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Setup / Guide 03

Fix Permissions and Choose Shortcuts

Grant microphone and accessibility access, choose a recording shortcut, and decide when to use profile-specific hotkeys.

This guide is for anyone who can open TypingVoi but cannot record, cannot insert text where the cursor is, or is still deciding which shortcut setup makes sense. It walks through the two macOS permissions TypingVoi needs and the shortcut choices that affect daily use.

1. Open the right settings first

Most setup problems for recording and insertion are in the System pane of TypingVoi Settings.

  1. Open TypingVoi from the menu bar.
  2. Open Settings.
  3. Select System.
  4. Find the Permissions & Shortcuts card.

Screenshot placeholder: System settings permission section showing Microphone, Accessibility Typing, Main recording shortcut, and Hold shortcut to keep recording

If you are setting a shortcut for one specific workflow, open that profile instead and go to Profile & Output.

2. Fix microphone access

TypingVoi needs microphone access for every live recording. If this permission is missing, the app cannot hear you no matter which model or shortcut you choose.

  1. In System > Permissions & Shortcuts, find Microphone.
  2. Click Request.
  3. Accept the macOS prompt if it appears.
  4. If you previously denied access, open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone and enable TypingVoi manually.

Use this check after granting access:

  • Start a short recording and speak one sentence.
  • If TypingVoi still does not react, quit and reopen the app after changing the macOS permission.
  • If you use an external mic, confirm it is the active input source in the same System pane.

3. Fix accessibility typing access

TypingVoi needs Accessibility Typing permission if you want it to insert text into the front app for you. Without it, recording can still work, but direct typing at the cursor may fail.

  1. In System > Permissions & Shortcuts, find Accessibility Typing.
  2. Click Request.
  3. Let macOS open the Accessibility permission panel.
  4. Turn on TypingVoi in System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility.
  5. Return to TypingVoi and test insertion in a normal text field.

Accessibility access matters most when you use Insert at Cursor output. If you prefer to paste manually, Clipboard Only can still be a reliable fallback.

4. Choose the main recording shortcut

The Main recording shortcut is the default shortcut you can use from anywhere on your Mac. For most people, this should be the first shortcut they configure.

Screenshot placeholder: hotkey recorder control in the System pane while recording a new main shortcut

  1. In System > Permissions & Shortcuts, click the Main recording shortcut recorder.
  2. Press the key combination you want to use.
  3. Press Escape if you want to cancel and try again.
  4. Test the shortcut in a simple text field before relying on it in real work.

Choose a shortcut that is:

  • Easy to hold down without strain
  • Unlikely to conflict with app shortcuts you already use
  • Simple enough to remember without looking at the menu bar

If you only use one profile, the main shortcut is usually all you need.

5. Set the hold-to-keep-recording threshold

Hold shortcut to keep recording controls when push-to-talk turns into a hands-free recording. This is useful if you want to start by holding the shortcut, then keep speaking after you release it.

  1. Stay in System > Permissions & Shortcuts.
  2. Adjust the Hold shortcut to keep recording slider.
  3. Test it with a short recording.

Use these settings as a practical starting point:

  • Disabled if you want strict push-to-talk behavior every time
  • 1-2 seconds if you want a fast way to switch into longer dictation
  • 3+ seconds if you often trigger the shortcut briefly and want to avoid accidental hold mode

If the app keeps staying in recording mode longer than you expect, raise the threshold or disable it.

6. Decide whether you need a profile-specific shortcut

Profile quick-start shortcut is different from the main shortcut. The main shortcut starts recording with your usual active profile. A profile-specific shortcut starts recording with one exact profile.

You set this in a profile's Profile & Output section, not in the global System pane.

Use the main shortcut when:

  • You mostly dictate in one style
  • You want the simplest setup
  • You are still learning the app

Use a profile-specific shortcut when:

  • You switch between clearly different workflows
  • You want one shortcut for notes and another for polished writing
  • You use app-based profile activation and want a manual override

Multiple profiles are a Pro feature, so profile-specific shortcuts matter most if you are using Pro or the trial with more than one profile.

7. Run one final check

Before moving on, test the full path once:

  1. Confirm Microphone is allowed.
  2. Confirm Accessibility Typing is allowed if you want direct insertion.
  3. Trigger your main shortcut.
  4. Speak one or two short sentences.
  5. Release the shortcut and confirm the text appears where you expect.

If recording works but insertion does not, the issue is usually accessibility permission or your output mode choice rather than the model itself.

Related guides

Best next step: open the menu bar workflow guide and test your shortcut in a real note, email, or document.