Frequently Asked Questions
General
Section titled “General”What is FloWords?
Section titled “What is FloWords?”FloWords is a privacy-first voice-to-text application for macOS. It transcribes your voice into text using AI models that run entirely on your Mac - no internet required for basic transcription.
Is FloWords really private?
Section titled “Is FloWords really private?”Yes! All transcription using local models (Whisper, Parakeet) happens 100% on your device. Your audio never leaves your Mac. The only features that require internet are:
- Optional cloud transcription providers (OpenAI, Groq, etc.)
- Optional AI enhancement
- License validation (periodic check)
What macOS versions are supported?
Section titled “What macOS versions are supported?”FloWords requires macOS 14.0 (Sonoma) or later. It runs natively on both Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3) and Intel Macs.
How much does FloWords cost?
Section titled “How much does FloWords cost?”FloWords offers:
- 21-day free trial - Full features, no credit card required
- $10 lifetime license - One-time purchase, unlimited use
Installation & Setup
Section titled “Installation & Setup”Why does FloWords need microphone access?
Section titled “Why does FloWords need microphone access?”Microphone access is required to capture your voice for transcription. FloWords only listens when you activate recording with your trigger key.
Why does FloWords need Accessibility permissions?
Section titled “Why does FloWords need Accessibility permissions?”Accessibility permissions allow FloWords to:
- Detect your keyboard shortcuts globally
- Simulate typing to paste transcribed text
- Work in any application
The app won’t open on my Mac. What should I do?
Section titled “The app won’t open on my Mac. What should I do?”If you see “FloWords cannot be opened because the developer cannot be verified”:
- Right-click (or Control-click) on FloWords
- Select “Open” from the context menu
- Click “Open” in the dialog
This is required because FloWords is distributed outside the Mac App Store.
Transcription
Section titled “Transcription”Which transcription model should I use?
Section titled “Which transcription model should I use?”| Model | Best For | Speed | Accuracy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whisper Tiny | Quick notes, short dictation | Fastest | Good |
| Whisper Base | General use | Fast | Better |
| Whisper Small | Important documents | Medium | Great |
| Whisper Medium | Professional work | Slower | Excellent |
| Whisper Large | Maximum accuracy | Slowest | Best |
| Parakeet | Alternative option | Fast | Great |
Can I transcribe audio files?
Section titled “Can I transcribe audio files?”Yes! FloWords supports transcribing existing audio and video files:
- Audio: WAV, MP3, M4A, AAC, FLAC, AIFF, CAF
- Video: MP4, MOV
Drag and drop files onto FloWords or use File > Transcribe Audio File.
Why is my transcription inaccurate?
Section titled “Why is my transcription inaccurate?”Common causes and solutions:
- Background noise - Use a quiet environment or headset microphone
- Speaking too fast - Speak at a natural, steady pace
- Wrong language - Check Settings > Model > Language
- Small model - Try a larger Whisper model for better accuracy
- Technical terms - Add them to your Custom Dictionary
Does FloWords support multiple languages?
Section titled “Does FloWords support multiple languages?”Yes! Whisper models support 99+ languages. Set your language in Settings > Model > Language. You can also enable auto-detection for multilingual transcription.
AI Enhancement
Section titled “AI Enhancement”What does AI Enhancement do?
Section titled “What does AI Enhancement do?”AI Enhancement uses large language models to improve your transcribed text:
- Fix grammar and spelling
- Adjust tone (formal, casual, professional)
- Format as lists, emails, code, etc.
- Expand or summarize content
Do I need an API key?
Section titled “Do I need an API key?”For cloud AI providers (OpenAI, Anthropic), yes - you need your own API key. For local AI with Ollama, no API key is needed.
Is AI Enhancement private?
Section titled “Is AI Enhancement private?”When using cloud providers, your text is sent to their servers. For maximum privacy, use Ollama to run AI models locally on your Mac.
Triggers & Shortcuts
Section titled “Triggers & Shortcuts”How do I change my recording trigger?
Section titled “How do I change my recording trigger?”- Go to Settings > Trigger Keys
- Click “Record New Trigger”
- Press your desired key combination
- Click “Save”
Can I use a mouse button as a trigger?
Section titled “Can I use a mouse button as a trigger?”Yes! FloWords supports mouse buttons as triggers. In the trigger recording dialog, click the mouse button you want to use.
What’s the difference between Hold and Toggle mode?
Section titled “What’s the difference between Hold and Toggle mode?”- Toggle: Press once to start, press again to stop
- Hold: Hold the key to record, release to stop and paste
Troubleshooting
Section titled “Troubleshooting”FloWords isn’t responding to my trigger
Section titled “FloWords isn’t responding to my trigger”- Check System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility
- Ensure FloWords is enabled
- Try removing and re-adding the trigger
- Restart FloWords
My transcription isn’t pasting
Section titled “My transcription isn’t pasting”- Check System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility
- Make sure you’re clicked into a text field
- Try the alternative paste method in Settings > Output
The app is using too much memory
Section titled “The app is using too much memory”Larger Whisper models use more RAM:
- Tiny: ~1 GB
- Base: ~1.5 GB
- Small: ~2 GB
- Medium: ~5 GB
- Large: ~10 GB
If you’re low on memory, use a smaller model.
Licensing
Section titled “Licensing”How do I activate my license?
Section titled “How do I activate my license?”- Purchase at flowords.app
- You’ll receive a license key via email
- In FloWords, go to Settings > License
- Enter your license key
- Click “Activate”
Can I use my license on multiple Macs?
Section titled “Can I use my license on multiple Macs?”Yes! Your license is for personal use and can be activated on all your personal Macs.
What happens when my trial ends?
Section titled “What happens when my trial ends?”After 21 days, FloWords will prompt you to purchase a license. Your transcription history and settings are preserved.
Still Have Questions?
Section titled “Still Have Questions?”Contact us at support@flowords.app and we’ll be happy to help!