Apple Voice Control - Accessibility Cheat Sheet

Overview

Apple Voice Control allows users to fully navigate and operate a Mac using only voice commands. This cheat sheet provides quick reference phrases for common actions such as navigation, editing, scrolling, file management, and system functions. When a command includes brackets (e.g., [app] or [word]), replace the bracketed text with the specific item you want to act on.

How to Turn On & Use Apple Voice Control

Before using the commands in this cheat sheet, you will need to enable Voice Control on your Mac.

  1. On your Mac, click the Apple menu () in the top-left corner.
  2. Select System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS versions).
  3. Go to Accessibility and select Voice Control from the sidebar.
  4. Turn Voice Control On.
  5. If prompted, allow your Mac to download any required Voice Control components.
  6. Select your preferred language and microphone.

Once Voice Control is on, you can:

  • Use your voice to navigate and control your Mac using the commands in the sections below.
  • Say “Show commands” to see a list of available commands on your Mac.
  • Say “Wake up” to start listening and “Go to sleep” to pause Voice Control without turning it off completely.

You can return to System Settings > Accessibility > Voice Control at any time to change your microphone, language, or to turn Voice Control off.

Navigation

I want to…
I say…
Open an app “Open [app]”
Switch to an open app “Switch to [app]”
Show the dock, menu bar, or toolbar “Show the [dock/menu bar/toolbar]”
Search for a file or app “Open Spotlight” or “Search for [item]”
Minimize, maximize, or close a window “Minimize” / “Maximize” / “Close Window”

On-Screen Controls

I want to…
I say…
Show Voice Control numbers “Show numbers”
Click a numbered item “Click number [#]”
Click a button on screen “Click [button name]”

Dictation & Editing

I want to…
I say…
Start a new line or paragraph “New line” / “New paragraph”
Select a word or phrase “Select [word or phrase]”
Delete, copy, or paste highlighted text “Delete that” / “Copy that” / “Paste that”
Bold, italicize, or underline “Bold that” / “Italicize that” / “Underline that”
Move to beginning or end of a line “Move to beginning of line” / “Move to end of line”

Keyboard by Voice

I want to…
I say…
Press Command + key “Press Command [key]”
Press Command + Shift + key “Press Command Shift [key]”
Press Escape or Return “Press Escape” / “Press Return”
Type a specific character Visit Apple’s full dictation character list:
Apple Dictation Commands

Scrolling

I want to…
I say…
Scroll up or down “Scroll up” / “Scroll down”
Scroll left or right “Scroll left” / “Scroll right”
Scroll to the top or bottom “Scroll to the top” / “Scroll to the bottom”
Zoom in or out “Zoom in” / “Zoom out”

Folders & Files

I want to…
I say…
Open Finder “Open Finder”
Create a new folder “New folder”
Rename a folder “Rename that”
Move an item to trash “Move to Trash”
Empty the trash “Empty Trash”

Web Browsing

I want to…
I say…
Open a new tab “Open new tab”
Close my current tab “Close tab”
Switch to the next tab “Switch to next tab”
Reload the page “Reload page”
Click a link “Click link [name]” or “Show numbers” → “Click number [#]”

System & Media

I want to…
I say…
Adjust the volume or mute “Volume up” / “Volume down” / “Mute”
Play, pause, or skip media “Play” / “Pause” / “Skip”
Take a screenshot “Take screenshot”
Turn Wi-Fi on or off “Turn on Wi-Fi” / “Turn off Wi-Fi”
Turn Bluetooth on or off “Turn on Bluetooth” / “Turn off Bluetooth”

Power

I want to…
I say…
Lock my screen “Lock screen”
Restart, shut down, or sleep “Restart” / “Shut down” / “Sleep”

More Help from Apple

For additional tips, extended command lists, and accessibility features, visit Apple’s official support page:
Visit Apple Support

Additional Resources

For more support and self-help articles and resources, visit our ITS Ticketing Service Catalog at help.maricopa.edu or call the District Information Technology Service support line at 480-731-8632.

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