Dictation Stopped Working - MacOS 27 install

Dictation Stopped Working!

Since upgrading to MacOS 27, my function key (pressed twice) no

longer works to enable dictation. I get the error sound, after a 3 to

5 seconds delayed from pressing the button! Dictation worked

correctly before the update. And for a while after. But not at all

now.

I’ve tried , with no results: 1) Reseting Dictation:

System Settings → Keyboard → Dictation → turn it off →

restart → turn it back on and re-select double-press shortcut and

2) temporarily trying another Dictation shortcut.

These don’t work. I reported it to Apple.

Any suggestions?

Posted on Sep 18, 2026 7:33 PM

2 replies

neuroanatomist

Level 9 (72,871 points)

Sep 19, 2026 5:14 AM in response to smokestack salmon

Have you rebooted your Mac? If not, that's the first step. If that does not help, then see if the problem is present when you boot in safe mode. That process performs some system cleanup and clears caches, and also disables 3rd party extensions that may cause problems.

Start up your Mac in safe mode - Apple Support

If that does not correct the issue, test in a new user account. A newly-created user account will have all settings at default, and if the issue does not occur in that new account then it provides guidance on what may need to be changed to correct the issue.

Add a user or group on Mac - Apple Support

Once the testing is complete, the new account can easily be deleted.

Delete a user or group on Mac – Apple Support

It is possible the issue is caused by a 3rd party extension that you've installed, I've seen several examples of apparently unrelated extensions causing various issues (most recently, a user found that a Grammarly-like AI language checker extension was affecting Mission Control.

The above steps will help to isolate the problem.

It might help to download and run EtreCheck, written by a long-time forum member. The free version is fine. Post the full report using the Additional Text button. No personal information is revealed.

Dancer_123

Level 1 (8 points)

Nov 7, 2026 7:32 PM in response to smokestack salmon

After the Golden Gate update, whenever I hit the dictation button, I hear the beep to start the dictation and then a fraction of a second later there's another beep to stop the dictation. I have tried all of the recommended suggestions to fix it and nothing works. It's incredible how many things Apple breaks with its updates. I also lost the ability to move icons on my desktop. In a previous update all of my file downloads became invisible, and several years later, I still sometimes have my files to unload as invisible.

Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256360174