macOS Catalina introduces Voice Control, a new way to fully control your Mac entirely with your voice. Voice Control uses the Siri speech-recognition engine to improve on the Enhanced Dictation feature available in earlier versions of macOS.1
How to turn on Voice Control
After upgrading to macOS Catalina, follow these steps to turn on Voice Control:
- Choose Apple menu > System Preferences, then click Accessibility.
- Click Voice Control in the sidebar.
- Select Enable Voice Control. When you turn on Voice Control for the first time, your Mac completes a one-time download from Apple.2
Voice Control preferences
When Voice Control is enabled, you see an onscreen microphone representing the mic selected in Voice Control preferences.
To pause Voice Control and stop it from from listening, say ”Go to sleep” or click Sleep. To resume Voice Control, say or click ”Wake up.”
Command + I: Open new email message with content of a page. Command + Shift + I: Open new email message containing only the URL of a page. Pages is a powerful word processor that lets you create stunning documents, and comes included with most Apple devices. And with real-time collaboration, your team can work together from anywhere, whether they’re on Mac, iPad, iPhone, or using a PC.
How to use Voice Control
Get to know Voice Control by reviewing the list of voice commands available to you: Say “Show commands” or ”Show me what I can say.” The list varies based on context, and you may discover variations not listed. To make it easier to know whether Voice Control heard your phrase as a command, you can select ”Play sound when command is recognized” in Voice Control preferences.
Basic navigation
Voice Control recognizes the names of many apps, labels, controls, and other onscreen items, so you can navigate by combining those names with certain commands. Here are some examples:
- Open Pages: ”Open Pages.” Then create a new document: ”Click New Document.” Then choose one of the letter templates: 'Click Letter. Click Classic Letter.” Then save your document: ”Save document.”
- Start a new message in Mail: ”Click New Message.” Then address it: ”John Appleseed.”
- Turn on Dark Mode: ”Open System Preferences. Click General. Click Dark.” Then quit System Preferences: ”Quit System Preferences” or ”Close window.”
- Restart your Mac: ”Click Apple menu. Click Restart” (or use the number overlay and say ”Click 8”).
You can also create your own voice commands.
Number overlays
Use number overlays to quickly interact with parts of the screen that Voice Control recognizes as clickable, such as menus, checkboxes, and buttons. To turn on number overlays, say ”Show numbers.” Then just say a number to click it.
Number overlays make it easy to interact with complex interfaces, such as web pages. For example, in your web browser you could say ”Search for Apple stores near me.” Then use the number overlay to choose one of the results: ”Show numbers. Click 64.” (If the name of the link is unique, you might also be able to click it without overlays by saying ”Click” and the name of the link.)
- Jun 09, 2020 List of Pages keyboard shortcuts for Mac to quickly editing and processing word documents using ⌘, ⌥, ⇧ and ⌃ keys to save plenty of time.
- Selects all items in the active window (icon view), all items. In the column (column view), or all items in the list (cover flow. View) Command+C. Copies selected items. Duplicates the selected item (s) Command+E.
Voice Control automatically shows numbers in menus and wherever you need to distinguish between items that have the same name.
Grid overlays
Use grid overlays to interact with parts of the screen that don't have a control, or that Voice Control doesn't recognize as clickable.
Say “Show grid” to show a numbered grid on your screen, or ”Show window grid” to limit the grid to the active window. Say a grid number to subdivide that area of the grid, and repeat as needed to continue refining your selection.
To click the item behind a grid number, say ”Click” and the number. Or say ”Zoom” and the number to zoom in on that area of the grid, then automatically hide the grid. You can also use grid numbers to drag a selected item from one area of the grid to another: ”Drag 3 to 14.”
To hide grid numbers, say ”Hide numbers.” To hide both numbers and grid, say ”Hide grid.”
Dictation
When the cursor is in a document, email message, text message, or other text field, you can dictate continuously. Dictation converts your spoken words into text.
![Support Support](/uploads/1/1/8/5/118550621/344984675.png)
- To enter a punctuation mark, symbol, or emoji, just speak its name, such as ”question mark” or ”percent sign” or ”happy emoji.” These may vary by language or dialect.
- To move around and select text, you can use commands like ”Move up two sentences” or ”Move forward one paragraph” or ”Select previous word” or ”Select next paragraph.”
- To format text, try ”Bold that” or ”Capitalize that,” for example. Say ”numeral” to format your next phrase as a number.
- To delete text, you can choose from many delete commands. For example, say “delete that” and Voice Control knows to delete what you just typed. Or say ”Delete all” to delete everything and start over.
Voice Control understands contextual cues, so you can seamlessly transition between text dictation and commands. For example, to dictate and then send a birthday greeting in Messages, you could say ”Happy Birthday. Click Send.” Or to replace a phrase, say ”Replace I’m almost there with I just arrived.”
You can also create your own vocabulary for use with dictation.
