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Use automation to send Utter output to other apps, start or stop recording, and build hands-free workflows. Choose iOS Shortcuts for an iPhone trigger, URL schemes for an app that can open a URL, or a macOS completion command to process text after transcription finishes. First make one successful recording in Utter so permissions and your selected mode are ready.

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iOS Shortcuts

Use iOS Shortcuts to start or stop recording without opening Utter.

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Fastest setup: use this ready-made shortcut

Apple Shortcuts app iconStart/stop recording with one button and copy to clipboard This shortcut is the easiest way to use Utter hands-free:
  • Press once to start recording.
  • Press the same button or trigger again to stop recording.
  • The transcript is copied to your clipboard automatically.
  • You do not need to open Utter or the Shortcuts app.
Bind it to an iPhone trigger like Action Button or Back Tap (double tap on the back of your phone) for quick one-button dictation.

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Available Utter Shortcut Actions

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macOS Completion Commands

On macOS, each mode can run a completion command after transcription finishes. Use completion commands when you want Utter to send the final transcript to another app or script automatically. For example, you can append each finished dictation to your Obsidian daily note with the Obsidian CLI.
Utter completion command field on macOS using the transcript output variable with an Obsidian CLI command
Completion commands run shell commands on your Mac. Only use commands you trust.

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Add a Completion Command

1

Open Home

In Utter, go to Home.
2

Edit a Mode

Select the mode you want to automate.
3

Open Completion Command

In Output, open Completion command and click Edit.
4

Enter a Command

Add the shell command you want Utter to run after transcription.
5

Test and Save

Click Test, then click Save.
What to expect: After that mode finishes transcribing, Utter runs the command using /bin/zsh -lc.

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Available Variables

Use these variables in your command:

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Example: Append to Obsidian

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Dictation Controls

Control recording with these URLs:

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Mode Switching

Switch to a specific mode:
Mode names are converted to lowercase kebab-case (for example, Voice to Text becomes voice-to-text):

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Usage Examples

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Terminal

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Shortcuts.app

1

Add Open URLs Action

Add an Open URLs action.
2

Enter Utter URL

Enter a Utter URL (for example, utter://dictation/start).
3

Run Shortcut

Run the shortcut to trigger Utter.
What to expect: Utter runs the matching action immediately when the shortcut is executed. If that did not work: Confirm Utter is installed and currently running before triggering the URL.

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Raycast / Alfred

Create a script or workflow that opens the URL. Test mode switching on its own before combining it with a recording trigger:

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Keyboard Maestro

Use the Open URL action with any Utter deep link to trigger it from a macro.

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Test One Action at a Time

1

Check Recording in Utter

Record and stop a short sentence directly in the app. If this fails, fix permissions before testing automation.
2

Test the Trigger

Run only the start or toggle action and confirm Utter shows that recording has begun. Then stop it and check the saved transcript.
3

Add Output Automation

Add clipboard or completion-command actions only after recording works. Use a non-sensitive test sentence and check the destination receives it once.
If that did not work: Confirm the requested mode name matches the URL’s lowercase kebab-case name. For a completion command, check that the destination app or command is installed and works separately in Terminal. Quote transcript variables to preserve spaces; never paste transcript text into eval or treat dictated text as executable shell code. Starting a recording and receiving its finished transcript are different events. A start URL does not itself return transcript text; use the supplied Shortcut workflow or a completion command for the output stage.

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Still Need Help?

Contact support with your platform, Utter version, trigger type, and which action failed. Remove private transcript text, API keys, and other secrets from any command you share.