Mac settings how-to · Facts verified 2026-09-05

How to turn off Dictation on Mac
disable the feature in Keyboard settings

To turn off Dictation on Mac, open Apple menu > System Settings > Keyboard, scroll to Dictation, and turn it off. This path applies to macOS Sequoia 15 and Tahoe 26. To stop only the current session, press Escape instead. WhisperJot works independently of macOS Dictation, so turning Dictation off does not disable WhisperJot.

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Built-in path

Turn off macOS Dictation in System Settings

Use Keyboard settings to disable the feature. Stopping one session and reviewing Siri privacy are separate actions.

  1. Open Keyboard settings. Open the Apple menu, choose System Settings, then select Keyboard in the sidebar. You may need to scroll down.
  2. Turn Dictation off. Find Dictation in Keyboard settings and turn it off. The settings path is the same for macOS Sequoia 15 and Tahoe 26.
  3. Review the relevant privacy information. For Apple's explanation of voice data, open About Ask Siri, Dictation & Privacy at the bottom of Keyboard settings. Read this separately from changing the Dictation toggle.
Limits to know

Limits to know

  • Escape stops the current Dictation session; it is not the setting that disables the feature.
  • Siri is a separate feature: pressing and holding the Microphone key activates Siri if it is enabled. Turning off Dictation is not an instruction to disable Siri.
  • App microphone access is controlled separately under System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone.
The WhisperJot way

Keep using WhisperJot instead of macOS Dictation

  1. Leave macOS Dictation off. WhisperJot uses its own transcription engines and works alongside or instead of macOS Dictation. You do not need to turn Apple's Dictation back on to use WhisperJot.
  2. Choose a local engine. Use Jot Local or Jot Local Pro for on-device transcription, offline after the one-time model download. Jot Local Pro is the long-form engine. Jot Cloud is opt-in.
  3. Dictate with WhisperJot. Press the WhisperJot hotkey, or hold fn for push-to-talk or tap fn to toggle, then speak. WhisperJot types your words into whichever app has focus; a small floating HUD shows the recording state. Keep WhisperJot's Microphone permission enabled; macOS controls per-app access under System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone. Review the inserted words before sending.
Tips

Make the first session count.

Stop or disable

Press Escape to finish one session. Use Keyboard > Dictation to turn the feature off.

Read Apple's privacy explanation

The About Ask Siri, Dictation & Privacy link is at the bottom of Keyboard settings.

Keep app permissions distinct

Disabling Dictation and revoking an app's microphone access are separate controls. Leave microphone access enabled for apps you still want to dictate with.

Questions

Straight answers.

How do I turn off dictation on my Mac?

Open the Apple menu, choose System Settings, select Keyboard, and scroll to Dictation. Turn the Dictation toggle off. The path is the same in macOS Sequoia 15 and Tahoe 26. If you only want to finish the current session, press Escape; that stops listening without disabling Dictation in settings.

Does turning off Dictation also turn off Siri?

Dictation and Siri are separate features. Apple's guide distinguishes pressing and releasing the Microphone key to start Dictation from holding it to activate Siri, when Siri is enabled. Turning off Dictation in Keyboard settings disables Dictation; it is not a procedure for disabling Siri or changing every app's microphone permission.

Where can I read about Siri and Dictation privacy?

Open Keyboard in System Settings and follow About Ask Siri, Dictation & Privacy at the bottom. The supplied Apple privacy documentation explains that request history uses a random device-generated identifier and may be retained for up to two years if you opt in to Improve Siri and Dictation. Review that information separately from disabling Dictation.

Will turning off macOS Dictation stop WhisperJot?

No. WhisperJot uses its own transcription engines and can work instead of macOS Dictation. Leave WhisperJot's microphone permission enabled and press the WhisperJot hotkey, or hold fn for push-to-talk or tap fn to toggle, then speak. WhisperJot types your words into whichever app has focus; a small floating HUD shows the recording state. Its local engines run on-device after a one-time model download; Jot Cloud is opt-in and is not required to use the local engines.

Sources

Vendor documentation.

Sources, checked 2026-09-05: Apple: use Dictation and Keyboard settings, Apple: Siri and Dictation privacy information, Apple: control microphone access. Vendor features change — check each product's documentation for current behavior.

Related: How to dictate on a Mac · Dictation app for Mac · How to dictate punctuation

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