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Use this page to fix the most common problems quickly. Start with the issue that matches what you see.

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Text Not Inserting

Utter records and transcribes, but no text appears in your app.
1

Enable Accessibility

Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility and enable Utter.
2

Restart Utter

Quit Utter, then open it again.
3

Test in a Simple Text Field

Try dictation in Notes or TextEdit.
What to expect: Text appears at the cursor after you stop recording. If that did not work: In Utter settings, enable clipboard output, then paste manually with ⌘V.

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Shortcut Not Working

Pressing the shortcut does nothing.
1

Confirm Accessibility Access

Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility and ensure Utter is enabled.
2

Set a Different Shortcut

In Utter > Settings > Shortcut, choose a new key combination.
3

Restart Utter

Quit and reopen Utter.
What to expect: The recording UI appears when you press the new shortcut. If that did not work: Check that Utter is running in the menu bar before testing.

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Slow Transcription

There is a long delay before text appears.
1

Try a Short Recording

Test with a 5-10 second dictation sample.
2

Check Internet Stability

Confirm your connection is stable.
3

Retry After a Short Wait

Wait 30 seconds, then run a second test.
What to expect: Typical response time is around 0.5-2 seconds. If that did not work: If you use BYOK, check provider limits or temporary service load.

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No Audio Recording

Utter does not appear to hear your voice.
1

Enable Microphone Permission

Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone and enable Utter.
2

Select the Input Device

In Utter settings, choose the microphone you want to use.
3

Run a Voice Memos Test

Record in Voice Memos to confirm the microphone itself works.
What to expect: Utter input meter moves when you speak. If that did not work: Disconnect and reconnect external microphones, then test again.

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BYOK Issues

API keys fail or provider errors appear.
1

Paste Keys Again

Remove extra spaces and re-paste each key.
2

Confirm Provider Access

Check your provider dashboard for active key status and account limits.
3

Retry One Dictation

Test with a short recording after saving settings.
What to expect: Key validation errors should disappear after a correct key is saved. If that did not work: Regenerate the key in your provider dashboard and update it in Utter.

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Still Need Help?

  1. Check Permissions for full permission reset steps.
  2. Check Audio Quality for microphone diagnostics.
  3. Contact us with details.
When you contact support, include:
  • macOS version
  • Utter version
  • What you expected
  • What happened instead
  • Exact steps to reproduce