First run

This section takes you from a freshly installed app to your first successful dictation.

1. Open the app

Launch Speech Dock from your applications menu (Linux) or the Applications folder (macOS). On first start the app prepares everything it needs to work right on your device — this may take a few seconds.

2. Grant permissions

• Microphone — needed so the app can hear your speech. The system usually asks for this on first launch.
• macOS additionally asks for the Accessibility permission — needed so the hotkey works in any app and text is inserted automatically.

See Microphone and Hotkeys for details.

3. Do your first dictation

1. Open any text field (notes, messenger, document).
2. Hold the hotkey and say a short phrase.
3. Release the key — the text appears in the active field.

4. What you should see

• the app opens without errors;
• the microphone is selected correctly;
• a recording indicator appears during dictation;
• text is inserted into the active field.

What's next

• Set up input device detection — Microphone.
• Get to know the hotkey — Hotkeys.
• Turn on automatic transcript cleanup — Text improvement.
• If something doesn't work — Troubleshooting.