How to use Willow Voice on a Mac: dictating, hands-free mode, hotkeys and the settings that matter

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To dictate with Willow Voice, click into any text box, press and hold your hotkey, which is the Fn key by default, speak, and release. The text is formatted and inserted where the cursor was. For longer dictation, double-tap the hotkey to go hands-free, and press it again to stop. Willow is a cloud service with an account, and it lists dictation in 50 languages.

I built YapToText, a dictation app for the Mac, so read what I say about Willow Voice with that in mind. Every fact about Willow Voice here comes from its own help center, read on October 11, 2026.

Download YapToText on the Mac App StoreThis app is completely free. You don't have to make an account. There are no subscriptions, no difficult downloads, and nothing is locked. Made for Apple silicon Macs. Source on GitHub.

On this page: 10 sections
  1. Install it on a Mac
  2. Dictate, and go hands-free
  3. Change the hotkeys
  4. Microphone and language
  5. Your own words, and voice shortcuts
  6. Formatting by voice
  7. Tidy the screen
  8. Willow Voice and YapToText
  9. The short version
  10. Questions

Install it on a Mac

  1. Download Willow from its website.
  2. Drag Willow into your Applications folder and open it.
  3. Create an account during onboarding.
  4. Grant Microphone access, then Accessibility access.

Accessibility is what lets Willow insert text at the cursor and respond to a hotkey from any app. If it is not hearing you or not inserting text, the help center says the permissions may need switching off and on again, under System Settings, Privacy and Security.

Dictate, and go hands-free

  1. Click into the text box where the words should go.
  2. Press and hold the hotkey. A small floating bar appears.
  3. Speak.
  4. Release. The text is inserted at the cursor.

Double-tap the hotkey for hands-free mode, which keeps listening until you press the hotkey again. Dictation length depends on the plan: 5 minutes at a time on Basic. The Willow pricing page has the limits.

Change the hotkeys

All of them are in Settings, under Hotkey Binding.

  • Up to four hotkeys for dictation, each a single key or a combination.
  • A combination must include at least one modifier key.
  • Common choices when Fn is taken: Option or Command, left or right.
  • Hands-Free Mode can have its own hotkey, so you do not need to double-tap.
  • Willow Assistant has a separate hotkey too.

If Fn does nothing, it may be tied to a system action. Open System Settings, Keyboard, and look for a shortcut or function assigned to that key.

Microphone and language

  • Microphone. Settings, Microphone lists the inputs. Willow keeps using the one you chose, so connecting AirPods for music does not switch it.
  • Which one. Willow recommends the built-in microphone or a good wired one, and says wireless headphone microphones often give lower accuracy.
  • Language. Settings, Preferred Language. Willow treats that language as the default.
  • Auto-detect. Willow can detect the language as you speak. If it guesses wrong, turn Auto Detect off and pick your languages.

Your own words, and voice shortcuts

Both live on the Dictionary page.

  • Dictionary terms. Names, products, acronyms and jargon that should always appear exactly as written. Click Add Term and enter the word or phrase.
  • Shortcuts. A phrase that inserts a longer text. Say the phrase followed by the word shortcut, for example a support reply or your address.
  • Team terms. On a work domain, a Collaboration page holds terms and shortcuts shared with your workspace.

Formatting by voice

Willow formats as it goes: punctuation, paragraphs, lists and quotes. When you want to steer it, its help center gives spoken cues.

From Willow's voice commands guide, read October 11, 2026.

SayGet
One, bread. Two, milk. Three, cheese.A numbered list
Bullet, computer. Bullet, charger.A bulleted list
question mark, or exclamation markThat punctuation
quote, then quote againQuotation marks around the words between

Tidy the screen

  • Hide it from the Dock. Click Keep it running, then close the window with the red button. Willow stays in the menu bar.
  • Quit it fully. Click the Willow icon in the menu bar and choose Quit Willow.
  • The floating bar. Settings, General, turn Enable Notch View on. Willow recommends keeping the bar, which you can drag to any corner.

Willow Voice and YapToText

Willow from its help center and site, read October 5 to 11, 2026. YapToText from its own settings.

Willow VoiceYapToText
Where speech is processedCloud-based AI models. Offline dictation is listed under ProOn the Mac
AccountCreated during setupNone
Default keyFn, held. Double-tap for hands-freeRight Command, tapped to start and stop
Own wordsDictionary terms and voice shortcutsDictionaries and spoken snippets
Runs onMac, Windows and iPhone, with Android listed as coming soonApple silicon Macs, macOS 14 or later
PriceBasic free. Pro $15 a month, or $12 billed yearlyFree, no paid tier

The Willow Voice alternative page compares them in full, and the troubleshooting page covers what to do when it stops.

Download YapToText on the Mac App StoreThis app is completely free. You don't have to make an account. There are no subscriptions, no difficult downloads, and nothing is locked. Made for Apple silicon Macs. Source on GitHub.

The short version

  • Dictate. Hold Fn, speak, release.
  • Hands-free. Double-tap the hotkey, and press again to stop.
  • Hotkeys. Settings, Hotkey Binding, up to four.
  • Microphone. Built-in or wired, chosen in Settings.
  • Words. Dictionary terms and shortcuts.

If Willow changes these steps, open an issue on GitHub and I will update this page. Every one gets read.

Download YapToText on the Mac App StoreThis app is completely free. You don't have to make an account. There are no subscriptions, no difficult downloads, and nothing is locked. Made for Apple silicon Macs. Source on GitHub.

About the author. Ryleigh Newman is a developer whose hands make typing difficult and who dictates every day with YapToText, the app this site describes. Facts about other apps come from their own sites, with the date they were read. More about the project.

Sources

Questions

How do I use Willow Voice?

Click into a text box, press and hold the hotkey, Fn by default, speak, and release. The text is inserted at the cursor.

How do I use Willow Voice hands-free?

Double-tap the hotkey. Willow keeps listening until you press the hotkey again. You can also give Hands-Free Mode its own hotkey.

How do I change the Willow Voice hotkey?

Open Settings and go to Hotkey Binding. You can add up to four hotkeys, each a single key or a combination with a modifier.

What languages does Willow Voice support?

Its help center says dictation in 50 languages, with automatic detection or a preferred language you set.

How do I hide Willow Voice from the Dock?

Click Keep it running, then close the window. Willow stays in the menu bar, where you can quit it.