Privacy & Help

Dictation runs on your Mac. QuickTranscribe does not upload your recordings or transcripts to a speech service. Updates and downloads use the internet.

Last updated October 4, 2026

Privacy

Browser demo

The optional website demo runs a small English speech model in your browser, separately from the Mac app. Choosing Load voice demo downloads speech files from this website. Only Start recording requests microphone access. You can record up to 20 seconds, stop sooner, or close the demo to cancel.

Audio and results stay in browser memory; they are not uploaded or saved as a recording history. Closing the demo or leaving the tab stops capture and clears the session. Copy text puts the result on your clipboard, where other apps and clipboard services may retain it. Clearing the demo does not clear copied text. Your browser may cache downloaded speech files; use its cached-files clearing controls to remove them. Hosting still receives the connection data described below when files are downloaded. The smaller demo model can be less accurate than the model in the Mac app.

On-device transcription

QuickTranscribe uses WhisperKit and speech recognition files included with the app. It does not send recordings or transcripts to a transcription service. Text inserted into another app is handled by that app, including its storage and syncing.

If required speech files cannot be loaded, QuickTranscribe may try to download them from Hugging Face. This is separate from transcription and does not send your recordings or transcripts.

Temporary audio

QuickTranscribe creates temporary audio files while recording and processing. It tries to delete them after processing or cancellation and checks for leftover recordings at startup. A crash, force quit, or deletion error can leave files behind. Cleanup is not guaranteed immediate or secure erasure.

Recovery text and clipboard

Your latest transcript is available through Copy Last Text. It stays in app memory until new text replaces it or you quit or restart. QuickTranscribe has no saved transcript history.

QuickTranscribe usually types into the selected field. In some apps, it pastes through the clipboard, then tries to restore the previous contents if they have not changed. A force quit can interrupt that cleanup. Copy Last Text, Copy, and Splashtop transfer actions leave text on the clipboard without a timed removal, independently of in-app recovery.

Clipboard managers, cross-device clipboard services, remote desktop software, and receiving apps may read, retain, or sync text. Restoring the clipboard cannot retract copies already taken by another app or service.

Updates and hosting

Automatic update checks and downloads are off by default. Turn them on in Settings > About, or choose Check for Updates... to check manually. Previously selected update preferences are kept. These requests contact the update host, not a speech service, and include no recordings, transcripts, or system profile.

The website and downloads use Cloudflare. Site visits, downloads, and update requests expose connection data, including your IP address and request details, to the host. On-device transcription does not mean hosting processes no data.

We use aggregate hosting request totals to understand download traffic and delivery errors. These totals are not counts of individual people or successful installations. QuickTranscribe does not send usage analytics, recordings, transcripts, clipboard contents, or an installation identifier to us. We do not add analytics cookies or a tracking SDK to the app or website.

Your website appearance choice is saved in this browser, not sent to us. Choosing System clears that preference and follows your device's appearance.

Permissions and diagnostics

Microphone access allows recording. Accessibility access supports dictation shortcuts and text insertion. The current app does not need Input Monitoring for dictation.

Local logs in ~/Library/Logs/QuickTranscribe contain operational details such as timings, audio levels, transcript lengths, and destination app identifiers. Errors can include paths or other context. Logs rotate by size, not age. Review them before sharing; Clear Log is in Settings > Advanced. Clearing logs does not clear copied text or recordings.

Update diagnostics stay on your Mac and are not uploaded automatically. They record events such as a failed check or an update waiting for dictation, using fixed event names and recognized error codes. Other log entries can contain more context, so review the file before sharing it.

Help

Need a hand?

Email support@quicktranscribe.app with your macOS version, QuickTranscribe version, and what happened.

We receive your email address, message, and any attachments you choose to send through our email providers. Don't include passwords, private recordings, or transcripts. Review any logs or screenshots before sharing them.

Why is dictation still preparing?

Let Preparing dictation... finish while the app checks its speech files. The timer shows elapsed time, not download progress or time remaining. If you see Dictation unavailable, choose Try Again; otherwise, try recording again. Check Settings > Advanced > Speech recognition. Reinstall QuickTranscribe if required files are missing or cannot be verified.

Why won't recording or my shortcut work?

Check your microphone in Settings > General and speak a short test. Use Run Setup Assistant... to review Microphone and Accessibility permissions; follow any restart prompt. You do not need Input Monitoring. For an unavailable or conflicting shortcut, choose another in Settings > Shortcuts.

How do I recover text that wasn't inserted?

Check for partial text first to avoid duplicates. Choose Copy Last Text in the menu bar menu or Copy Text in the recovery prompt, then paste manually. Do this before quitting or starting another dictation. Next time, click the destination field before recording and keep it focused until insertion finishes. Insertion is not guaranteed in every app or field.

How do I paste into Splashtop?

Click the remote field before recording. In Ready for Splashtop, review the text, release the shortcut keys, then choose Paste in Splashtop or press Return. Use Copy to paste manually. A closed dialog does not confirm delivery; check the remote field before retrying. Clipboard transfer depends on Splashtop.

Settings > Advanced > Automatic paste in Splashtop is experimental and off by default. It tries one paste; the dialog may briefly appear. Focus changes or extra input can leave it open for confirmation. Use its controls or turn the option off for manual transfer.

Why can't I check for updates?

Wait for preparation, dictation, or setup to finish, then try Check for Updates.... An update may wait for current work to finish; follow its prompts and use the same menu item to continue a paused update. Some copies instead show Updates are unavailable for this copy of QuickTranscribe.