![Macworld Macworld](/uploads/1/1/8/5/118550621/831068870.png)
Create your own voice commands and vocabulary
Create your own voice commands
- Open Voice Control preferences, such as by saying ”Open Voice Control preferences.”
- Click Commands or say ”Click Commands.” The complete list of all commands opens.
- To add a new command, click the add button (+) or say ”Click add.” Then configure these options to define the command:
- When I say: Enter the word or phrase that you want to be able to speak to perform the action.
- While using: Choose whether your Mac performs the action only when you're using a particular app.
- Perform: Choose the action to perform. You can open a Finder item, open a URL, paste text, paste data from the clipboard, press a keyboard shortcut, select a menu item, or run an Automator workflow.
- Use the checkboxes to turn commands on or off. You can also select a command to find out whether other phrases work with that command. For example, “Undo that” works with several phrases, including “Undo this” and “Scratch that.”
To quickly add a new command, you can say ”Make this speakable.” Voice Control will help you configure the new command based on the context. For example, if you speak this command while a menu item is selected, Voice Control helps you make a command for choosing that menu item.
Create your own dictation vocabulary
- Open Voice Control preferences, such as by saying ”Open Voice Control preferences.”
- Click Vocabulary, or say ”Click Vocabulary.”
- Click the add button (+) or say ”Click add.”
- Type a new word or phrase as you want it to be entered when spoken.
Learn more
- For the best performance when using Voice Control with a Mac notebook computer and an external display, keep your notebook lid open or use an external microphone.
- All audio processing for Voice Control happens on your device, so your personal data is always kept private.
- Use Voice Control on your iPhone or iPod touch.
- Learn more about accessibility features in Apple products.
1. Voice Control uses the Siri speech-recognition engine for U.S. English only. Other languages and dialects use the speech-recognition engine previously available with Enhanced Dictation.
2. If you're on a business or school network that uses a proxy server, Voice Control might not be able to download. Have your network administrator refer to the network ports used by Apple software products.
1. Moving around within a document | |
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Left Arrow | Move one character to the left |
Right Arrow | Move one character to the right |
Up Arrow | Move to the line above |
Down Arrow | Move to the line below |
Option+Left Arrow | Move to the beginning of current or previous word |
Option+Right Arrow | Move to the end of current or next word |
Command+Left Arrow | Move to the beginning of the current line |
Command+Right Arrow | Move to the end of the current line |
Option+Up Arrow | Move to the beginning of the current paragraph |
Option+Down Arrow | Move to the end of the current paragraph |
Command+Up Arrow, Home | Move to the beginning of the document |
Command+Down Arrow, End | Move to the end of the document |
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2. Formatting text | |
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Command+T | Show fonts |
Shift+Command+T | Show styles |
Command+B | Bold |
Command+I | Italic |
Command+U | Underline |
Delete | Delete previous character or selection |
Del (not available on all keyboards) | Delete the next character or selection |
Command+plus sign (+) | Make font size bigger |
Command+minus sign(-) | Make font size smaller |
Control+Command+plus sign (+) | Make text superscript |
Control+Command+minus sign (-) | Make text subscript |
Command+{ | Align text flush left |
Command+| | Center text |
Command+} | Align text flush right |
Option+Command+| | Align text flush left and flush right (justify) |
Command+[ | Decrease list indent level |
Command+] | Increase list indent level |
Command+X | Cut |
Command+C | Copy |
Option+Command+C | Copy paragraph style |
Option+Shift+Command+C | Copy character style |
Command+V | Paste |
Option+Command+V | Paste character or paragraph style |
Option+Shift+Command+V | Paste and match style of destination text |
Option+Space bar | Insert non-breaking space |
Shift+Return | Insert line break (soft return) |
Command+Enter | Insert page break |
Return | Insert paragraph break |
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3. Selecting text | |
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Click in front of the first character and drag across the characters you want to select | Select one or more characters |
Double+click the word | Select a word |
Triple+click in the paragraph | Select a paragraph |
Command+A | Select all inline text and objects |
Shift+Command+A | Deselect all all inline text and objects |
Shift+Right Arrow | Extend selection one character to the right |
Shift+Left Arrow | Extend selection one character to the left |
Shift+Option+Right Arrow | Extend selection to end of current word |
Shift+Option+Left Arrow | Extend selection to beginning of current word |
Shift+Command+Right Arrow | Extend selection to end of current line |
Shift+Command+Left Arrow | Extend selection to beginning of current line |
Shift+Up Arrow | Extend selection to the line above |
Shift+Down Arrow | Extend selection to the line below |
Shift+Option+Up Arrow | Extend selection to beginning of the current paragraph |
Shift+Option+Down Arrow | Extend selection to end of the current paragraph |
Shift+Command+Down Arrow | Extend selection to end of text |
Shift+Command+Up Arrow | Extend selection to beginning of text |
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4. General | |
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Command+N | Open new document (You can choose the type of document you want to open in Pages Preferences.) |
