How to use Voice Controls on Mac

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Macos Monterey Review Hero (Image credit: Bryan M. Wolfe / iMore)
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With Voice Control in macOS Monterey, users can use speech commands to control their devices. The feature has been designed for those folks with limited agility, mobility, and other conditions available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. However, it also serves as a great new way to interact with your devices.

Voice Control works on all of your favorite Macs, available for your accessibility needs.

How to turn on Voice Controls on Mac

If you're using Voice Control for the first time, you'll need to set it up by following these steps:

  1. Click on System Preferences on your Mac's Dock.

System Preferences (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Select Accessibility.
  2. On the Accessibility page, tap Voice Control under the Motor section.
  3. Check the box for Enable Voice Control.

To turn on Voice Control, click on System Preferences on your Mac's dock, then select Accessibility. Tap Voice Control under the Motor section. Finally, check the box for Enable Voice control (Image credit: iMore)

How to wake/sleep Voice Controls on Mac

You can wake and sleep Voice Control by doing the following:

  1. Click Wake on the Voice Control icon to wake the tool.
  2. Click Sleep on the Voice Control icon to put the tool to sleep. During this time, Voice Control won't work.

Click Wake on the Voice Control icon to activate the Wake tool. Click Sleep to put the tool to sleep. During this time, Voice Control won't work. (Image credit: iMore)

How to change the Voice Controls language on Mac

Voice Control uses your default language at startup. To change:

  1. Click on System Preferences on your Mac's Dock.

System Preferences (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Select Accessibility.
  2. On the Accessibility page, tap Voice Control under the Motor section.

To turn on Voice Control, click on System Preferences on your Mac's dock, then select Accessibility. Tap Voice Control under the Motor section. Finally, check the box for Enable Voice control (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Click on the pull-down next to Language.
  2. Select Customize.
  3. Tap the box for the language(s) you'd like to add.
  4. Choose OK.

To change the Voice Control language, click on the pull-down menu next to Language, then select Customize. Tap the boxes for the languages you'd like to select. Choose OK. (Image credit: iMore)

How to select a new language in Voice Controls on Mac

  1. Tap the current language noted on the Voice Control icon on the right side of your device.
  2. Choose the language you now want to use.

To select a new language, tap the current language on the Voice Control icon, then select the one you know want to use. (Image credit: iMore)

How to enable/disable commands in Voice Controls on Mac

You can enable/disable any command in Voice Control, including those created by Apple and yourself:

  1. Click on System Preferences on your Mac's Dock.

System Preferences (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Select Accessibility.
  2. On the Accessibility page, tap Voice Control under the Motor section.

To turn on Voice Control, click on System Preferences on your Mac's dock, then select Accessibility. Tap Voice Control under the Motor section. Finally, check the box for Enable Voice control (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Click on the Commands button.
  2. Check the box(es) for the commands(s) you want to enable or uncheck the box(es) for the command(s) you want to disable.
  3. Click on the Done button.

To enable or disable commands in Voice Control, click the Commands button, check or uncheck the boxes for the commands you want to enable or disable, then click Done.

To enable or disable commands in Voice Control, click the Commands button, check or uncheck the boxes for the commands you want to enable or disable, then click Done. (Image credit: iMore)

How to create custom commands in Voice Controls on Mac

Yes, you can add personal commands to work with Voice Controls. To add Custom Commands:

  1. Click on System Preferences on your Mac's Dock.

System Preferences (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Select Accessibility.
  2. On the Accessibility page, tap Voice Control under the Motor section.

To turn on Voice Control, click on System Preferences on your Mac's dock, then select Accessibility. Tap Voice Control under the Motor section. Finally, check the box for Enable Voice control

To turn on Voice Control, click on System Preferences on your Mac's dock, then select Accessibility. Tap Voice Control under the Motor section. Finally, check the box for Enable Voice control (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Click on the Commands button.
  2. Select +.
  3. Next, add your command in the When I say box. By default, this command is usable across all apps.
  4. To restrict the command to only one app, click on the While Using pull-down menu.
  5. Choose the app you'd like to use with your custom command.
  6. Choose how this command is Performed from the pull-down menu.
  7. Select Done.

To create custom commands, click on the Commands button, then select +. Add your command in the When I say box. To restrict the command click While Using. Choose the app to use for the custom command, (Image credit: iMore)

You can now use this new custom command as you would others with Voice Control.

How to delete custom commands in Voice Controls on Mac

You can permanently delete any custom command for Voice Controls:

  1. Click on System Preferences on your Mac's Dock.

System Preferences (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Select Accessibility.
  2. On the Accessibility page, tap Voice Control under the Motor section.

To turn on Voice Control, click on System Preferences on your Mac's dock, then select Accessibility. Tap Voice Control under the Motor section. Finally, check the box for Enable Voice control (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Click on Commands button.
  2. Highlight the command to delete under Custom.
  3. Select -.
  4. Click Delete to confirm the deletion.

To delete custom commands, click on the Commands button, highlight the command you want to delete, select the dash, then click Delete to confirm the deletion (Image credit: IMore)

Your custom command is no longer usable through Voice Control on Mac.

How to change the microphone for Voice Controls on Mac

By default, Voice Control will use your Mac's built-in microphone. You can change this to another microphone when available:

  1. Click on System Preferences on your Mac's Dock.

System Preferences (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Select Accessibility.
  2. On the Accessibility page, tap Voice Control under the Motor section.

To turn on Voice Control, click on System Preferences on your Mac's dock, then select Accessibility. Tap Voice Control under the Motor section. Finally, check the box for Enable Voice control (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Click on the pull-down menu next to Microphone.
  2. Choose the microphone to use.

To change the microphone, click on the pull-down menu, choose the microphone to use. (Image credit: iMore)

How to receive an alert when a command is recognized in Voice Controls on Mac

You can receive a sound alert each time a command is recognized:

  1. Click on System Preferences on your Mac's Dock.

System Preferences (Image credit: iMore)
  1. Select Accessibility.
  2. On the Accessibility page, tap Voice Control under the Motor section.
  3. Click the box next to Play sound when command is recognized.

To turn on Voice Control, click on System Preferences on your Mac's dock, then select Accessibility. Tap Voice Control under the Motor section. Finally, check the box for Enable Voice control (Image credit: iMore)

So much to do

Voice Control works on all the best Macs, including the 24-inch iMac. As you can see, there's a lot you can do simply using your voice on Mac, thanks to the built-in Voice Controls. So start using them today and make your computing life much easier.

Updated April 2022: Refreshed for macOS Monterey.

Bryan M Wolfe
Bryan M Wolfe
Staff Writer

Bryan M. Wolfe has written about technology for over a decade on various websites, including TechRadar, AppAdvice, and many more. Before this, he worked in the technology field across different industries, including healthcare and education. He’s currently iMore’s lead on all things Mac and macOS, although he also loves covering iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch. Bryan enjoys watching his favorite sports teams, traveling, and driving around his teenage daughter to her latest stage show, audition, or school event in his spare time. He also keeps busy walking his black and white cocker spaniel, Izzy, and trying new coffees and liquid grapes.