Dictation or pasting is not working

Fix microphone, shortcut, and text insertion problems on Mac.

No recording starts

1. Open Settings → Mic & Audio and confirm the correct microphone is selected.
2. Open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone and enable Monologue.
3. Test the microphone in another recording app.
4. Return to Monologue and try a short dictation.

If the shortcut does nothing, open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility, remove and re-enable Monologue, then relaunch it. Also open Settings → Dictation and confirm the active shortcut.

The shortcut conflicts with another action

Monologue warns when a shortcut is already used by another Monologue action. Choose a different shortcut in Settings → Dictation.

If there is no warning but another app responds first, temporarily disable that app’s global shortcut and test again. Avoid common macOS shortcuts and assign each Monologue action a unique combination.

The transcript does not appear in the current app

Confirm Accessibility access is enabled and that the text field still has focus when the dictation finishes. Turn on Settings → Dictation → Leave transcript on clipboard; if automatic insertion fails, you can paste the result manually.

Some secure fields and apps restrict programmatic pasting. Test in TextEdit or Notes to determine whether the issue is specific to one app.

Monologue says “Copied” or the app changed

Monologue avoids pasting into the wrong place. If the active app or text target changes before processing finishes, or if the current field cannot accept automated text, Monologue leaves the transcript on your clipboard and shows Copied.

Return to the intended field and press Command-V. For a repeated problem:

1. Start and finish a short dictation without switching apps.
2. Keep the same editable text field focused until the transcript appears.
3. Test in TextEdit. If TextEdit works, the original app or field is restricting insertion.
4. Confirm Monologue still has Accessibility access.

For incorrect text rather than insertion trouble, see Wrong language or unexpected words.