The short answer
Right Ctrl by default. You can change it to Right Alt, an F key or the Copilot key in Settings. Right Ctrl with another key still works as a normal shortcut.
Why Right Ctrl
The talk key has to be easy to reach without looking, and something you never press on its own for anything else. Right Ctrl, the Ctrl key on the right of the space bar, is both on almost every keyboard. Most people only ever use the left Ctrl key for shortcuts.
Your shortcuts still work
Perfect Dictation only listens when Right Ctrl is held on its own. Pressed together with another key, it behaves exactly as before: Ctrl + C, Ctrl + V, Ctrl + Z and the rest do what they always did.
The three ways to use the key
| Do this | What happens |
|---|---|
| Hold Right Ctrl, talk, let go | A normal dictation, typed when you let go |
| Double-tap Right Ctrl | Hands free: talk for up to about ten minutes, tap once more to finish |
| Select text, hold Right Ctrl + Shift | Rewrite the selected text by saying how to change it |
Choosing a different key
If Right Ctrl does not suit you, pick another in Settings:
- Right Alt, for keyboards where it is easier to reach (on some layouts it is labelled AltGr).
- An F key, handy on keyboards with no right Ctrl, or if you prefer a key you can feel at the top of the board.
- The Copilot key, on newer laptops that have one, if you do not use it for anything else.
The key for rewriting selected text can be changed there too.
When another app uses the same key
A few programs, such as some games, remote desktop tools and virtual machines, capture Right Ctrl for themselves. If holding it does nothing while one of those is open, choose a different talk key in Settings. Your choice applies everywhere straight away.
Left-handed, or using a mouse in your right hand?
If your right hand lives on the mouse, reaching for Right Ctrl means letting go of it. Many people in that position pick an F key they can reach with the left hand, or simply get used to tapping Right Ctrl twice for hands free and then taking their hand back to the mouse while they talk.
Using a foot pedal or a macro key
Some keyboards and foot pedals let you set a button to send a key such as F9. Set that button to the same key you chose in Perfect Dictation's Settings and it works as a talk key, which is popular with people who dictate all day, such as doctors and lawyers.
Cancelling a dictation
If you start talking and change your mind, let go and delete the text, or redo it in History. Nothing you say is sent anywhere except to be written up for you, and the audio is never kept.
Related questions
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