Command+O | Open existing document |
Command+S | Save |
Shift+Command+S | Save as |
Command+P | |
Shift+Command+P | Page setup |
Command+F | Find |
Command+G | Find next |
Shift+Command+G | Find previous |
Command+E | Use selection for find |
Command+J | Scroll to found selection |
Command+semi-colon (;) | Check spelling |
Command+colon (:) | Show Spelling window |
Command+>/Command+< | Zoom in/Out |
Command+W | Close window |
Command+M | Minimize window |
Command+comma(,) | Show preferences |
Option+Command+I | Show Inspector window |
Command+R | Show document rulers |
Command+Shift+L | Show layout |
Command+Shift+I | Show formatting characters (invisibles) |
Shift+Command+C | Show Colors window |
Command+? | Pages Help |
Command+H | Hide Pages |
Option+Command+H | Hide other windows |
Command+Q | Quit Pages |
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5. Working with tables | |
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Command+A | Select all table borders or cell content, depending on initial selection |
Command+C | Copy contents of selected cells or whole table, if table is selected |
Command+X | Cut contents of selected cells or whole table, if table is selected |
Command+V | Paste the selection that was last copied |
Delete | Delete selection (whole table, border or border segment, or contents of selected cells) |
Shift+drag table | Constrain the movement of the table and snap to guides |
Option+Shift+drag table | Duplicate table |
Drag selected cell to another cell | Switch contents of selected cell with contents of destination cell |
Option+drag selected cell to another cell | Copy contents of selected cell into destination cell |
Shift+click | Extend selection from selected cell to destination cell |
Command+click cells | Select or deselect multiple cells that are not next to each other |
Command+Return or Command+click the cell (in text edit mode) | Stop editing text and select cell |
Click border of selected table or double-click border of unselected table | Select entire row or column border |
Option+click | Select or deselect border segment |
Shift+click or Command+click border | Select or deselect multiple cell borders |
Drag border or border segment | Move row or column border or border segment to new position |
Arrow keys | Move table, border, or segment one pixel |
Shift+Arrow keys | Move table, border, or segment ten pixels |
Arrow keys (in cell selection mode) | Select next cell to the left, right, up, or down |
Shift+Arrow keys (in cell selection mode) | Extend cell selection by one cell |
Tab/Shift+Tab | Select text in nextprevious cell |
Command+Return (in cell selection mode) | Stop editing cell and select the table |
Option+click Table toolbar button then drag to size | Create a table by dragging |
Option+Tab(in text edit mode) | Insert a Tab |
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6. Manipulating fixed objects | |
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Option+click the Objects toolbar button; choose Shapes, Table, or Chart; then drag to size | 'Draw' a fixed shape, table, or chart |
Command+A | Select all fixed objects |
Command+Shift+A | Deselect all fixed objects |
Command+click, Shift+click | Add or remove selected object to previously selected object(s) |
Shift+drag,Command+drag | Add or remove selected range to previously selected range |
Arrow key | Move selected object one point |
Shift+Arrow key | Move selected object ten points |
Shift+Command-B | Send object to the back |
Option+Command-B | Send object one layer back |
Shift+Command-F | Bring object to the front |
Option+Shift+Command+F | Bring object one layer forward |
Control+Option+Command+M | Move object to section master |
Option+Command+G | Group objects |
Option+Shift+Command+G | Ungroup objects |
Command+L | Lock objects |
Option+Command+L | Unlock objects |
Option+drag | Duplicate object |
Shift+drag | Constrain movement of object to 45º |
Drag handle | Resize object |
Option+drag handle | Resize object from center |
Option+Shift+drag handle | Constrain aspect ratio when resizing object from center |
Shift+drag handle | Constrain aspect ratio when resizing object |
Command+drag handle | Rotate object |
Shift+Command+drag handle | Rotate object 45º |
Command+drag | Turn off alignment guides |
Shift+Command+M | Mask or unmask object |
Return | Exit mask mode |
Double-click the masked image | Reenter mask mode |
Control+click | Open shortcut menu for selected item |
Command+Return | Exit text edit mode and select object |
Command+C | Copy selected object |
Command+V | Paste selected object |
Command+X | Cut selected object |
Mac Commands For Pages Page
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7. Editing chart data | |
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Shift+Command-D | Show or hide Chart Data Editor |
Return | Complete a cell entry and move the selection down |
Shift+Return | Complete a cell entry and move the selection up |
Tab | Complete a cell entry and move the selection to the right |
Shift+Tab | Complete a cell entry and move the selection to the left |
Delete | Delete the character to the left of the insertion point, or delete the selection |
Arrows keys (in text edit mode) | Move one character left, right, to the beginning of text (up), or to the end of text (down) |
Enter | Complete a cell entry and select the cell |
Arrows keys (in cell selection mode) | Move one cell in a given direction |
Home | Move to the beginning of the row |
End | Move to the last filled cell to the right in the current row |
Shift+Arrow keys | Extend the selection by one cell |
Shift+Home | Extend the selection to the beginning of the row |
Shift+End | Extend the selection to the end of the row |
Mac Command Line List
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