Use Cases
Use Hold to Talk anywhere you type on a Mac. These workflows focus on the places where speaking is faster than typing: developer prompts, AI tools, terminal sessions, Slack, email, and Notion.
What happens after install
See the demo- Focus any Mac text field.Cursor, ChatGPT, Slack, email, docs, terminals, browser forms, and more.
- Hold the shortcut and speak.Use Fn/Globe or a custom hotkey only while you are talking.
- Release to paste.The transcript appears in the active app instead of a separate dictation workspace.
- Review before sending.Hold to Talk never auto-submits prompts, messages, emails, or commands.
Start by workflow
Pick the workflow that best matches where you want to talk instead of type.
Developer dictation
For prompts, coding agents, code review, terminal sessions, docs, and project notes.
- Voice Dictation for DevelopersThe main developer workflow page for Cursor, Claude Code, Codex, Devin Desktop, GitHub, Slack, and docs.
- Best Voice-to-Text App for Developers on MacA buying guide for developer-specific dictation needs.
- Best Dictation App for AI Coding AgentsA buying guide for choosing Mac dictation across Cursor, Claude Code, Codex, Windsurf, Warp, Zed, and Copilot prompts.
- Voice Dictation for AI Coding AgentsA hub for speaking full implementation prompts into Cursor, Claude Code, Codex, Devin, Windsurf, Warp, Zed, and terminal agents.
- Developer AI Prompt ExamplesCopyable prompt examples for Cursor, Claude Code, Codex, Devin Desktop, ChatGPT, Gemini, terminal agents, GitHub, and tickets.
- How to Dictate into CursorA focused Cursor workflow for chat, Composer, editor buffers, and terminal panes.
- How to Dictate into VS CodeA VS Code workflow for chat, inline chat, editor text, source control, and integrated terminal prompts.
- How to Dictate GitHub Copilot PromptsA focused workflow for speaking longer Copilot Chat and inline chat prompts.
- How to Dictate into Claude CodeA terminal-safe workflow for speaking Claude Code prompts.
- How to Dictate into CodexA practical workflow for speaking coding-agent prompts into Codex.
- How to Dictate into Devin Desktop and WindsurfA coding-agent workflow for speaking Devin Desktop and Windsurf prompts, bug reports, and refactor requests.
- How to Dictate into WindsurfA focused workflow for speaking Windsurf and Cascade coding-agent prompts.
- How to Dictate into WarpA terminal-safe workflow for speaking Warp Agent prompts, command drafts, and debugging notes.
- How to Dictate into Zed AIA Zed workflow for agent prompts, inline assistant requests, terminal threads, and commit notes.
- How to Dictate into Raycast AIA Mac power-user workflow for speaking Quick AI, AI Chat, and AI Command prompts.
- How to Dictate GitHub Issues and PR ReviewsA GitHub workflow for issues, pull request descriptions, and review comments.
- Voice Dictation for Code Review CommentsA review-writing workflow for clearer pull request feedback.
- How to Dictate into Linear and JiraA ticket-writing workflow for bug reports, acceptance criteria, and triage notes.
AI prompt workflows
For people who want to speak more complete prompts into ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, Raycast AI, Cursor, and Codex.
- Voice Dictation for AI PromptsUse voice to include more context, constraints, examples, and output instructions.
- Voice Dictation for AI Coding AgentsSpeak coding-agent prompts with goal, context, constraints, non-goals, and verification steps.
- Best Dictation App for AI Coding AgentsChoose a Mac dictation workflow for Cursor, Claude Code, Codex, Devin Desktop, Windsurf, Warp, Zed, and Copilot prompts.
- Best Dictation App for Writing ChatGPT PromptsWhy prompt dictation helps ChatGPT produce better first drafts.
- How to Dictate into ChatGPTSpeak longer ChatGPT prompts into the prompt box, then review before sending.
- How to Dictate into ClaudeSpeak Claude prompts into the prompt box, then review before sending.
