Voice commands

Voice commands are separate from voice typing: use the command hotkey (default ⌃⌥C). After ASR, the app matches your dictionary → the built-in dictionary, then optionally an intent LLM, then runs a hotkey / shell action.

Master switch

Path: Settings → Voice commands

Enable voice commands (voiceCommandsEnabled, default on)
When off: the command hotkey, history re-run, and related deeplinks will not start voice commands; voice typing / translation are unaffected.
Actions, resolution, and provider below can still be preconfigured; they apply as soon as you turn the switch back on.

Starter

Path: Settings → Voice commands → Starter

Apply actions and built-in packs in one tap, then adjust cards individually.

Preset	Effect
Safe	Edit hotkeys only; intent model off; only the Editing pack
Q&A	Floating answers only; Trial / Pro turns the intent model on; built-in packs off
Full	Hotkeys + insert + floating answer + rewrite + open apps + Shortcuts; all packs; shell stays off

Actions

Path: Settings → Voice commands → Actions

Tap a card to add or remove an action type. Removed types are skipped by the local dictionary and are not returned by the intent model.

Card	Meaning	Example	Default
Allow hotkeys	Inject keyboard shortcuts. Expanding the card shows Confirm dangerous hotkeys	“copy” → `⌘C` (built-in); “favorites bar” → `⌘⇧B` (user dictionary)	On
Allow text insert	Insert a phrase at the caret	“insert email” → inserts a preset address (user dictionary)	On
Allow floating answer	Show Q&A in a floating window	“explain DNS in one sentence” → answer in the HUD (intent model)	On
Rewrite when text is selected	Trial / Pro; needs the intent model	Select text, then say “make it formal” (intent model)	On
Allow open app / URL	Launch an app by name or an https / mailto URL — not shell	“open Terminal” (built-in); “open GitHub” → `https://github.com` (user dictionary)	On
Allow Shortcuts	Run an existing item in Shortcuts.app	“run daily report” → runs the shortcut named “Daily report” (user dictionary)	On
Allow shell commands	Trial / Pro; expanding the card shows Confirm shell commands. See Shell commands	“what time is it” → runs `date`, with confirmation first	Off

The bundled dictionary only covers hotkey and open app actions; examples for the other five types have to come from the user dictionary or the intent model.

Built-in packs

Tap a card to add or remove a built-in phrase group. Removed packs no longer match in the bundled dictionary; your custom dictionary is unchanged. All four packs are on by default.

Card	Example phrases
Editing	copy, paste, undo, save
Windows & tabs	close, new, reload, next tab
Open apps	open Safari / Finder / Terminal (needs Allow open app / URL, not shell)
App-specific	frontmost-app phrases (back, address bar, sidebar, …)

Command dictionary (resolution)

Match order

Exact first, then fuzzy. Within each pass:

User · frontmost-app scoped (enabled)
User · global (enabled)
Built-in · frontmost app (apps in CommandRegistry.json)
Built-in · global

Your entries override the same phrase in the built-in dictionary.

User dictionary

Settings → Voice commands → Command Dictionary opens the editor (stored in local UserDefaults — no network):

Phrases: comma / semicolon / newline separated, e.g. refresh, reload
Action: hotkey, insert, open app / URL, Shortcuts, or shell (Trial/Pro and shell allowed)
Scope: optional Bundle ID; empty = global
Enable / disable, click to edit, delete

One ready-to-copy sample per action type:

Phrase(s)	Action	Scope	Required capability
`insert email`	Insert text `you@example.com`	Global	Allow text insert
`GitHub`	Open app / URL `https://github.com`	Global	Allow open app / URL
`screen OCR`	Shortcut `OCR`	Global	Allow Shortcuts
`what time is it`	Shell `date`	Global	Allow shell commands (Trial / Pro)
`favorites bar`	Hotkey `⌘⇧B`	`com.apple.Safari`	Allow hotkeys

“Floating answer” and “Rewrite selection” are not user-dictionary actions — the intent model is the only source for those two.

Your entries override the same phrase in the built-in dictionary. Built-in phrases follow Built-in packs on the Voice commands page.

Built-in dictionary

Bundled CommandRegistry.json (Bundle.module). There is no in-app editor for that JSON file — use the user dictionary or the intent model for free-form phrases.

In total there are 108 built-in entries: 41 global (mostly hotkeys; open-app phrases use the open action) plus 67 app-specific overlays across 9 apps. Full list: Command reference. Overview:

Category	Example phrases
Editing	copy, paste, undo, select all, save, save as
Find & reload	find, find next, refresh, hard / force reload
Windows / tabs	new, close, next/previous tab, switch app, fullscreen
Format & keys	bold, italic, underline, return, space, tab, escape, delete…
Open apps (open)	open Terminal / Finder / System Settings / Safari / Chrome / Notes

Open-app phrases need Allow open app / URL — not Trial/Pro shell. User-dictionary shell actions still need Trial / Pro and Allow shell commands (see Shell).

App-specific (apps) covers common frontmost apps such as Safari, Chrome, Arc, Edge, VS Code, Cursor, Finder, Terminal, and Slack (reload, tabs, address bar, back/forward, …).

Prefer local dictionary

When on, a dictionary hit (your entries + built-in) skips the intent model, reducing latency and API calls.

Intent model

Trial / Pro only (LicenseFeature.intentModel). Free keeps the local command dictionary only.

When enabled, phrases that miss the dictionary can go to an LLM for intent (BYOK). Separate from text processing / polish (shared keychain possible, separate toggle). Selection rewrite uses the same intent credentials and the same license gate.

Path: Settings → Voice commands → Intent model section.

vs voice typing

	Voice typing	Voice command
Default hotkey	`⌃⌥Space`	`⌃⌥C`
Result	Insert text	Run hotkey / shell
Pipeline	Polish, replacements, …	User/built-in dictionary → intent

Resolve source in history

Command history can show short resolve badges: Dictionary / Intent model / Manual (localRegistry / llm / manual).