Move from cloud to local dictation
Choose and download a local speech model, recreate the vocabulary and text expansions you need, and test the same writing tasks before retiring the cloud workflow. Check transcription, cleanup, sync, and the destination app separately; moving one stage does not move the others.
By WhisperJot · Documentation reviewed
Map the stages you currently use
List what your current app does beyond transcription. Context-aware rewriting, cross-device history, integrations, or commands may have different equivalents. Keep the comparison specific to the features you actually use.
| Stage | Check when moving |
|---|---|
| Speech recognition | Select Jot Local or Jot Local Pro and complete its model download. |
| Text cleanup | Choose local rules or configure an optional local LLM. |
| History and synchronization | Review retention and optional sync settings separately. |
| Writing destination | A cloud editor can still upload the resulting text. |
Prepare and compare
- Install WhisperJot and finish sign-in, permissions, and the selected local model download.
- Recreate a few recurring terms and one text shortcut. Keep exports from the old app as references rather than assuming automatic import.
- Dictate an ordinary message and a longer passage in your normal editor. Record waiting time and correction effort.
- Disconnect all network paths and repeat in a local document. Diagnose model, account, and cleanup failures separately.
Before switching: Current app and features I use: [list] Local model selected: [name] Vocabulary and snippets recreated: [list] Online comparison: [observations] Disconnected check: [observations] Capabilities still missing: [list]
Finish the transition deliberately
A successful offline trial shows that the tested configuration works without connectivity. It does not audit connected traffic or prove that a destination app never syncs. Optional cloud transcription remains a separate choice in WhisperJot.
Local account access needs periodic verification, so plan for reconnecting. Once the replacement meets your needs, use your old provider's own controls to manage renewal and retained data. Installing another dictation app does not cancel a subscription or delete prior recordings.
Questions
Will switching delete my old cloud recordings?
No. Review and manage retained data through the old provider. Moving your future transcription path does not change data already stored elsewhere.
Can I keep a cloud option for some tasks?
Yes, if you choose to. Keep the selected engine explicit, understand the different data flow, and compare results under the settings you intend to use.
Sources and related guides
Product behavior is based on the documentation below, reviewed 2026-09-09. Examples are authored illustrations; measurement worksheets are for your own observations.
- Local engines and optional cloud features
- Account access and offline use
- Cleanup levels and local LLM setup
- Engine selection