- How to Dictate into GeminiSpeak Gemini prompts into the browser prompt box, then review before sending.
- How to Dictate into PerplexitySpeak Perplexity research questions and follow-ups, then review before submitting.
- How to Dictate into Raycast AISpeak Raycast Quick AI and AI Chat prompts, then review before sending.
- Developer AI Prompt ExamplesCopyable prompts for debugging, implementation, reviews, tickets, Slack, and email.
- How to Dictate into CodexSpeak coding-agent prompts with context, constraints, and verification steps.
- How to Dictate into WarpSpeak terminal-agent prompts and command drafts into Warp, then review before running anything.
- How to Dictate GitHub Copilot PromptsSpeak richer Copilot Chat prompts, then review before sending.
- Voice Dictation ExamplesConcrete dictated prompts, Slack replies, emails, notes, and updates.
- Watch the 8-second demoSee the hold, speak, release, review workflow.
Everyday work apps
For short repeated writing in Slack, Gmail, email, Notion, and other daily work apps.
- How to Dictate Slack Messages on MacA workflow for dictating Slack messages, threads, standups, and incident updates.
- How to Dictate Gmail Emails on MacA workflow for dictating Gmail replies, follow-ups, customer responses, and internal updates.
- How to Dictate into Notion on MacA workflow for dictating Notion notes, task descriptions, comments, and database text fields.
- How to Dictate into Google Docs on MacCompare Google Docs voice typing with one Mac-wide hold-to-talk shortcut.
- How to Dictate into Apple Notes on MacA workflow for dictating quick notes, follow-ups, checklists, and rough drafts.
- How to Dictate into Microsoft Word on MacCompare Word Dictate with one Mac-wide hold-to-talk shortcut.
- Voice Dictation for Slack on MacDictate Slack messages, threads, standups, incident notes, and replies.
- Voice Dictation for Email and Gmail on MacDictate replies, drafts, customer responses, internal updates, and follow-ups.
- Voice Dictation for Notion on MacDictate notes, project updates, tasks, follow-ups, and planning docs.
- Voice Dictation ExamplesCopy the patterns into prompts, messages, emails, notes, and docs.
Private Mac dictation
For privacy-sensitive users comparing local transcription, zero retention, and everyday cloud dictation.
- Private Dictation Apps for MacA practical guide to privacy models in Mac dictation apps.
- Offline Dictation Apps for MacUnderstand when audio must stay on device and when zero-retention cloud transcription is enough.
- Privacy PolicyHold to Talk privacy and retention details.
- Apple Dictation AlternativeWhen Apple's built-in dictation is enough and when hold-to-talk is faster.
- Best Free Dictation App for MacStart with free built-in dictation, then compare a dedicated free-plan workflow.
- Superwhisper AlternativeCompare a lightweight cloud zero-retention workflow with offline model control.
All use cases
Developers
Use Hold to Talk to dictate prompts, code reviews, bug reports, docs, Slack messages, and terminal instructions across your Mac.
AI Prompts
Speak better prompts into ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity, Raycast AI, Cursor, Codex, Windsurf, Warp, Zed, and other AI tools with Hold to Talk for Mac.
AI Coding Agents
Use Hold to Talk to dictate richer AI coding-agent prompts into Cursor, Claude Code, Codex, Devin Desktop, Windsurf, Warp, Zed, and terminal agents on Mac.
Terminal Workflows
Use Hold to Talk to dictate terminal prompts, coding-agent instructions, commit messages, notes, and shell commands on Mac.
Slack on Mac
Use Hold to Talk to dictate Slack messages, threads, standup updates, incident notes, and team replies without leaving your Mac workflow.
Email and Gmail on Mac
Use Hold to Talk to dictate Gmail replies, email drafts, customer responses, internal updates, and follow-ups on Mac.
Notion on Mac
Use Hold to Talk to dictate Notion notes, project updates, tasks, meeting follow-ups, and planning docs on Mac.