> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://utter.to/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Permissions

> How to configure macOS permissions for Utter

Utter needs microphone and accessibility permissions to record speech and insert text in other apps.

## Required Permissions

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Microphone" icon="microphone">
    **Required** - Captures your voice for transcription
  </Card>

  <Card title="Accessibility" icon="universal-access">
    **Required** - Inserts text into applications
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Microphone Permission

### Why It's Needed

Utter needs microphone access to record your voice for transcription. Without this permission, Utter cannot hear you.

### How to Enable

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open System Settings">
    Click the Apple menu (**Apple icon**) and choose **System Settings**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Go to Privacy & Security">
    Scroll down and click **Privacy & Security**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select Microphone">
    Click **Microphone** in the list.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enable Utter">
    Find **Utter** in the list and toggle it **ON**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

**What to expect:** The microphone toggle for Utter stays enabled and recording works in Utter.

<Note>
  If Utter isn't in the list, launch Utter and try to record something. macOS will prompt you to grant permission, and Utter will appear in the list.
</Note>

### Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Utter not in the list">
    Launch Utter and try to start a recording. macOS should prompt you to grant microphone access.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Toggle is grayed out">
    Quit Utter first, then toggle the permission. You may need to restart Utter after.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Permission granted but still not working">
    1. Toggle the permission OFF
    2. Restart Utter
    3. Toggle the permission ON
    4. Restart Utter again
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

***

## Accessibility Permission

### Why It's Needed

Accessibility permission allows Utter to:

* Detect which app is focused
* Insert transcribed text at your cursor position
* Register global keyboard shortcuts

Without this permission, Utter cannot automatically insert text into your applications.

### How to Enable

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open System Settings">
    Click the Apple menu (**Apple icon**) and choose **System Settings**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Go to Privacy & Security">
    Scroll down and click **Privacy & Security**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select Accessibility">
    Click **Accessibility** in the list.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click the + Button">
    Click the **+** button at the bottom of the list.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add Utter">
    Open **Applications**, select **Utter**, then click **Open**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Enter Password">
    Enter your Mac password to confirm.
  </Step>
</Steps>

**What to expect:** Utter appears in the Accessibility list and stays enabled.

<Warning>
  After enabling Accessibility, you may need to restart Utter for the changes to take effect.
</Warning>

### Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Can't find Utter in Applications">
    Make sure Utter is installed in your Applications folder, not running from the DMG or Downloads.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Permission enabled but text not inserting">
    1. Remove Utter from the Accessibility list
    2. Quit Utter
    3. Add Utter back to the list
    4. Restart Utter
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="macOS keeps asking for permission">
    This can happen after macOS updates. Remove Utter from the list and add it again.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

***

## Privacy Notes

<Note>
  **Your privacy is important.**

  * Microphone access is only used when you're actively recording
  * Accessibility access is only used to insert text and detect the focused app
</Note>

## Still Need Help?

1. Check [Common Issues](/troubleshooting/common-issues) for quick fixes by symptom.
2. Check [Audio Quality](/troubleshooting/audio-quality) if permissions are enabled but results are still poor.
3. [Contact us](https://utter.to/contact-us) and include your macOS version, Utter version, and which permission step failed.