Yes — you can dictate on a Mac completely hands-free. Beyond push-to-talk, a fully hands-free AI keyboard adds a wake word, always-on listening keyed to your on-device voiceprint, and an optional auto-send so the message goes without a click. Most voice-to-text tools stop at holding a key; this is the part that turns dictation into a real voice interface — and you set which mode each app uses.
Push-to-talk is the floor, not the ceiling
Holding a key (or double-tapping the trackpad) is the familiar way to dictate, and it's fine when your hands are already there. But it still ties dictation to a gesture. A hands-free AI keyboard treats push-to-talk as one mode among several, so you can pick the right one for the moment instead of always reaching for a key.
Wake word — start by speaking
Set a trigger phrase like 'Hey Clavio.' Say it and recording begins on its own; talk, and the finished, tone-matched text lands in whatever field is focused. No key, no click. Because the wake word runs on-device, it starts fast and works without shipping a constant audio stream anywhere. You can give different apps different phrases and styles.
Always-on — it types only when it hears you
Always-on listening is the mode people assume is impossible without typing every sound in the room. It isn't, because it's keyed to your voiceprint — a model of your voice created and stored on your Mac. In always-on mode Clavio listens continuously but only acts when it hears you: a coworker, the TV, a podcast, a YouTube narrator are all ignored. That's what makes truly hands-free safe to leave on.
Auto-send — finish the action, not just the text
Producing the text is only half of hands-free. Clavio can run a post-action the moment you stop talking — including 'send' — so a chat reply is gone before your hands move. It's optional and per app: let a messenger send on its own, but keep your coding agent waiting so you can read the command before it runs. Always-on plus auto-send is dictation with zero keys and zero clicks.
Every mode is per app
None of this is one global switch. Each application remembers how you summon Clavio — key, trackpad, wake word, or always-on — along with its tone and its post-action. Hold a key in your editor with polishing off; go fully hands-free in chat with auto-send on.
Set it up
Clavio for Mac is free — 3,000 polished words a month, no card, macOS 14+ on Apple Silicon. Onboarding trains your voiceprint and lets you pick a mode per app, so hands-free works from the very first dictation.
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Common questions
Can I dictate on a Mac without touching the keyboard?
Yes. A fully hands-free dictation app adds modes beyond hold-to-talk: a wake word that starts recording when you say your phrase, and always-on listening that types only when you speak. With Clavio you can go from thought to sent message without a key at all.
What is wake-word dictation?
You set a trigger phrase (for example, 'Hey Clavio'); saying it starts recording on its own, you speak, and the finished text appears. No key, no click. You can set a different wake phrase — and a different style — per app.
What is always-on dictation, and won't it type everything it hears?
No — that's what the voiceprint is for. In always-on mode Clavio listens continuously but types only when it hears YOU. A coworker, the TV, a YouTube narrator, a podcast in the background — all ignored, because the wake and voiceprint run on-device and are keyed to your voice.
Can dictation send the message automatically on a Mac?
Yes, if you want it to. Clavio can run a post-action after it pastes — including 'send' — so a chat reply goes the instant you stop talking, zero clicks. It's optional and set per app, so a messenger can auto-send while your code editor waits for you to review first.
Can I use hands-free in some apps and push-to-talk in others?
That's the point of per-app profiles. Each app remembers how you summon Clavio — key, trackpad, wake word, or always-on — and its own tone and post-action. Hold a key in your editor, go fully hands-free in chat.
Is hands-free dictation good for RSI or accessibility?
It can be. Push-to-talk still asks your hands to hold a key; true hands-free modes (wake word, always-on, auto-send) remove that entirely, which is why they matter for repetitive-strain and motor-accessibility use. Everything is configurable, and the voiceprint keeps it responding to you.