Dictation Not Working on Mac (Sequoia)? Try These 8 Fixes

Dictation, one of the popular features on macOS, helps you easily convert spoken words into text. Although it can enhance work productivity, you might encounter unexpected technical snags, especially when you use it in Word or Google Docs. It’s like you’re dictating some important document, but suddenly a window pops up saying, “Oops, there was a problem with Dictation.” This surprise can bring you down and make you wonder what happened and how to get back on track.

In this article, we’ll explain why your voice dictation is not working on your Mac. Then, we’ll provide effective solutions to fix the “macOS Dictation not working” error with ease.

Why Is Dictation Not Working on My Mac?

The "Oops, there was a problem with Dictation" reminder on your Mac usually indicates that there are some issues with the Dictation feature. Microphone issues, internet problems, or other background processes can cause this. Here, we explain each reason so you can find the fixes directly.

• If you’re using the Dictation feature on Google Docs, you should keep a stable network connection. This ensures that audio is sent to Apple’s servers for processing.
• If you’re using the wrong microphone, your Dictation won’t work.
• Some Mac features or Bluetooth devices may interfere with your microphone input.
• Certain account settings or permission issues may restrict the Dictation feature.
• The new macOS might not be compatible with the Dictation feature.
• The Dictation feature only supports a limited set of languages. If you’re speaking in an unsupported language, the Dictation will not recognize your speech.
• Some apps, system processes, or junk files might conflict with the Dictation feature.

How to Get Dictation to Work on Mac

For writing emails, composing documents, or taking notes, a good dictation feature can save you time and effort. Unfortunately, Apple Dictation is not always easy to get up and running on your Mac. If you’re facing the “macOS Dictation not working” issue now, try the following solutions to get it back to normal.

Restart Your Mac

To fix your macOS Dictation not working, you can start by performing a simple restart. This method can often fix issues with macOS Dictation because it clears out temporary glitches or conflicts. On the other hand, restarting your computer will close all running apps and processes, overload memory, and fix minor bugs.

It’s easy to restart your Mac. Click the Apple logo in the top-left corner of your screen, then select the “Restart” button to initiate the process.

Select the Right Microphone Source

There is no doubt that you should select the right microphone; otherwise, your Mac cannot capture audio input correctly. For this reason, you should verify you’ve chosen the correct microphone.

1. Click on the Apple logo and choose the “System Settings” option.
2. Click on the “Sound” tab and then the “Input” tab.
3. From the list, choose the microphone you’d like to speak with.
4. Test the microphone to see if it works correctly.

Check the Dictation Permissions

After choosing the right microphone, you should make sure you’ve granted permission to use the Dictation. You can verify that the apps you want to use with Dictation (like Word, Google Docs, or Notes) have been granted microphone access. This step ensures that your spoken words are transcribed into text.

1. Click on the Apple logo and select "System Settings".
2. Click "Privacy & Security".
3. Click "Microphone" under "Privacy", and you’ll see a list of apps that have requested access to your microphone.
4. Look for Google Docs or other apps that have issues with the Dictation. Ensure that the checkbox is checked.

Ensure Internet Connection

The Dictation feature relies on an active connection to send audio data to Apple’s servers. If your internet connection is slow, unstable, or unresponsive, you might face delays in the Dictation.

To check the network connection, you can:

1. Click on the Apple logo and select "System Settings".
2. Click "Network" and select the network you’re using.
3. Look for the status indicator next to your network connection. If your network is active, it should show “Connected”.

Disable Voice Control

Both Voice Control and Dictation features rely on audio input and processing. They can interfere with each other. This means if you enable these two features simultaneously, they can compete for access to your microphone. Because of the conflicts, the Dictation fails to function well.

To disable Voice Control on your Mac, follow the steps below:

1. Click the Apple menu and select "System Settings".
2. Click "Accessibility" > "Voice Control".
3. If it's enabled, toggle to turn it off.

Disconnect Bluetooth Devices

Like the “Voice Control” feature, some Bluetooth devices can also interfere with the microphone input. Your wireless headphones or speakers may use the same frequency band as the microphone, which can lead to audio interference or even block the microphone signal.

By turning off Bluetooth, you eliminate potential causes of interference, allowing the microphone to capture your voice more accurately and ensuring Dictation can properly interpret your speech. This simple action can help make Dictation on your Mac more reliable and responsive.

1. Click the Apple menu and select "System Settings".
2. Click on Bluetooth and toggle the switch to turn it off. This will disable the Bluetooth function.
3. Alternatively, if you want to remove a specific Bluetooth device, click the "Disconnect" button next to it.

Remove Speech Recognition Preference Files

You can also resolve the "voice dictation not working" issue by removing the Speech Recognition preference files with the Dictation feature settings and data. However, they can get corrupted or outdated over time, and as a result, the Dictation service may fail to work as intended. Removing the preference files essentially resets the Dictation settings to default. This process can fix the conflicts, remove rotten data, and restore Dictation to normal function.

Here's how:

1. Open Finder on your Mac.
2. Press “Shift + Command + G” to open the Go to Folder dialog. Then type in “~/Library/Preferences/” and press Enter.
3. In the Preferences folder, look for files related to Speech Recognition. Their names may be like com.apple.speech.recognition.* or com.apple.speech.synthesis.*.
4. Delete these files by dragging them to the Trash and then emptying the Trash.
5. Restart your Mac and check if the Dictation works well now.

Free Up Storage Space

Insufficient storage space can also cause Mac errors like “Dictation not working.” To maintain the health condition of your Mac, you’d better regularly clear the storage space. One of the best Mac cleaning tools - BuhoCleaner- can free up a huge amount of space in seconds. No matter whether you’re affected by duplicate files or large files, BuhoCleaner can effectively clean them up and fix the Dictation issue.

Free install BuhoCleaner and choose Flash Clean to get started!

Conclusion

In summary, it’s common to encounter Apple Dictation not working on your Mac. By taking the 8 measures in this post, you can get Dictation to work in minutes. If the problem still exists, consider updating your macOS to the latest version or seeking help from Apple Support.