Install & permissions

Sales paused

VoiceHotkey sales and installer downloads are temporarily paused. Check the download status page. Existing customers can keep using the app; license activation and support remain available.

Follow the steps below to install and grant access. Figures are operation diagrams explaining steps and permission purposes; the downloaded build and your macOS version determine the actual interface.

Requirements

• macOS 14 or later
• The current 0.9.5 installer requires macOS 14+ and supports Apple Silicon Macs only. An Intel installer has not been published. Optional local models have additional hardware requirements.
• Optional: ASR / LLM API keys (BYOK)
• Real dictation needs: Microphone + Accessibility
• Apple Speech also needs: System Settings → Privacy & Security → Speech Recognition

1. Check installer availability

Installer downloads and sales are temporarily paused. See the current status. If you already have an installer, continue below; license activation and support remain available.

2. Install to a stable path

1. Drag into Applications
   Drag VoiceHotkey.app into Applications, or into ~/Applications.

2. Eject the DMG (optional)
   Keep the DMG as a backup if you like.

3. Remember the path
   Always launch from the same location, e.g.

   • /Applications/VoiceHotkey.app
   • or ~/Applications/VoiceHotkey.app

Install from DMG into Applications (operation diagram)

Use a stable install and launch path (operation diagram)

Don’t run long-term from Downloads

Launching from ~/Downloads or a temp folder makes macOS treat Accessibility as a different app after moves or re-downloads — hotkeys “randomly” stop working. Install to Applications first, then grant access.

3. First launch

First opening of an unnotarized build

Install into Applications, then try opening the app. For an unidentified-developer or cannot-check-for-malware alert, verify the download source, then open System Settings → Privacy & Security, find the VoiceHotkey block, choose Open Anyway, and confirm the prompt. Your login password or Touch ID may be required. Apple’s official steps。

For a damaged-app or will-damage-your-computer alert, stop and check the download and source. Managed Macs may require administrator approval. Try voice typing successfully before buying Pro.

Operation diagram: install into Applications, try opening, then allow this app in Privacy & Security. Follow the interface shown on your Mac.

1. Open the app
   From Launchpad or Finder. If macOS blocks it, verify the download source and system message, then follow the applicable Privacy & Security flow.

2. Check the menu bar
   A mic-style icon should appear on the right. If missing, check menu-bar overflow or that the app is still running.

3. Finish onboarding
   This release uses Quick setup: welcome → permissions and preparation → first sentence → completion. Start with Apple Speech, which needs no API key; configure Bailian, text polishing and translation after a successful first input. You can start an optional five-second microphone test and choose an input device on the preparation page. Practice shows your actual hotkey, recording mode and input progress. The guide checks permissions, an available microphone, and speech assets. It explains required downloads and shows their progress. Success appears after spoken text is actually inserted into the practice field; optional settings and Pro follow. Closing pauses the guide and saves progress. Continue from Settings → General → First-run guide → Reopen setup guide.

Menu bar entry and app status (operation diagram)

Complete onboarding and permission checks (operation diagram)

4. Grant Accessibility

Needed for global hotkeys, inserting text at the caret, and key injection. Without it, the hotkey usually does nothing.

1. Open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility.
2. Click + (or unlock) and add VoiceHotkey.app.
3. Confirm the path matches the app you actually run.
4. Turn the switch on.
5. If you see multiple “VoiceHotkey” rows: remove the old ones, keep only the current path, then quit and reopen the app.

Grant Accessibility to the current app (operation diagram)

Open from the app

Settings → General (or onboarding) usually has a button that jumps to Accessibility. After granting, the menu bar should stop warning “Need Accessibility”.

5. Grant Microphone

Real dictation requires microphone access. New installations default to real recording, and current Settings has no Demo switch.

1. Open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone.
2. Enable VoiceHotkey.
3. Allow the system prompt on first recording if it appears.
4. For external mics, check System Settings → Sound → Input. Use the same device in app General if a mic picker is shown.

Grant microphone access and check input device (operation diagram)

5b. Speech Recognition (Apple engine only)

Apple Speech / SpeechAnalyzer also needs Speech Recognition (SFSpeechRecognizer). Cloud ASR and independent on-device ASR do not require this permission.

1. Open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Speech Recognition.
2. Allow VoiceHotkey.
3. If a language is unavailable, follow app / system guidance to prepare resources or choose an engine that supports it.

5c. Optional Reminders and Calendar access

Only voice actions that create reminders or calendar events request the corresponding full access when needed. Ordinary dictation does not require them; denying access prevents those actions. Window control also uses Accessibility. See Voice commands.

6. Permission checklist

Check	Expect
Menu bar icon	Visible, menu opens
Settings → General · permissions	Accessibility + mic granted; Speech Recognition if using Apple
Hotkey press	Overlay / status change
Install path	Matches Accessibility entry

Still broken? See Troubleshooting.

Next

First-time setupEngine, shortcuts, output, and a real typing test.

Shortcuts & recordingTap / hold, Quick Send, cancel.