Setup guide
Set up in about a minute.
Install, two quick permissions, one keyboard setting, and you’re talking. Here’s exactly what you’ll see.
- macOS 26 or later
- A Mac with Apple silicon
- Any microphone — the built-in one is fine
- 1
Install it
Open Speaklively.dmg from your Downloads and drag Speaklively into Applications. It’s notarised by Apple, so it opens like any other app — no warnings to click through.
Speaklively
SpeaklivelyApplications - 2
Open it
Open Speaklively from Applications. It lives in your menu bar, at the top of the screen, rather than in the Dock — and setup opens by itself. Click Get started.
⌃Wi-FiSun 10:42Talk. It types.
Everywhere.
Get started - 3
Let it hear you
Click Allow. macOS asks twice — say yes to both: Microphone, so it hears you while you hold fn, and Speech recognition, so your words become text on this Mac.
It only listens while you hold the key. Your voice never leaves your Mac.
“Speaklively” would like to access the microphone.
So it hears you while you hold fn.
Don’t AllowAllow - 4
Let it type for you
Click Open System Settings and switch Speaklively on under Privacy & Security › Accessibility. macOS may ask for your password or Touch ID.
On macOS 27 this list is called Device Control and Data Access. Don’t see Speaklively in it? Click +, then choose it. macOS calls this “broad access” — Speaklively only uses it to type your words.
AccessibilityPrivacy & Security › Accessibility
SpeaklivelyAnother app+ −
- 5
Free up the 🌐 key
Click Open Keyboard Settings and set Press 🌐 key to to Do Nothing. Setup ticks the step off by itself the moment it’s done.
Rather keep the 🌐 key as it is? Choose “Use Right ⌘ instead” and hold that key to talk.
fnPress 🌐 key to
Change Input SourceShow Emoji & SymbolsStart DictationDo Nothing✓ - 6
Try it
Click a text box, hold fn, and say “Remind me to call Sam at four.” Watch the words appear as you speak, then let go. They land right where you clicked.
Setup switches on Open at login when you finish, so Speaklively is there after every restart. You can turn it off in Settings › General.
BONUS
Talk hands-free
For long messages, press fn + Space and let go. Talk for up to five minutes, then tap fn to put it in, or press Return to read it in the panel first.
Ready when you are
Download it, follow the six steps, and you’re talking in about a minute.
Free forever · No account · macOS 26 · Apple silicon