---
title: "Siri and Dictation on a Mac: what each does, and the privacy settings"
description: "Siri is Apple's assistant; Dictation turns your speech into text. How they differ on a Mac and iPhone, where each is turned on, what 'Improve Siri & Dictation' shares with Apple, and how to keep dictation on your device."
url: "https://speechbee.app/guides/siri-and-dictation"
---

# Siri and Dictation, explained

Apple groups Siri and Dictation together in its privacy settings, so people often think they're one feature. They're not. Here's what each does, where to turn each on, and what the shared 'Improve Siri & Dictation' setting means.

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

> ### The short version
>
> - **Dictation** types what you say into any text field. It's in **System Settings**, **Keyboard**.
> - **Siri** is the assistant that answers questions and does tasks. It's in **System Settings**, **Siri**.
> - **Improve Siri & Dictation**, in **Privacy & Security**, **Analytics & Improvements**, controls whether Apple may store audio of your Siri and Dictation interactions.

## Dictation vs Siri

| | Dictation | Siri |
|---|---|---|
| What it does | Turns speech into text where your cursor is | Answers questions and carries out requests |
| Where to turn it on (Mac) | System Settings, Keyboard, Dictation | System Settings, Siri |
| How you start it | Microphone key or your dictation shortcut | "Siri" or its keyboard shortcut |

## Where your dictation goes

Apple says you can check in **System Settings**, **Keyboard**, under **Dictation**, whether your general dictation, such as messages and notes, is processed on your Mac and not sent to Siri servers. Dictation in a search box may be handled differently. On iPhone and iPad, Apple says dictation is processed on device in many languages.

## The "Improve Siri & Dictation" setting

When you turn on Dictation, your Mac may ask whether to share audio recordings. Choosing **Share Audio Recordings** lets Apple store audio of your Siri and Dictation interactions, and Apple may review a sample. You can change this any time in **System Settings**, **Privacy & Security**, **Analytics & Improvements**, **Improve Siri & Dictation**.

## Dictation that never involves Apple's servers

If you want certainty that speech stays on your Mac whatever the language, use a dictation app that runs locally. SpeechBee, which we make, transcribes on your Mac, iPhone or iPad and never uploads audio. It isn't an assistant like Siri; it types what you say and reads text aloud.

## Questions

### Are Siri and Dictation the same thing?

No. Dictation turns speech into text. Siri is an assistant. They share a privacy setting for audio recordings.

### Does Siri need to be on to use Dictation?

They're turned on in different places: Dictation in Keyboard settings, Siri in Siri settings.

### How do I stop Apple storing my dictation audio?

Turn off Improve Siri & Dictation in System Settings, Privacy & Security, Analytics & Improvements.

## Keep reading

- [Turn off dictation on a Mac](https://speechbee.app/guides/turn-off-dictation-mac)
- [Offline dictation on a Mac](https://speechbee.app/guides/offline-dictation-mac)
- [What is dictation?](https://speechbee.app/guides/what-is-dictation)

## More on dictation

- [Every dictation guide and comparison](https://speechbee.app/guides/voice-typing-mac)
- [Dictation for clinicians](https://speechbee.app/guides/dictation-for-doctors)
- [Voice texts on iPhone](https://speechbee.app/guides/voice-text-message-iphone)
- [Dictate notes](https://speechbee.app/guides/dictate-notes-mac)
- [Voice to text in WhatsApp](https://speechbee.app/guides/voice-to-text-whatsapp)
- [Best dictation apps for Mac](https://speechbee.app/compare/best-dictation-app-mac)
- [Every read-aloud guide and comparison](https://speechbee.app/guides/read-text-aloud)

## Sources

Checked on 13 October 2026.

- [Apple: Use Dictation on Mac](https://support.apple.com/guide/mac-help/use-dictation-mh40584/mac)
- [Apple: Dictate text on iPhone](https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/dictate-text-iph2c0651d2/ios)
- SpeechBee facts from our [homepage](https://speechbee.app/) and [privacy policy](https://speechbee.app/privacy)