The dictation keys, including Fn

Two keys

Under Dictation in Settings you find two keys. Use one or both; at least one must be on.

• Hold to talk: hold it, speak, let go to insert the text. The default is Ctrl + Alt + Space.
• Hands-free: press once and speak, press again to insert. Handy for long pieces. It is off until you set a key. Pressing either key also ends a recording.

Changing a key

1. 1
   Choose Change
   Next to the key you want to change.
2. 2
   Press the new keys
   Press the combination you want. If SayFeather cannot use it, it says so and you pick another.

The Fn key on a Mac

On a Mac the Fn (globe) key can be your dictation key: choose Use fn alone next to the key. You can also use only modifier keys together, such as Fn + Control: press them together and let go. One modifier key on its own (just Control, Option, Shift or Command) is refused, because it would start a dictation with every ordinary shortcut.

macOS opens the emoji picker on Fn in text fields, and your text is lost. Open System Settings, Keyboard and set Press 🌐 key to to Do Nothing. SayFeather has a button that opens that screen.

Fn needs the Accessibility permission. Windows has no Fn key that apps can see, so there the keys are ordinary key combinations.

Enter after dictating

Under Text in Settings, Enter after dictating presses Enter after the text is inserted, so a chat message is sent at once. Enter per app lets you turn it on in some apps and off in others, for example on in chat and terminals and off in mail and documents. On a Mac, Terminal and iTerm start with it on, and Mail and Visual Studio Code with it off.

Flip Enter once is a key (default Ctrl + Alt + Enter) you press while dictating to do the opposite, for this time only.