Need a hand?
If you need a hand, find answers to the most common questions below — or reach us directly if you're still stuck.
Common questions
How do I start dictating?
Press ⌥ Space (Option-Space) anywhere on your Mac to start, and press it again to stop and insert. Prefer to hold? Switch to push-to-talk in the Control Panel and hold the hotkey while you speak. You can change the hotkey, and set a separate stop key, in the Control Panel.
Which permissions does WhisperType need, and why?
Microphone is required so WhisperType can hear your dictation. Accessibility is required to paste the transcription into the focused field (and for esc-to-cancel while another app is in front). Grant both under System Settings → Privacy & Security. Speech Recognition is optional and only powers the live preview of your words while you speak; decline it and dictation works as before. The Control Panel shows the live status of each with one-click buttons to the right settings pane.
It transcribes, but won't auto-paste after an update — how do I fix it?
macOS sometimes invalidates the Accessibility grant when an app's signature changes (common right after an update). Open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility, select WhisperType, click the – (minus) to remove it, then dictate again so macOS re-prompts. Your transcription always stays on the clipboard, so you can paste manually with ⌘V in the meantime.
Which model should I choose?
Small is the default and the best balance of speed and accuracy for most Macs. Choose Tiny or Base for quick notes and lower-RAM Macs, or Medium for long-form accuracy. If you dictate in a language other than English, pick Large v3 Turbo — it and Large v3 are the multilingual ones. You can switch anytime and manage what's on disk in the Models panel.
Why did my first load of Large Turbo take so long?
That's normal and it happens once. CoreML compiles a model for the Neural Engine the first time it is loaded, then caches the result — around 90 seconds for Large v3 Turbo against about 4 for Medium. Every load after that is under a second. The progress bar also tells you which phase you're in: Downloading model files and Loading into memory are separate steps with separate percentages.
How many free minutes do I have left today?
After the 14-day trial, WhisperType gives you 10 minutes of dictation a day, free forever. The badge at the top-left of the Control Panel shows what's left (“FREE 10m”), and so does the menu bar popover. Only audio you actually speak is counted — leaving the app open, the pause before it auto-stops, and anything you cancel with esc all cost nothing. It resets at local midnight.
Can I start dictation without the keyboard?
Yes. Turn on the floating mic button in the Control Panel and a round mic button sits above every app. Click it to start and stop, and drag it wherever it suits you — it stays there between launches.
The transcription repeats itself, or adds words I never said.
Whisper invents text when it is fed silence, so make sure auto-stop is on (Control Panel ▸ Audio & Input) — WhisperType trims the quiet from either end before transcribing, which removes the cause. If you dictate in a language other than English, also set the language explicitly in Text & Language rather than leaving it on automatic, and use one of the multilingual Large models.
How do I report a bug or ask for a feature?
Open the Control Panel and choose Feedback in the sidebar. You can send a bug report or a feature request, and attach screenshots or a zip (up to 15 MB) if showing it is easier than describing it. The panel lists exactly what is included before you press Send.
Does my Mac need to be online? Is my voice sent anywhere?
The only time WhisperType uses the network is the one-time model download. After that it works fully offline. Your audio is transcribed on-device on the Apple Neural Engine and is never written to disk or sent anywhere — there's no account and no analytics.
My Mac has no built-in microphone — can I still use it?
Yes — connect any external mic, a USB headset, or use an iPhone via Continuity. Macs without a built-in mic (Mac mini, Mac Studio, Mac Pro) just need an input device available; the Control Panel will show when a microphone is detected.
Can I get a refund if WhisperType doesn't work for my Mac?
Yes. Direct purchases from this site are backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee (1 month). If WhisperType isn't right for your setup, email contact@hanncrest.com with your order email or license key, and we will issue a full refund via Lemon Squeezy within 1–2 business days. For purchases made through the Mac App Store, refunds are handled directly by Apple at reportaproblem.apple.com. Read our full Refund Policy.
Still need help?
Send us a message and we'll get back to you, usually within a couple of business days. You can also use "Report a bug" inside the app.