How to dictate in Word, Outlook, and WhatsApp on a Mac
You can talk instead of type in all three apps. The built-in options are free, but each has a catch. Here’s what works where, and when Dictaty is worth it.
Your three options at a glance
All three put text wherever your cursor is. They differ in price, whether they need the internet, and where they work.
| Detail | Apple Dictation | Word’s Dictate | Dictaty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | Comes with macOS. | Requires a Microsoft 365 subscription. | Free for 7 days, then €29 once. |
| Where | Any app where you can type. | Word only. | Most text fields in any app. |
| Internet | Your Keyboard settings show whether dictation is processed on your Mac. | Microsoft says you need a reliable internet connection. | Not after setup. Speech recognition runs on your Mac. |
| How to start | The Microphone key or a shortcut you choose. | Home > Dictate, or Option-F1. | Hold the left Command key, or tap the left Option key. |
macOS and Word details come from Apple and Microsoft support pages, checked October 10, 2026.
Dictating in Microsoft Word
Word has its own Dictate button on the Home tab, and Option-F1 starts it too. Microsoft says it’s only for Microsoft 365 subscribers, you have to be signed in, and you need a reliable internet connection.
Apple Dictation works in Word as well. Turn it on in System Settings > Keyboard > Dictation, then press the Microphone key or your shortcut. It stops on its own after 30 seconds without speech.
With Dictaty, click where you want the text, hold the left Command key, talk, and let go. The text shows up at your cursor, just as if you’d pasted it with Command-V.
Writing email in Outlook or Apple Mail
Click into the body of the email first, not the subject line. The text always goes where your cursor is.
Go ahead and say a whole paragraph at once, then read it over. If Dictaty can’t confirm the text landed in the right field, it keeps it on the clipboard and in History, so you can paste it yourself with Command-V.
Texting from WhatsApp or Messages
The microphone button in WhatsApp records a voice message. If the person on the other end would rather read than listen, dictate the text instead.
Click into the message box, hold the key, say your message, and let go. Read it over, then press Return. Dictaty never sends anything for you. The same steps work in Messages.
Set up Dictaty once
- Download and open itDownload Dictaty, drag it into your Applications folder, and open it. The 7-day trial doesn’t need an account.
- Allow accessAllow microphone access. Accessibility lets Dictaty paste your text into other apps and use the default Command and Option keys. Until you allow it, Dictaty shows you fallback shortcuts for both keys, and you paste the copied text yourself.
- Let the speech files downloadDictaty downloads about 630 MB once. After that, you can dictate without an internet connection.
- Pick your language and keysChoose your language. By default, you hold the left Command key to record, or tap the left Option key to start and stop. You can change either key.
Try it free for 7 days.
After the 7 days, Dictaty is €29 once, VAT included. No subscription, no account. One license covers one Mac, and every version 1 update is included.
Dictaty is a Mac app. Save this link and open it on your Mac.
Needs a Mac with an M1 chip or later and macOS 14 or later. The first download is about 630 MB.
Good to know
- Dictaty won’t type or copy anything into password fields.
- Dictaty types what you say. It doesn’t summarize or rewrite.
- It’s built for live dictation. It doesn’t transcribe meetings or audio files.
- It runs on Macs with an M1 chip or later and macOS 14 or later. There’s no iPhone or Windows app.
Common questions
Do I need Microsoft 365 to dictate in Word on a Mac?
For Word’s own Dictate button, yes. Microsoft lists it for Microsoft 365 subscribers who are signed in and online. Apple Dictation and Dictaty work in Word without Microsoft 365.
Can I dictate a WhatsApp message on my Mac instead of sending a voice note?
Yes. Click into the message box and dictate with Apple Dictation or Dictaty. The text appears in the box, and you send it when it looks right.
Does it work without internet?
With Dictaty, yes, once your license is activated and the speech files are downloaded. For Apple Dictation, your Keyboard settings show whether dictation is processed on your Mac.
Which languages can I dictate in?
Dictaty’s built-in speech recognition covers 25 languages, including English, Spanish, French, and German. Some Macs get more languages through macOS. The full list is on the languages page.
Sources
Word and Apple Dictation details come from these support pages, read on October 10, 2026.
Word and Outlook are trademarks of Microsoft. WhatsApp is a trademark of WhatsApp LLC. Dictaty isn’t affiliated with either company.