SeanKelley's.com

Redefined by injury, not reduced.

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Voice Control Cheat Sheet (Beginner)

This page is a practical Voice Control cheat sheet for macOS. It focuses on commands that are dependable across real workflows, including controlling the on-screen keyboard's Dwell toolbar via Show Numbers.

Some phrases change by macOS version. This selector updates the command text below where applicable.

Version notes:

    Most reliable way to control the Dwell Panel by voice

    1. Say: Show numbers
    2. Say: Click the number on the Dwell toolbar button you want (Scroll, Drag & Drop, Right Click, Pause)
    3. Say: Hide numbers when you're done

    This avoids "guessing" spoken names for the Dwell icons. It works because Voice Control can click any numbered UI element.

    Getting Started

    Command What it does Example / Notes
    Start listening Turn Voice Control on (listening). Say it once; microphone icon shows listening.
    Stop listening Pause Voice Control without turning it off. Use when dictation is interfering.
    Show numbers Labels clickable controls with numbers. Then say "Click 12".
    Hide numbers Removes the number overlay. Say after you click.
    Show grid Displays a grid for precise clicking. Say "Show grid", then a number to zoom, then "Click 7".
    Hide grid Closes the grid.

    Dwell Panel and Scrolling

    Command What it does Example / Notes
    Show numbers → Click the Dwell button Safest way to trigger Dwell actions (Scroll, Drag & Drop, Right Click, Pause). Show numbers, then "Click 5" on the Scroll icon.
    Scroll down Scrolls the current view downward. Works in Safari, Finder lists, many apps.
    Scroll up Scrolls the current view upward.
    Scroll to top Jumps to the top of the page/list.
    Scroll to bottom Jumps to the bottom of the page/list.

    Clicking, Dragging, and Pointer Control

    Command What it does Example / Notes
    Show numbers → Click # Clicks an element by number. Show numbers → "Click 18".
    Double-click # Double-clicks the numbered element. "Double-click 18".
    Right-click # Secondary click on numbered element. "Right-click 18".
    Drag # to # Drags from one numbered item to another. "Drag 12 to 24".
    Click and hold # Press-and-hold on a numbered element. Then "Release".
    Release Releases click-and-hold / ends hold.
    Move cursor left 10 pixels Nudges pointer in small increments. Also right/up/down.

    Text Selection and Editing

    Command What it does Example / Notes
    Select all Selects all text in the current context.
    Select word Selects the word at the insertion point.
    Select next 3 words Selects a range forward.
    Extend selection 2 lines Extends selection forward.
    Extend selection back 2 lines Extends selection backward.
    Copy that Copies the current selection.
    Paste that Pastes clipboard content.
    Undo that Undo last action.
    Redo that Redo last undone action.
    Replace phrase with phrase Search/replace by voice. Replace "teh" with "the".
    Correct that Invokes correction UI for recent dictation.

    Dictation and Key Presses

    Command What it does Example / Notes
    Type phrase Forces literal typing (useful for URLs, file names). Type seankelleys dot com.
    Insert date Inserts today's date.
    Press Return key Presses Enter/Return.
    Press Escape key Presses Esc.

    System Naming Differences

    Command What it does Example / Notes
    System Settings The Settings app name changes by OS. On older OS it's "System Preferences".
    Open Spotlight Spotlight command phrasing changes by OS. Older OS uses "Search Spotlight for …".

    Finder Commands (import required)

    These phrases come from your exported Finder command set (Monterey 12.3). They work after importing that command file into Voice Control → Commands.

