Getting Started with Voibe: A Complete Setup Guide

TL;DR: Voibe is an offline dictation app for Mac that converts speech to text in under 5 minutes of setup. Download, grant two permissions (Accessibility and Microphone), and start dictating by holding the Fn key. All processing runs locally on your Mac's Apple Silicon chip — no internet, no accounts, no data uploaded.

Before installing Voibe, confirm your Mac meets these requirements:

• Apple Silicon chip — M1, M2, M3, or M4 (any variant including Pro, Max, Ultra)
• macOS 13 (Ventura) or later — Voibe uses APIs introduced in macOS 13
• 2 GB free disk space — needed for the on-device AI model

Intel Macs are not supported. Voibe relies on the Apple Silicon Neural Engine to run Whisper models with low latency. To check your chip, click the Apple menu and select "About This Mac."

Head to getvoibe.com and click the download button. Alternatively, use this direct download link.

Once the .dmg file downloads, open it and drag the Voibe icon to your Applications folder. Launch Voibe from your Applications folder or by searching "Voibe" in Spotlight (Cmd + Space).

On first launch, macOS may show a security prompt because Voibe is downloaded from the web. Click "Open" to proceed. If you see "Voibe can't be opened," go to System Settings > Privacy & Security and click "Open Anyway" next to the Voibe notification.

Voibe needs two macOS permissions to function. Both prompts appear automatically on first launch.

Accessibility Permission

Voibe uses Accessibility access to type text into other applications. When prompted, click "Open System Settings," navigate to Privacy & Security > Accessibility, and enable the toggle next to Voibe. You may need to click the lock icon and enter your password first.

Microphone Permission

Voibe needs microphone access to capture your speech. When the microphone prompt appears, click "OK" to grant access. If you accidentally deny it, go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone and enable Voibe manually.

Both permissions are standard macOS security requirements. Voibe processes all audio locally — microphone access is used solely for on-device speech recognition, and no audio is ever sent to any server.

Click into any text field in any app — a document, email, chat, code editor, or browser. Press and hold the Fn key (or your configured hotkey). Speak naturally at your normal pace. Release the key when done — your text appears instantly.

Voibe works system-wide. Wherever your cursor is, that is where dictated text appears. There is no separate dictation window or special mode to enter.

For punctuation and formatting, speak naturally and Voibe will handle basic punctuation automatically. You can also use voice commands like "period," "comma," "new line," and "new paragraph." For a complete list of voice commands, see our Mac dictation voice commands guide.

Voibe works well with default settings, but you can customize it to match your workflow.

Change the Activation Hotkey

If the Fn key does not work well for your keyboard layout (especially on external keyboards), open Voibe's settings and assign a different hotkey. Popular alternatives include a double-tap of the right Command key or a custom key combination.

Enable Developer Mode

If you use VS Code or Cursor, enable Developer Mode in Voibe's settings. This feature detects your open IDE workspace and resolves file names, folder names, and project-specific terms when you dictate. It is particularly useful for dictating code comments, commit messages, and documentation that references specific files in your project.

Select a Whisper Model

Voibe lets you choose between different Whisper model sizes. Larger models provide higher accuracy but use more memory and processing power. The default model is a good balance for most users. If you have an M2 Pro or higher chip with 32+ GB RAM, consider trying the Large model for maximum accuracy.

Voibe Is Not Typing Text

If you press the hotkey and speak but no text appears, check Accessibility permissions first. Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility and verify Voibe is enabled. If it is enabled but still not working, remove Voibe from the list, then re-add it. This resets the permission and resolves most issues.

Microphone Not Detected

If Voibe does not respond to speech, verify microphone access in System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone. Also check that your preferred microphone is selected in macOS Sound settings (System Settings > Sound > Input). External microphones may need to be manually selected.

High CPU Usage or Slow Performance

If dictation feels slow or your Mac's fans spin up, close unnecessary apps to free up memory and CPU resources. On-device speech recognition uses your Mac's Neural Engine, which shares resources with other apps. Macs with 8 GB RAM may experience slowdowns when running large models alongside memory-intensive applications.

Hotkey Conflict

If pressing the Fn key does not activate Voibe, another app may be using the same shortcut. Check for conflicts in System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts. Alternatively, change Voibe's hotkey to a unique key combination in its settings.

• Speak naturally — Voibe handles natural speech patterns, pauses, and filler words. Do not over-enunciate.
• Use punctuation cues — say "period," "comma," or "new line" for formatting. See our Mac dictation voice commands guide for a full cheat sheet.
• Try Developer Mode — if you use Cursor or VS Code, enable Developer Mode in settings for automatic file and folder name resolution.
• Use an external microphone — even a basic USB microphone improves accuracy by reducing background noise. Built-in Mac microphones work but are more sensitive to ambient sound.
• Dictate in short bursts — phrases of 10-30 words produce the best results. Pause briefly between thoughts.

Now that Voibe is running, here are resources to help you get more out of dictation:

• Complete Guide to Dictation on Mac — compare Voibe with Apple Dictation, Wispr Flow, Superwhisper, and other speech-to-text tools
• Mac Dictation Voice Commands — learn punctuation, formatting, and editing commands to dictate more efficiently
• Dictation Use Cases — discover how developers, lawyers, writers, and other professionals use dictation in their daily workflows
• Free Dictation Tools — test your typing speed versus your speaking speed with our upcoming browser-based tools
• Why Offline Dictation Matters — understand the privacy and performance benefits of on-device speech-to-text
• Voice Input Workflow: A Complete Guide for Developers and Writers — the Talk-Draft-Polish loop, hotkey and capture patterns, and the editing passes that make voice drafts actually land faster than typing
• How to Voice-Prompt ChatGPT, Claude, and Cursor — the Five-Part Voice Prompt framework (Goal / Inputs / Constraints / Example / Output) with worked examples for every major AI tool

Have questions? Visit getvoibe.com for the latest updates, or check the help resources within the app.

Setup

What Mac do I need to run Voibe?

Voibe requires a Mac with Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3, or M4 chip) running macOS 13 (Ventura) or later. Intel Macs are not supported because Voibe uses the Apple Silicon Neural Engine to run Whisper AI models locally.

How much disk space does Voibe need?

Approximately 2 GB of free disk space for the AI model. The app itself is lightweight — the disk space is used by the on-device Whisper model.

How much does Voibe cost?

Voibe offers a 7-day free trial of every plan with no account required. Paid plans are $9.90 per month, $89.10 per year, or $198 for a lifetime license. All features are included at every tier.

Usage

What is the default hotkey to start dictating?

The default hotkey is pressing and holding the Fn (Function) key. Press and hold to speak, release when done, and your text appears instantly. You can change this in Voibe's settings.

Can I use Voibe in any application?

Yes. Voibe works system-wide on macOS, inserting text wherever your cursor is — browsers, email clients, word processors, code editors, and messaging apps.

Does Voibe require an internet connection?

No. Voibe runs 100% on-device. No internet connection is required for dictation.

Troubleshooting

Why is Voibe not typing text into my app?

This usually means Voibe does not have Accessibility permission. Open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility and make sure Voibe is enabled. If it is enabled but still not working, remove and re-add it to reset the permission.

How do I enable Developer Mode for VS Code or Cursor?

Open Voibe's settings and toggle Developer Mode on. Once enabled, Voibe will automatically detect open IDE windows and resolve file names and project terms when you dictate.