SpeechBee

Guide

Dictate emails in Outlook

Outlook for Mac can take dictation. Start a message, choose Message, then Dictate, or press Option-F1. It needs a Microsoft 365 subscription and an internet connection. Here's how, and what to use if you don't have either.

By the SpeechBee team, who make SpeechBee. Checked on 13 October 2026

On this page
  1. Use Outlook's Dictate on a Mac
  2. Without Microsoft 365
  3. Questions
  4. Keep reading
  5. Sources

Use Outlook's Dictate on a Mac

  1. Start a New Email, or reply to a message.
  2. Choose Message, then Dictate, or press Option-F1.
  3. Wait for the Dictate button to turn on and start listening.
  4. Talk. Text appears as you speak.

Microsoft says dictation is only available to Microsoft 365 subscribers and needs a microphone and a reliable internet connection. It also works in Outlook on the web and in new Outlook for Windows. You can say punctuation and special characters; Microsoft lists the commands for each language.

Without Microsoft 365

Any Mac dictation tool that types at the cursor works in Outlook:

  • Apple Dictation, free. Turn it on in System Settings, Keyboard, then press the Microphone key in the message. See how to dictate on a Mac.
  • A dictation app. SpeechBee, which we make, works with one key in Outlook and every other app, transcribes on your Mac, and adds a dictionary for names, snippets for sign-offs, and filler removal in English, German, Spanish and French.
Voice to text
New message

Hi Maya, I'll send the revised proposal tomorrow morning.

SpeechBee's listening indicator on Mac
Hold your key, talk, let go. The text lands at the cursor.
Text to speech
Article

Most people read faster than they speak. SpeechBee reads the sentence you selected out loud, while you keep working.

SpeechBee's Read Aloud player on Mac
Select text, press your reading key, listen.

Dictate in Outlook and every other Mac app. Free for 7 days.

Voice to text and Read Aloud on your Mac, iPhone and iPad. After the week, $9 a month, $79 a year, or $99 once. Every plan has every feature.

Download for MacGet it for iPhone & iPad

Questions

How do I dictate in Outlook for Mac?

Start a new email or reply, then choose Message, Dictate, or press Option-F1. You need a Microsoft 365 subscription.

Why can't I see the Dictate button in Outlook?

Microsoft says dictation is only available to Microsoft 365 subscribers. Sign in with a subscribed account, or use Mac Dictation instead.

Does Outlook dictation work offline?

No. Microsoft says it needs a reliable internet connection.

Keep reading

Sources

Checked on 13 October 2026.