Dictation not working after installing Sonoma 14.7

Sept 20: Both Dictation and Siri stopped working on my MacBook Air after “updating” to Sonoma 14.7

Sept 27: contacted Apple support. I was assigned to an “Apple Senior Advisor”. After dozens of hours on the phone since and running test after test after test, submitting multiple files, screenshots & videos, the Senior Advisor sent me the following email on October 16; “Engineering sent me an email stating they are working it”. Since I have an elbow injury and 90% of my correspondence was created by using dictation, this problem has caused serious problems for me.

Apple Engineering also “requested videos and log files of me demonstrating the issue and the process became so convoluted and exhausting”

I also will hear a sound, see a brief flash of a symbol and then nothing happens when I start to dictate. Dictation still working on my iPhone.

I have to strongly agree that “Apple is becoming more and more like Windows”. 

If this doesn't work, Force Quit Messages, and relaunch.

I just got off Apple Support with the same problem. Try System Settings > Keyboard > Dictation > Shortcut > Press Control Key Twice — that's what you must do to dictate. Apple is becoming more and more like Windows. We have to remember all these Keyboard Commands. Thankfully, on the iPhone Dictation remains the default setting.

Thank you @okclem. My internal microphone is definitely working too, and when I try to use dictation I have the same brief glimpse of it before it quits. Would you say your experience means that I could maybe buy some cheap external microphone (and any necessary adaptor), or perhaps see if I can borrow one, and then have a chance of dictation working again? Sounds worth a try to me!

Dear Enver, I have tried every combination one can think of, including "Force Quit Messages, and relaunch". It DOES NOT WORK. I appreciate your attempts to offer help, but please stop offering ineffective advice. DOES NOT WORK.

Francesca, did you try what I posted on Sep 26, 2024?

System Settings > Keyboard > Dictation > Shortcut > Press Control Key Twice

If this doesn't work, Force Quit Messages, and relaunch.