Getting Started

New to Speakmac? This guide will help you find the app and start using voice dictation in seconds.

Speakmac is a Menu Bar App

Unlike most Mac apps, Speakmac doesn't appear in your Dock. It runs quietly in the background and shows a small icon in your menu bar (top-right of your screen).

Where to Find It

Look at the top-right corner of your screen, near the Wi-Fi and battery icons. You'll see the Speakmac waveform icon:

Speakmac waveform icon in the macOS menu bar

The waveform icon (|||) shows Speakmac is running

Tip: If you have many menu bar icons, Speakmac might be hidden. Try clicking and dragging the icon while holding ⌘ Cmd to reposition it.

How to Start Dictating

  1. 1Click in any text field where you want to type (email, document, chat, etc.)
  2. 2Hold the fn key on your keyboard (or your configured hotkey)
  3. 3Speak — your words will be transcribed in real-time
  4. 4Release the key — text appears where your cursor was

That's it! No clicking needed—just hold, speak, release.

Accessing Settings

  1. 1Click the Speakmac icon in your menu bar
  2. 2Click the gear icon (⚙️) to open Settings

From Settings, you can configure hotkeys, change transcription models, enable privacy mode, and more.

Common Questions

Why doesn't Speakmac show in the Dock?

Speakmac is designed to stay out of your way. Instead of sitting in the Dock, it lives in your menu bar at the top of your screen—always ready when you need it.

I pressed Fn but nothing happened?

Make sure your cursor is in a text field first (like an email, document, or chat). Speakmac types your words where your cursor is—it needs somewhere to type!

Do I need to grant any permissions?

Yes, Speakmac needs Accessibility permission to type text for you. Go to System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility → turn on Speakmac.

Is my voice data private?

Absolutely. Everything happens on your Mac. Your voice recordings are processed locally and never sent to the cloud. Learn more

How do I quit Speakmac?

Click the menu bar icon → click the gear icon (⚙️) → select "Quit Speakmac" at the bottom.

Still having trouble? We're here to help.

Email us at [email protected]

Ready to dictate?

Download Speakmac

Get the app and start using voice dictation on your Mac.

Requires macOS 14+ and Apple Silicon.