Push-to-talk, toggle, and wake word
Push-to-talk is the default on Mac: hold, speak, release to insert. Toggle starts and stops with a tap. Always-on wake word uses Hey Jot and local engines only — never the opt-in Jot Cloud engine. An optional floating mic button needs no keyboard permission.
What recording modes does WhisperJot offer?
On macOS, modes are Push-to-talk (default: hold, speak, release to insert), Toggle (tap to start, tap again to stop), and Always-on wake word. The default wake phrase is Hey Jot. Wake word works with local engines only, never with the opt-in Jot Cloud engine.
On Windows, Hold chord is the default (hold and tap both work) and Tap-toggle is available when low-level hooks are blocked. Each dictation still has a 30-minute hard cap, with an HUD warning one minute before.
How does the floating mic button work?
An optional on-screen floating mic button is off by default. It works with no keyboard permission at all, so you can dictate on a Mac even when Input Monitoring is denied. Turn it on when you want a click target instead of a hotkey.
Voice activity detection uses Silero VAD when available, else an energy-based fallback. The setting you can change for hands-free and wake-word modes is the trailing-silence duration.
Straight answers.
Does the Hey Jot wake word work with Jot Cloud?
No. Always-on wake word uses local engines only and is never used with the opt-in Jot Cloud engine. The default phrase is Hey Jot. If you want hands-free start while Cloud is selected, switch to Jot Local, Jot Local Pro, or Auto first, or use push-to-talk, toggle, or the floating mic button instead.
Can I dictate on a Mac without granting Input Monitoring?
Yes. Turn on the optional on-screen floating mic button, which is off by default and needs no keyboard permission. Microphone is still required to capture audio, and Accessibility is still required to type into other apps. Input Monitoring is only for keyboard hotkeys such as Option-Space and fn.
What do I configure for hands-free WhisperJot dictation?
Pick Toggle or Always-on wake word, then set the trailing-silence duration that ends a hands-free utterance. Voice activity detection is automatic: Silero VAD if available, otherwise an energy-based fallback. Wake word stays on local engines only. Push-to-talk remains the simplest mode: hold, speak, and release to insert.
Updated 2026-09-01
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