What are the Voice Control modes on a Mac?

Voice Control on a Mac has three modes for text: Dictation mode, Command mode and Spelling mode. Dictation mode is the default, and it types every word that is not a command ¹. You change modes by saying the mode's name. Apple also lists Swift mode, which is for writing Swift code rather than prose.

Three text modes decide what your words do

Each mode treats your speech differently. The table shows what Apple says each one does and the phrase to say to switch to it.

Dictation mode is the mode you use for sentences. When you are running commands rather than writing, switch to Command mode first.

Command mode stops commands from being typed by mistake

Apple advises Command mode so that you do not type a command as text by mistake. In Command mode, Voice Control responds only to commands ⁴. Use it for tasks such as opening a file, clicking through a menu and saving. Say "Dictation mode" again when you are ready to write.

Spelling mode is for strings that are not words

Spelling mode is for a password, a web address or another string of characters that ordinary words would not match ³. To help the Mac recognize letters, you can say the phonetic code word for each one. Apple's example is "Alfa Bravo Charlie" for "abc" ⁵.

Spelling mode is not available in every Voice Control language ⁶. Check your language before you rely on it for passwords.

Swift mode is for code, and we did not find a "shift mode"

The query "shift mode" is most likely a search for Swift mode. Apple's Voice Control commands guide lists Swift mode: say "Swift mode", then pronounce the code as you would read it aloud, and Voice Control writes the Swift code, handling spacing, operators and capitals ⁷. Apple's guide does not describe a mode called "shift mode", so this is not the Shift key.

If you do not write code, you can ignore Swift mode. It does not change how ordinary sentences are typed.

Standard Dictation is a different feature

These mode names belong to Voice Control. While Voice Control is on, standard macOS Dictation is not available ⁸. If you searched for "dictation mode" on a Mac and expected the Dictation feature's own controls, turn Voice Control off first. Standard Dictation is then controlled from the Dictation section of Keyboard settings ⁹. Our guide to Dictation on a Mac covers those steps.

What to do when the wrong mode is active

If words appear in a field when you wanted an action, say "Command mode" and repeat the command. If a password comes out as ordinary words, say "Spelling mode" and enter it again. If you cannot remember which commands work in the current app, say Show commands to list them.

Related questions and guides

To turn Voice Control off, read how to turn off Voice Control on a Mac. To compare Dictation with Voice Control, read Dictation vs Voice Control. If Voice Control does not respond in any mode, read why Voice Control is not working on a Mac. The full set-up is in our guide to Voice Control on a Mac, the complete list of Voice Control commands covers each command, and the Mac dictation hub lists the rest of the set. For the terms used here, see our definition of voice command.