Hotkeys

Available keys

Key	Notes
fn / 🌐 Globe	The default. Reachable by the left hand, unused by most apps — but macOS may claim it (see below).
Right ⌘ / Left ⌘	Comfortable and rarely held alone. A popular alternative to fn.
Right ⌥ / Left ⌥	Also rarely held alone.
Right ⌃	Control on the right side only.
F5 – F12	Eight function keys. Useful on external keyboards without a Globe key.

Only modifier and function keys are offered, deliberately: the key you hold to talk should never be a key you also need to type.

Changing the key

Either from the menu-bar menu ▸ Hotkey, or in Dashboard ▸ Settings ▸ Dictation ▸ Hotkey. The change takes effect immediately — there is nothing to restart.

For the first week after a change the HUD shows a small reminder chip naming the key, then stops. Changing the key restarts that week, because a new key has to be learned all over again.

The fn / Globe conflict

By default, macOS assigns its own behaviour to fn — usually opening the emoji picker or starting Apple's own dictation. If pressing it does something unexpected:

1. Open System Settings ▸ Keyboard.
2. Set Press 🌐 to → Do Nothing.

Onboarding offers a direct button to that settings pane when fn is your chosen key. Alternatively, just pick a different hotkey — Right ⌘ is the most common second choice.

Other shortcuts

Inside the dashboard, ⌘⇧D opens the dashboard window from anywhere in the app. Dictation itself has no other shortcuts — the design goal is one key that behaves identically in every app.