Talk shortcut

Choose a single modifier, a key combination or a function key for hold-to-talk, including foot pedals on F13–F20.

Mac only.

Choose your shortcut

1. Open Settings › General. The Talk shortcut row shows the current keys.
2. Click Change…. A small panel says Press a key or combination.
3. Press the shortcut you want. The panel closes and the row updates. Esc cancels.

Or pick one of the presets from the menu next to it: Right ⌥ (the default), Right ⌘, fn, ⌃⌥Space or F13.

What works

• A single modifier: right ⌥, right ⌘, right ⌃ or fn. The left-hand keys are left alone, so normal shortcuts keep working.
• A combination with ⌃, ⌥ or ⌘, such as ⌃⌥Space.
• A function key on its own, F1 to F20.

A plain letter or digit is refused (“Add ⌃, ⌥ or ⌘”), and so are shortcuts macOS uses itself (“That shortcut is used by macOS.”).

Foot pedals and buttons

Set your pedal, Stream Deck key or other button to send a key between F13 and F20, then press it while the Change… panel is open. Hold the pedal to talk, release to insert. Everything else works the same: tap Shift for hands-free, press ⌘ for Refine.

During a dictation

Press these after you have started holding the shortcut:

• Shift switches to hands-free. Return finishes.
• Esc cancels, in hold-to-talk too: while you hold the shortcut, and while Scribe is still transcribing or refining after you let go. Nothing is typed and the take is not saved. Once the text is going in, Esc does nothing, and it only works while a dictation is active, so it never gets in the way of your apps.
• ⌘ turns Refine on.
• With text selected, ⌘ makes the dictation an instruction for that selection.

Paste last dictation

Settings › General › Paste last dictation sets a shortcut that inserts your most recent dictation again. The default is ⌃⌥V. Click Change… to pick another combination (it needs ⌃, ⌥ or ⌘, or a function key), or Clear to turn it off. The menu bar item Paste Last Dictation shows the same keys.

The shortcut only works between dictations. While Scribe is listening or processing, or when there is nothing to paste, the keys go to your app as usual.

Permissions

Accessibility lets Scribe notice your shortcut, paste the text, read a selection and, optionally, use screen context. Grant it in System Settings › Privacy & Security › Accessibility. The shortcut works as soon as access is granted; no relaunch is needed.

Common problems

A single fn opens Emoji or Dictation instead. Change what fn does in System Settings › Keyboard › “Press 🌐 key to”, or choose another shortcut.

My combination triggers something else in one app. Apps see the combination too. Choose one no app uses, or a function key.

Related guide: Dictation for when typing hurts

Related guide: How to dictate anywhere on a Mac