How to Get Rid of Microphone Icon on Mac

Having the voice control accessibility option turned on is a good way to edit text and interact with your Mac using just voice commands. However, when you use this feature, a microphone icon will pop up on the screen.

You can get rid of microphone icon on Mac by firstly opening the System Preference using the Apple Logo on the top-right corner of the desktop. Open the Accessibility tab. Look for the Voice Control tab under the Motor section. Simply Uncheck the box next to the Enable voice control option.  That is it.

This article details how you can get rid of the microphone icon on your screen and various other tips and tricks. 

How to Get Rid of Microphone Icon on Mac?

Getting rid of the microphone icon on your Mac requires you to turn off the voice control accessibility feature on your Mac. Read the instructions provided below to see how it is done. 

  • Open System Preferences by clicking the Apple logo from the Menu bar. 
  • Alternatively, you can also find a shortcut to the application on the Dock. 
  • Head over to the Accessibility tab. 
  • From the list on the left side of the window, under the Motor section, click on the Voice Control tab. 
  • Uncheck the box next to the Enable voice control option.
Get Rid of Microphone Icon on Mac
  • Now the microphone button should be removed from the screen. 

This is how to remove mic icon on mac.

Read How to Save a Voice Memo on Mac

How to Add Voice Control Commands on Mac?

You can see how to operate various commands and also add your own. Read the steps provided below to see how it is done. 

  • Head over to the System Preferences by clicking on the Apple logo on the Menu bar. 
  • Open the Accessibility tab. 
  • From the list on the left side of the window, under the Motor section, click on the Voice Control tab. 
  • Click on the Commands button from the bottom right part of the window. 
  • Here you will see a list of commands on the left side of the window; when you click on them, a guide to how they work will be displayed on the empty section on the right side of the window. 
  • You can use the check box before the commands to toggle them on or off. 
  • Click on the “+” icon from the bottom left corner of the window. 
  • A new pop-up window will be displayed with three sections; When I say, While using, and Perform. 
  • You need to enter the phrase you want to use in the When I say section. 
  • Next, choose whether you want the voice command to work with a particular application or any application in general. 
  • Lastly, enter the action you want the voice command to initiate in the Perform section. 
  • Now, click on Done to save your new voice command. 

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How to Enable Notifications When a Voice Command is Recognized on Mac?

While using the voice control feature on Mac, you can enable a setting for your Mac to notify you by playing a sound when a voice command gets successfully recognized. Read the instructions provided to see how it is done. 

  • Open System Preferences by clicking the Apple logo from the Menu bar. 
  • Alternatively, you can also find a shortcut to the application on the Dock. 
  • Head over to the Accessibility tab. 
  • From the list on the left side of the window, under the Motor section, click on the Voice Control tab. 
  • Next, check the box next to the Play sound when command is recognized option. 
  • Now your Mac will play a sound whenever a voice command is recognized. 

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How to Use The Zoom Accessibility Feature on Mac?

Mac allows for a lot of options to zoom in on your screen, using various shortcuts and variations, and types of zoom on different parts of the screen and even zoom in on the Touch Bar if your Mac has one. Read the following steps to see how to enable it. 

  • Open System Preferences by clicking on the Apple logo on the Menu bar. 
  • You can also use the System Preferences shortcut on the dock to do the same.
  •  Now, head over to the Accessibility tab. 
  • Under the Vision category, select Zoom.
  • Now, check the box next to the Use scroll gesture with the modifier keys to zoom option. 
  • You can choose between the Command, Control, and Option keys to be the modifier key to zoom in and out of the screen. 
  • Now all you have to do is hold down the modifier key you chose and scroll up and down using the trackpad or mouse. If you’re using a trackpad, make sure you use a two-finger gesture to scroll up and down. 
  • Alternatively, you can also use shortcuts to use the zoom features described above. 
  • In the Zoom section, check the box next to the Use keyboard shortcuts to zoom option. The keyboard shortcut to zoom in is  Option-Command-=, and the shortcut to zoom out is Option-command and –. You can also toggle zoom using the Option-Command-8 shortcut.
  • As you might have noticed, there is a section named Zoom style
  • This can be used to choose between different types of zoom on your Mac. 
  • Click on the drop-down menu next to the Zoom style option and select between full screen, split-screen, and picture-in-picture options. 
  • Next, if you have a touch bar on your Mac, you have an option to zoom into that as well. 
  • Check the box next to the Enable touch bar zoom option. 
  • Now, press and hold your finger anywhere on the touch bar, and a magnified version of it will be displayed at the bottom of the screen. 
  • Scroll your finger on the touch bar to move between different items. 
  • If you want to choose and select a particular option, move your finger over it and wait till the circle turns completely white. Then you can adjust or use that option. 
  • You can also hold down the Command key and use two fingers to pinch open or close to increase or decrease the zoom of the touch bar.

Conclusion

That’s it for this article, folks. Now you know how to get rid of the microphone icon on your screen. Be sure to check out the other tips and tricks mentioned here. 

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