibility > Voice Control, click Vocabulary….
2. Click + and add the word or phrase.
2. Click + and add the word or phrase.
You can also click Commands… to switch commands on or off and to create your own. For example, you can make "Sign off" paste your email signature.
Tips
• Use a headset or a good external microphone in a noisy room.
• Choose your Language in the Voice Control settings so it suits your accent.
• Turn on Play sound when command is recognised for confirmation that it heard you.
• Add Voice Control to the Accessibility Shortcut (Option + Command + F5) so you can switch it on quickly.
• Choose your Language in the Voice Control settings so it suits your accent.
• Turn on Play sound when command is recognised for confirmation that it heard you.
• Add Voice Control to the Accessibility Shortcut (Option + Command + F5) so you can switch it on quickly.
Wrapping up
Turn it on under System Settings > Accessibility > Voice Control. Start with three phrases: "Show commands", "Show numbers" and "Go to sleep".
