How to Dictate Emails on Mac
3 Ways That Actually Work (2026)

Option 1: Apple Dictation

Every Mac includes built-in dictation that works in any email app's compose field — Gmail in Chrome, Outlook, Apple Mail, or anything else.

Setup

1. Open System Settings > Keyboard > Dictation and toggle it on.
2. Open your email app and click Compose or Reply.
3. Click into the message body.
4. Press fn twice and speak.
5. Press fn again to stop.

Where it falls short

• 30–60 second timeout — for anything longer than a quick reply, you restart it repeatedly.
• Manual punctuation — you say “comma,” “period,” “new line” out loud. This breaks the flow of composing an email.
• Filler words stay — every “um” and “so basically” goes into the email.
• No tone awareness — the same raw transcription whether you're writing to a client or replying to a friend.

Option 2: Siri

Siri can send simple emails hands-free. Say “Hey Siri, send an email to [contact name]” and Siri will ask for a subject and body.

Where it falls short

• Apple Mail only — Siri can't compose in Gmail or Outlook.
• Short messages only — anything beyond a few sentences becomes impractical.
• No editing — you can't review or edit before sending through Siri alone.
• Internet required — Siri always needs a connection.

Option 3: Resonant — system-wide dictation for email

Resonant works in every email app on your Mac. Click into the compose field, press fn, speak your email, release the key. Clean, punctuated text appears — ready to send.

What it's good at

• No time limit — dictate a full email in one session.
• Automatic punctuation — no saying “comma” or “period.”
• Filler word removal — “um” and false starts cleaned.
• Context-aware tone — adapts formatting for email.
• Fully offline — draft emails on a plane.
• Any email app — Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail, Superhuman, HEY, Fastmail.

Setup

1. Download Resonant and move it to Applications.
2. Grant Microphone and Accessibility permissions.
3. Open your email app and click into a compose field.
4. Press fn and speak.
5. Release. Punctuated text appears.

Side-by-side comparison

Here's how the three options compare for email dictation.

Which one should you use?

For a quick one-sentence reply: Apple Dictation. Press fn twice and go.

For a hands-free simple email: Siri — if you use Apple Mail and the email is short.

For anything longer than a paragraph, across any email app: Resonant. No timeout, automatic punctuation, filler removal, and it works in Gmail, Outlook, and everything else.

Frequently asked questions