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[MacOS & Web] Is it possible to disable dictation, or change the keyboard shortcut? Interferes with grave accent on UK keyboard.

Anonymous
2023-12-04T15:26:00+00:00

I need to be able to either disable dictation, or change the keystroke that triggers it. I need to do this for both desktop and web apps (any that use dictation) running on MacOS.

I need to do this because the MacOS keystroke for the grave accent (e.g. à) on a UK keyboard is [opt] + [`], which is also the trigger for dictation. The keystroke is captured by dictation every time and is preventing me from being able to type normally. This issue has affected desktop apps for a while now, and now it appears to affect web apps too.

To be clear, changing OS keyboard settings to another region is not an option; I am in the UK, writing bilingually in both EN and GD (a regional language which uses graves) and I need to be able to move freely move between both languages. In any case I don't want to use keyboard settings that don't reflect my physical keyboard layout.

I am aware you can alternatively get accented characters on MacOS by holding down the character you wish to accent, but this is incredibly onerous when typing at length in a language that uses this accent frequently, so that's not a solution either.

To my knowledge, it is not possible to directly edit the keystroke for the grave accent in MacOS. I believe I have exhausted all solutions for this.

Even if this needs disabled by our admin, I'm sure I can get this done if anyone can explain how.

Any help greatly appreciated.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | For business | MacOS

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  1. Bob Jones AKA CyberTaz MVP 435K Reputation points
    2023-12-04T17:16:12+00:00

    The Preferences for Mac's Dictation feature are located in
    > System Preferences> Keyboard- Dictation. That may vary a bit depending on specific edition of macOS but should point you in the right direction. If not in Finder go to Help> macOS Help & search using dictation as the criteria.

    However, the default is F5 [Microphone] or fn+F5 depending on Keyboard configuration. I don't find the ~/ key involved even if I choose the British or British - PC Input Source, so I don't see how **Option+** could be triggering it in the desktop software unless it's been customized.

    In the web app, though, Option+` is assigned to the Dictate command but the web app shortcut for that feature cannot be modified or disabled.

    I'd suggest using either Contact Support or Feedback on the in the web app Help tab.

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  1. Anonymous
    2024-04-18T06:15:08+00:00

    I have the same problem. It would be good to be able to disable dictation in Outlook because this is extremely annoying...

    2 people found this answer helpful.
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  2. Anonymous
    2024-03-20T15:47:48+00:00

    Hi everyone,

    I have had the same issue (Web Outlook on Mac). For some reason, I experience this issue on Firefox but not when I am using Chrome. So try using a different browser.

    Best,

    Rudy

    2 people found this answer helpful.
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  3. Anonymous
    2023-12-14T14:24:06+00:00

    I am suddenly having this problem as well, and it is infuriating. It's really not possible to turn it off in the web interface?

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  4. Anonymous
    2023-12-11T11:26:21+00:00

    Thanks. For the desktop apps you are correct, sorry. I was experiencing this problem via office apps loaded within the Teams desktop app, but I realise this is in effect loading the web apps in a browser.

    This is a real problem with regard to Outlook. The web app is the only way I can access GD proofing tools (via FF extensions), as MS does not offer GD proofing on MacOS (even though it does on Windows), and OS level proofing doesn't work in MS apps.

    I will contact support but I think we both know it will come to nothing. Thanks anyway.

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