Setup Guide

Install VoiceMe, grant the two required permissions, and download the AI models. Takes about 5 minutes on a fast connection.

Part 1 — Install the app
1
Download VoiceMe

Click the button below to download the VoiceMe DMG installer. The file is about 30 MB.

Download VoiceMe

Requires macOS 14 (Sonoma) or later · Apple Silicon (M1 or newer)

2
Open the DMG and drag to Applications

Double-click the downloaded VoiceMe.dmg file. A Finder window will appear showing the VoiceMe app and an Applications folder shortcut.

VoiceMe — Finder
VoiceMe.app
Applications

Drag the VoiceMe icon onto the Applications folder. macOS will copy the app. Once done, eject the DMG (right-click → Eject).

3
Allow VoiceMe past the macOS security gate

VoiceMe is distributed outside the App Store. macOS will block it the first time you try to open it. This is normal — here is how to allow it.

Step A — Right-click the app and choose Open

VoiceMe
Open
Get Info
Move to Trash

Right-click (or Control-click) VoiceMe in the Applications folder → click Open

Step B — Click Open in the confirmation dialog

🔒
"VoiceMe" is from an unidentified developer
macOS cannot verify the developer of "VoiceMe". Are you sure you want to open it?
Cancel
Open

Click Open. VoiceMe will launch. You will not see this warning again.

Already double-clicked and got "cannot be opened"?

If you double-clicked VoiceMe and macOS showed a blocked message, follow this path instead:

Go to System SettingsPrivacy & Security → scroll down to the Security section → click "Open Anyway" next to the VoiceMe message. Then try opening the app again.
Part 2 — Grant permissions
4
Grant Microphone access

VoiceMe will ask for microphone access the first time you press the Voice → Text hotkey. Click Allow in the prompt, or follow the manual steps below.

🎙
"VoiceMe" would like access to the microphone
Allow VoiceMe to use the microphone for voice to text dictation.
Don't Allow
Allow

If you need to enable it manually:

Open: System Settings Privacy & Security Microphone

VoiceMe

Toggle VoiceMe on (green). If VoiceMe is not listed, open the app first and press the Voice → Text hotkey once.

5
Grant Accessibility access

Accessibility permission lets VoiceMe detect your global hotkey in any app and paste text at your cursor. macOS will prompt you automatically on first use.

Accessibility is required for hotkeys to work. Without it, pressing your hotkey will have no effect.

How to enable:

Open: System Settings Privacy & Security Accessibility

VoiceMe

Toggle VoiceMe on (green). You may need to unlock the pane with your Mac password first. If prompted to quit and reopen VoiceMe, do so.

Part 3 — First-time configuration
6
Download the AI models

VoiceMe uses local AI models for transcription and text-to-speech. The models are not bundled with the app — they download once and are stored on your Mac. An internet connection is required for this step only.

How to download the models:

  1. Click the VoiceMe icon in the menu bar
  2. Click Settings (gear icon)
  3. Open the Models tab
  4. Click Download next to each model
VoiceMe — Settings — Models
Parakeet Unified 0.6B
Speech-to-text · ~450 MB
Downloaded
Kokoro TTS
Text-to-speech · ~300 MB
Downloads happen in the background. You can close Settings and reopen it to check progress. Models are stored in ~/.cache/huggingface/hub and only download once.
7
Set your hotkeys

Go to Settings → General → Hotkeys and assign your preferred keyboard shortcuts for Voice → Text and Text → Voice. The app will suggest defaults.

You are all set! Hold or press your Voice → Text hotkey in any app and start speaking. Hold mode: release when done. Toggle mode: press again to stop. Text is pasted at your cursor automatically.
Using VoiceMe
How recording works

Your Voice → Text hotkey does two things depending on how you press it — no extra settings required.

HOLD Hold the key while speaking. Let go when you're done. Text appears at your cursor the moment you release.
TOGGLE Tap the key to start. Speak as long as you need. Tap the same key again when you're finished — text pastes automatically.

One key. Two behaviours. Pick whichever feels natural in the moment — you don't have to commit to one.

Your hotkeys

VoiceMe has two hotkeys — one for voice to text, one for text to voice. Set them in SettingsGeneralHotkeys. Choose any key combination that doesn't clash with your other apps. The Escape key cancels a recording that's in progress.

Personal dictionary

If a word keeps coming out wrong — your name, a product name, a technical term — add it once and VoiceMe corrects it on every transcription. Go to SettingsDictionaryWord Replacements and tap +. Enter what the model gets wrong on the left, and what you actually want on the right. Matching is case-insensitive and whole-word only, so it won't accidentally change partial matches.

Grammar correction

Turn this on and VoiceMe runs a second pass over your transcription before pasting — it fixes punctuation, cleans up sentence structure, and removes repeated words. Enable it in SettingsGeneralGrammar Correction, then download the model (~300 MB, one time). Expect 1–3 extra seconds per dictation. Turn it off any time to go back to instant paste.

Troubleshooting

Hotkey does nothing

Accessibility permission is likely missing. Go to System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility and enable VoiceMe. Restart the app after granting access.

Overlay appears but no transcription

The Parakeet model may not be downloaded. Open Settings → Models and download it. Also check that Microphone permission is granted.

"VoiceMe cannot be opened" on first launch

Go to System Settings → Privacy & Security → scroll to Security → click "Open Anyway". Then try launching again.

Text pastes in the wrong app

Click into your target text field before pressing the hotkey. VoiceMe pastes at whatever cursor position macOS reports the moment recording stops.

Grammar correction is slow

The first use after launch is slower while the model loads into memory. Subsequent dictations are faster. If speed matters more, turn grammar correction off in Settings → General.

VoiceMe doesn't appear in the Accessibility or Microphone list

Launch VoiceMe first, then open System Settings → Privacy & Security. An app must be opened at least once before it appears in permission lists.

Word replacements aren't working

Check that the phrase on the left side exactly matches what VoiceMe transcribes — including any quirky spelling the model produces. Matching is case-insensitive but must be a full word, not part of a longer word.

Still stuck? Email support@voicemeapp.com and include your macOS version and a description of the issue.

On this page
Part 1 — Install Part 2 — Permissions Part 3 — First launch Using VoiceMe Troubleshooting