    About Finder
    • About Finder
    Add to Sidebar
    • Add to Side Bar
    • Add to Sidebar
    Application
    • Group By App
    • Group By Application
    as Columns
    • Display as Columns
    • Show as Columns
    • View as Columns
    as Gallery
    • Display as Gallery
    • Show as Gallery
    • View as Gallery
    as Icons
    • Display as Icons
    • Show as Icons
    • View as Icons
    as List
    • Display as List
    • Show as List
    • View as List
    Bring All to Front
    • Bring All to Front
    Clean Up
    • Clean Up
    Close Window
    • Close [This] Window
    Compress
    • Compress [This]
    • Compress These
    Customize Toolbar…
    • Customize Tool Bar
    • Customize Toolbar
    Date Created
    • Clean Up By Date Create It
    • Clean Up By Date Created
    • Group Stacks By Date Create It
    • Group Stacks By Date Created
    • Sort By Date Created
    Duplicate
    • Duplicate [This]
    • Duplicate These
    Eject
    • Eject [This]
    Emoji & Symbols
    • [Show] Emoji and Symbols
    Empty Trash…
    • Empty [the] Trash
    Enter Full Screen
    • Enter Full Screen
    Exit Full Screen
    • Exit Full Screen
    Find
    • Find
    Finder
    • [Begin] Slideshow [Selection]
    • [Select] Start Up Disk on Desktop
    • [Select] Startup Disk on Desktop
    • Add to Dock
    • Clean Up By Date Modified
    • Clean Up By Kind
    • Clean Up By Name
    • Clean Up By Size
    • Clean Up By Tags
    • Close All [Windows]
    • Connect to Server
    • Copy as Link
    • Copy as Path Name
    • Copy as Pathname
    • Copy File
    • Copy Files
    • Copy Item
    • Copy Items
    • Copy Path
    • Copy Paths
    • Cycle Through Windows
    • Delete Immediately
    • Deselect All
    • Duplicate Exactly
    • Empty Trash Without Prompt
    • Enclosing Folder
    • Enclosing Folder in New Window
    • Exit Tab Overview
    • Get Summary Info
    • Go to AirDrop [Folder]
    • Go to Applications [Folder]
    • Go to Computer [Folder]
    • Go to Desktop [Folder]
    • Go to Documents [Folder]
    • Go to Downloads [Folder]
    • Go to Folder
    • Go to Home [Folder]
    • Go to iCloud [Folder]
    • Go to Library [Folder]
    • Go to Network [Folder]
    • Go to Recents [Folder]
    • Go to Shared [Folder]
    • Go to Utilities [Folder]
    • Group By Date Last Open
    • Group By Date Last Opened
    • Group By Kind
    • Group By Name
    • Group Stacks By Date Added
    • Group Stacks By Date At It
    • Group Stacks By Date Last Open
    • Group Stacks By Date Last Opened
    • Group Stacks By Date Modified
    • Group Stacks By Kind
    • Group Stacks By Tags
    • Hide Path Bar
    • Hide Preview
    • Hide Side Bar
    • Hide Sidebar
    • Hide Status Bar
    • Hide Tab Bar
    • Hide Tool Bar
    • Hide Toolbar
    • Hide View Options
    • Minimize All
    • Move Item Here
    • Move Items Here
    • New Folder with Selected Items
    • New Folder with Selection
    • Open AirDrop [Folder]
    • Open and Close Window
    • Open Applications [Folder]
    • Open Computer [Folder]
    • Open Desktop [Folder]
    • Open Documents [Folder]
    • Open Downloads [Folder]
    • Open Home [Folder]
    • Open iCloud [Drive] [Folder]
    • Open in New Window and Close
    • Open Library [Folder]
    • Open Network [Folder]
    • Open Recents [Folder]
    • Open Shared [Folder]
    • Open Utilities [Folder]
    • Paste Exactly
    • Show [the] Inspector
    • Show [Window] Preview
    • Show All Tabs
    • Show Contents of Computer
    • Show Network Contents
    • Show Next Window
    • Show Path Bar
    • Show Path Input
    • Show Side Bar
    • Show Sidebar
    • Show Status Bar
    • Show Tab Bar
    • Show Tool Bar
    • Show Toolbar
    • Show View Options
    • Silently Empty Trash
    • Sort Alphabetically
    • Sort By Date Added
    • Sort By Date at it
    • Sort By Date Last Open
    • Sort By Date Last Opened
    • Sort by Date Modified
    • Sort By Kind
    • Sort By Name
    • Sort By None
    • Sort By Size
    • Sort By Tags
    • Toggle Path Bar
    • Toggle Preview
    • Toggle Side Bar
    • Toggle Sidebar
    • Toggle Stacks
    • Toggle Status Bar
    • Toggle Tab Bar
    • Toggle Tabs
    • Toggle Tool Bar
    • Toggle Toolbar
    • Use Stacks
    Get Info
    • Get Info
    Hide Finder
    • Hide [the] Finder
    Hide Others
    • Hide [the] Other Applications
    • Hide [the] Other Apps
    • Hide Others
    Hide Preview Options
    • Hide Preview Options
    Make Alias
    • Make Alias
    Merge All Windows
    • Merge All Windows
    Move Tab to New Window
    • Move Tab to New Window
    Move to Trash
    • Move to Trash
    New Finder Window
    • New Finder Window
    New Folder
    • New Folder
    New Smart Folder
    • New Smart Folder
    None
    • Group Stacks By None
    Open
    • Open [Selection]
    • Open [the] Selected Item
    • Open [the] Selected Items
    • Open These
    • Open This
    Open in New Tab
    • Open in New Tab
    Preferences…
    • [Open] [Finder] Preferences
    • Show [Finder] Preferences
    Print
    • Print [This]
    • Print These
    Quick Look
    • Quick Look [This]
    Rename…
    • Rename [This]
    • Rename These
    Replace Tiled Window
    • Replace Tiled Window
    Show All
    • Show All
    • Show All Applications
    • Show All Apps
    • Show Other Applications
    • Show Other Apps
    • Show Others
    Show Clipboard
    • Show [the] Clipboard
    Show Original
    • Show Original
    Show Preview Options
    • Show Preview Options
    Show Progress Window
    • Show Progress Window
    Snap to Grid
    • Sort By Snap to Grid
    Tags…
    • [Assign] Tags
    • Edit Tags
    Tile Window to Left Side of Screen
    • Move Window to Left Side of Screen
    • Tile Window to Left Side of Screen
    Tile Window to Right Side of Screen
    • Move Window to Right Side of Screen
    • Tile Window to Right Side of Screen
    Use Groups
    • Toggle Groups
    • Use Groups

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