System Requirements
FloWords is designed to run efficiently on modern Macs. Here’s what you need.
Minimum Requirements
Section titled “Minimum Requirements”| Component | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Operating System | macOS 14.0 (Sonoma) or later |
| Processor | Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3) or Intel |
| RAM | 4 GB minimum |
| Storage | 500 MB for app + models |
| Microphone | Built-in or external |
Recommended Specifications
Section titled “Recommended Specifications”For the best experience, especially with larger models:
| Component | Recommended |
|---|---|
| Processor | Apple Silicon (M1 Pro or better) |
| RAM | 8 GB or more |
| Storage | 2 GB free space |
| Microphone | External USB or headset |
Model Memory Requirements
Section titled “Model Memory Requirements”Each local model has different RAM requirements:
| Model | RAM Usage | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Whisper Turbo | ~2 GB | General use, best balance |
| Parakeet V3 | ~2 GB | Maximum speed, low latency |
| Apple Speech | Minimal | Quick drafts, no download |
Apple Silicon vs Intel
Section titled “Apple Silicon vs Intel”FloWords runs natively on both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs:
Apple Silicon (M1/M2/M3)
- Faster transcription
- Lower power consumption
- Better model performance
- Neural Engine acceleration
Intel Macs
- Fully supported
- May be slightly slower
- Higher power consumption
- All features available
Permissions Required
Section titled “Permissions Required”FloWords needs these system permissions:
Required
Section titled “Required”- Microphone - To capture your voice for transcription
Optional
Section titled “Optional”- Accessibility - For global hotkeys and auto-paste
- Screen Recording - For screen context in AI enhancement
Internet Connectivity
Section titled “Internet Connectivity”| Feature | Internet Required? |
|---|---|
| Local transcription (Whisper/Parakeet) | No |
| Cloud transcription (OpenAI, Groq, etc.) | Yes |
| AI Enhancement (cloud providers) | Yes |
| AI Enhancement (Ollama local) | No |
| License validation | Yes (periodic) |
| App updates | Yes |
Compatibility Notes
Section titled “Compatibility Notes”- Virtualization: FloWords works in virtual machines but performance may be reduced
- External displays: Fully supported on all display configurations
- Headless mode: Not supported (requires GUI)
Next Steps
Section titled “Next Steps”Ready to install? Head to the Installation Guide.