How to Control a Mac Using the Voice Control Accessibility Feature
There are many features Apple has added to macOS to make Macs accessible to all users. One such feature is Voice Control, which, as the name suggests, lets you control your Mac using just your voice. All you need is to enable it and learn a specific set of commands, and you’ll be good to go.
This article will detail how to use the Voice Control feature in Macs. We’ll look at everything about it, from enabling, to adding custom commands, and more.
How to Enable Voice Control and Issue a Command
To enable Voice Control, go toSystem Preferences > Accessibility, and from the panel on the left, scroll down to theMotorsection. ClickVoice Control, and then toggle theEnable Voice Controlbutton. A small window will pop up, showing a microphone, with a button saying eitherSleeporWake Up.
When the button saysSleep, the feature is active, and you can issue a command. So, if you’re in a text field (an area where you can type something), you can start dictating to test the feature out.
However, once you click the button and it saysWake Up, it means the feature is inactive, and it cannot hear you. You might also see a language button here if you’ve added extra languages (explained below).
All the Different Types of Commands in Voice Control
There’s a long list of commands that you can issue to operate your Mac using Voice Control. You can find these commands from theCommandsbutton at the bottom of theAccessibility > Voice Controlwindow.
Here’s an overview of different things Voice Control can help you do:
Using Voice Control With VoiceOver
The last set of commands available in Voice Control lets you control anotheraccessibility feature called VoiceOver, which you may find at the top of the left side panel inSystem Preferences > Accessibility.
Apple’s VoiceOveris a screen reading app that reads aloud whatever appears on your screen. It’s helpful for visually impaired users, as it reads out everything on the screen and aids them in operating their Mac. With Voice Control’s commands for VoiceOver, you can do everything from activating the VoiceOver to asking it to read a specific text.
VoiceOver is a great tool to use in addition to otherapps designed to help visually impaired users.
How to Add Custom Voice Control Commands
You can also add your custom commands to Voice Control by going toVoice Control > Commandsand clicking theadd (+)button in the bottom-left corner. To add your custom command, you need to input three things:
However, the tool for adding commands is limited in what it can help you with. From thePerformdropdown, you’re able to see that there are only a few actions that you can do, like pasting text, opening a URL, and starting new recordings.
How to Add Your Own Vocabulary
Adding your own vocabulary is an exciting feature. Not only can you add made-up words, but you can also later use those words in custom commands. So, for example, instead of a command that says “Paste item,” you can say “Abracadabra,” and Voice Control will paste your clipboard item for you.
To add your own vocabulary, go toAccessibility > Voice Control, and then click theVocabularybutton towards the right of theCommandsbutton.
Then, click theadd (+)button, type in your word, and clickSave, to add the word to the list. Finally, clickSaveto save the list, and you’ve successfully added your word.
How to Add More Languages
you could use Voice Control in many languages. To add another language, go toAccessibility > Voice Control, click theLanguagedropdown in the center, and then clickAdd Language.
Instead of scrolling the list to check if your language is available, use the search bar at the top. If it is available, toggle the language, and the window will tell you the size of the language you want to add (which will be downloaded). ClickOKto download and add the language.
You can switch to other languages using the same dropdown or the shortcut on the Voice Control’s microphone popup.
Using the Overlay Feature
TheOverlayfeature makes it easier to navigate and execute different commands when using Voice Control by dividing the elements on the screen into different parts.
You can either divide the screen into a grid.
Or, you may number each interactive element.
you’re able to then use the commands underOverlays & Mousefrom the commands list to navigate and perform different actions.
Showing the Menu Bar Shortcut for Added Ease
If you don’t want to constantly keep Voice Control (or any other accessibility feature) turned on, you can use the menu bar shortcut to toggle these features as needed.
To do this, check theShow Accessibility status in the menu baroption at the bottom of yourSystem Preferences > Accessibilitywindow. This will add theAccessibilityiconto the menu bar, which you can use to interact with different features.
macOS Accessibility Features Are Incredibly Powerful
Apple’s Accessibility features are so powerful and intuitive that anyone can benefit from using them. For example, you may use Voice Control to boost your productivity when you’re multitasking by simply saying actions you want the system to perform aloud while doing something else.
But Voice Control isn’t the only exciting accessibility feature on the list. There are plenty of other macOS Accessibiltiy features to learn about, all of which could transform the way you interact with your Mac.
Learn about all the different Accessibility options built into macOS for people with motor-based disabilities.
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