Audio clips
A voice memo, sent as audio
The mic records a clip that is sent as audio, not editable composer text.
Dictate in · Slack
Talk your replies.
Slack’s mic records an audio clip. Dictate puts editable speech in the composer instead. Hold a hotkey, speak, release, then review and send.
Hold to talk
#launch-week Slack for Mac
Maya · 9:41
Where did we land on the pricing page? Need it for the changelog.
Sam · 9:44
I dropped off the huddle early. Notes anywhere?
You · 9:45 · spoken, not typed
Short version: one plan at $8, FAQ moved above the fold, Dana owns the new copy. Full notes in the thread in ten minutes.
Your words land in the composer. Sending stays yours.
First, what Slack has
Slack’s mic is not dictation
As of mid-2026, Slack’s voice features did not create editable text.
Huddles
A live call
Huddles are live calls. They do not write messages in the composer.
The gap
Nothing types the message
Use Apple Dictation or a system-wide app to create editable text.
The two routes
How to dictate a Slack message on a Mac
Dictate is our app. Apple Dictation is the free route.
Free · built in
Apple Dictation
Turn it on under System Settings > Keyboard. Click the Slack composer, press the shortcut, and speak. It is free, but can stop after a pause and punctuation may need cleanup. Our guide to dictating on a Mac covers setup.
$8/month · Dictate
Hold, talk, release
Put the cursor in the composer, hold the hotkey, speak, and release. The punctuated message stays unsent until you press Enter.
Long replies
Say the answer you already have
Longer replies are easy to postpone because they interrupt the work already in front of you.
Click Slack, speak the decision and where the notes live, then review and send. Return to your work without drafting from scratch.
Under the hood
How text gets into an Electron app
Slack is an Electron app. Dictate inserts through the macOS Accessibility API and falls back to paste. Without Accessibility permission, it copies the transcript to the clipboard.
Transcription is not local. Audio travels over TLS, is transcribed, then discarded. History stores text only.
Past Slack
One hotkey, every composer
The hotkey also works when you dictate into Notion to draft the doc you just promised the channel, and when you speak prompts into ChatGPT. For setup, see how to dictate on a Mac.
Dictating into Slack
FAQ
What people search before they try this.
Can Slack transcribe voice to text?
Slack can transcribe an audio clip after recording. As of mid-2026, it did not turn live speech into editable composer text. Use Apple Dictation or a system-wide app for that.
How do I dictate a Slack message on a Mac?
Use Apple Dictation for free, or put the cursor in Slack, hold Dictate’s hotkey, speak, and release. Review the text, then send.
Does Dictate work in the Slack desktop app?
Yes. Dictate uses the macOS Accessibility API and falls back to paste. Text stays unsent in the composer for review.
Does Apple’s built-in Dictation work in Slack?
Yes. It is free and works for short replies, but can stop after a pause and automatic punctuation can be uneven.
Is my audio stored?
No. Audio travels over TLS to our servers, is transcribed, then discarded. History stores text, never recordings. Transcription is not local.
What does Dictate cost?
$8 a month, with one plan. There are no models or API keys. Unused subscriptions are refunded in full; after any transcription, the month is non-refundable.
Answer at talking speed.
No models or API keys. One plan at $8 a month, billed monthly.