macOS · Accessibility
Control Your Mac Entirely By Voice
Voice Control lets you operate your entire Mac — clicking, typing, opening apps, and navigating menus — using only spoken commands, with all speech processing done on-device for privacy. It's built for people who can't use a traditional mouse and keyboard, but works for anyone who wants hands-free control.
How to open Voice Control
- Open System Settings → Accessibility → Voice Control.
- Turn on the Voice Control toggle.
- Say 'Show numbers' to overlay clickable labels, or 'Show names' for text labels.
- Say 'Show commands' or open the Command list to see all available voice commands.
What you should know
- Overlay numbered grids and labels on screen so you can say a number or name to click anything.
- Dictate text directly into any text field using natural speech.
- Create custom voice commands mapped to specific actions or keyboard shortcuts.
- Works fully offline, since speech recognition processes locally on the Mac.
Voice Control requires a clear, quiet environment and a working microphone to recognize commands reliably.
Why it matters
Voice Control gives people with limited mobility full, independent access to a Mac without needing an external switch device or assistant, and doing recognition entirely on-device means your speech isn't sent anywhere for processing. It's a meaningful accessibility feature that also doubles as a genuine hands-free option for anyone with a temporary injury.
Best practices
- Use a quiet room and a good external or headset microphone for more reliable recognition.
- Learn the core navigation commands (like 'Go to sleep' and 'Show numbers') before relying on it for daily tasks.
- Create custom commands for actions you perform often to speed up repetitive workflows.
Common problems and fixes
- Voice Control frequently mishears commands or names.
- Check the microphone's input level in Sound settings, reduce background noise, and consider using an external microphone for better accuracy.
- You need to temporarily stop Voice Control from listening without turning it off.
- Say 'Go to sleep' to pause listening, and 'Wake up' to resume without disabling the feature entirely.
Tips and tricks
- Say 'Show numbers' in any app to instantly reveal clickable number labels over every visible control.
Frequently asked questions
Does Voice Control send my voice data to Apple?
No, Voice Control processes all speech recognition on-device, so your voice data doesn't need to leave the Mac or connect to the internet.
Can I use Voice Control and Dictation at the same time?
Voice Control includes its own dictation mode for typing text, so you generally use Voice Control's built-in commands rather than switching to separate Dictation while it's active.
Related settings
- Accessibility SettingsAccessibility settings on Mac include VoiceOver screen reading, Zoom for magnification, Voice Control, and many vision, hearing, and mobility features to make macOS easier to use.
- VoiceOverVoiceOver is macOS's built-in screen reader, describing aloud what's on screen — windows, buttons, text, and images — so you can use the entire Mac without seeing the display. It works through keyboard commands and gestures rather than a mouse.
- Siri & SpotlightSiri settings control your Mac's voice assistant — activation phrase, voice, and language — while Spotlight settings determine what shows up when you search with Command-Space, including which categories of results and suggestions appear.
More Accessibility guides for macOS
- Language & RegionLanguage & Region settings control which language macOS and your apps display in, plus regional formatting for dates, times, numbers, currency, and the calendar system used system-wide. You can also set different preferred languages per individual app.
- ZoomZoom is macOS's built-in screen magnifier, letting you enlarge everything on the display using keyboard shortcuts, trackpad gestures, or the mouse scroll wheel, without needing a separate magnifying app. It works independently of display resolution settings.
- Switch ControlSwitch Control lets you operate your entire Mac using one or more adaptive switches, a game controller, or the keyboard instead of a mouse and trackpad, by scanning through onscreen items and selecting with a button press.
- CaptionsCaptions settings control how closed captions and subtitles appear across macOS, including text style, background, and size, and let you require captions whenever available in supported media.
- Sound RecognitionSound Recognition uses on-device listening to detect sounds such as a doorbell, smoke alarm, or crying baby, and shows a notification on screen so people who are deaf or hard of hearing do not miss them.
- Display AccommodationsDisplay Accommodations groups visual comfort settings such as Reduce Motion, Increase Contrast, Differentiate Without Color, and color filters, letting you tune how the interface renders for visual comfort or color vision differences.