How to

Voice prompts for Claude Code on Mac

Claude Code has built-in voice input: type /voice, then hold Space while you talk. It needs a Claude.ai login and doesn't work over SSH, in cloud sessions, or when Claude Code runs on an API key or Amazon Bedrock. In those cases, use dictation that runs on your Mac and types into the terminal.

Which option fits your setup

Claude Code details are from Anthropic's voice dictation docs (code.claude.com), checked November 13, 2026.

1. Use Claude Code's built-in /voice

1. Start Claude Code in your terminal and sign in with your Claude.ai account.
2. Run /voice to enable dictation.
3. Hold Space while you speak and release to stop. Prefer tapping? Run /voice tap: tap once to start and again to send.
4. Run /voice off to turn it off.

Anthropic's docs say the audio "streams … to Anthropic's servers" and is not processed locally.

2. When /voice isn't available

Many developers run Claude Code with an API key through their company, on Amazon Bedrock, or on a remote box over SSH. Anthropic's docs say voice isn't available in these setups. The workaround is to dictate on your Mac and let the text land in the terminal like typed input.

• Apple Dictation: free and built in. Turn it on in System Settings → Keyboard → Dictation. It doesn't remove filler words or learn your project's vocabulary. See Mac dictation shortcut and commands.
• A dictation app: cleaner text, a personal dictionary, and one shortcut across every app.

3. OneMax for Claude Code users

OneMax is a Mac dictation app. Press the global shortcut, describe the change you want, and cleaned-up text is pasted into the terminal running Claude Code, whether it's local, over SSH, or connected through an API key. A personal dictionary learns names like your services, libraries, and functions.

Every prompt is also saved to a cloud notebook. OneMax groups related prompts into topics and next steps, so a week of "fix the flaky test" and "why is checkout slow" turns into a list you can act on. OneMax also offers MCP access, so Claude Code can read and write your OneMax notes.

Trade-offs: OneMax transcription runs in the cloud, needs a connection, and requires macOS 14.4 or later. Free plan: 5,000 words per week. Pro has no weekly cap with fair use up to 4 hours per day, plus a 7-day free trial.

How to write a good spoken prompt for Claude Code

• Start with the outcome: "Add rate limiting to the login endpoint."
• Then the constraints: "Use the existing Redis client. Don't change the response format."
• End with how you'll check it: "Add a test that the sixth attempt in a minute returns 429."

Frequently asked questions

Does Claude Code support voice input?

Yes. Run /voice in Claude Code to turn on dictation, then hold Space while you speak, or switch to tap mode with /voice tap. Audio is streamed to Anthropic's servers for transcription.

Why is /voice not working in Claude Code?

According to Anthropic's docs, voice dictation requires signing in with a Claude.ai account. It is not available when Claude Code uses an Anthropic API key directly, Amazon Bedrock, or similar setups, and it does not work in cloud sessions or SSH sessions.

How can I dictate to Claude Code over SSH or with an API key?

Use dictation that runs on your Mac rather than inside Claude Code. Apple Dictation or a dictation app such as OneMax types the text into your terminal like keyboard input, so it works whatever Claude Code is connected to.

Is OneMax a Claude Code plugin?

No. OneMax is a Mac dictation app. It pastes text into whatever has focus, including the terminal running Claude Code, and saves each prompt to a cloud notebook. OneMax also offers MCP access so Claude Code can read and write your OneMax notes.

Also see: Speech to text in Cursor · Voice prompts for AI tools · Free dictation apps for Mac