8 GB RAM or Less
Best models for your Mac:
- Apple Speech (minimal)
- Whisper Tiny (~300 MB)
- Whisper Base (~500 MB)
- Parakeet V3 (~800 MB)
Memory & Performance
If you saw a memory warning from FloWords, you’re in the right place. This guide explains how FloWords uses your Mac’s resources and how to optimize for smooth performance.
How FloWords Uses Resources
Section titled “How FloWords Uses Resources”Memory (RAM) Usage
Section titled “Memory (RAM) Usage”During transcription, FloWords loads the AI model into your Mac’s RAM. Larger models provide better accuracy but require more memory.
| Model | Download Size | RAM Usage | Accuracy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tiny | 75 MB | ~300 MB | 60% |
| Base | 142 MB | ~500 MB | 72% |
| Parakeet V3 | 630 MB | ~800 MB | 94% |
| Large v3 Turbo Q | 547 MB | ~1 GB | 95% |
| Large v3 Turbo | 1.5 GB | ~1.8 GB | 97% |
| Large v2 | 2.9 GB | ~3.8 GB | 96% |
| Large v3 | 2.9 GB | ~3.9 GB | 98% |
The app itself uses an additional 200-500 MB for processing and interface.
CPU Usage
Section titled “CPU Usage”Transcription is CPU-intensive during processing:
- Apple Silicon Macs process significantly faster than Intel
- Processing happens in short bursts during recording
- Larger models require more CPU time
- Real-time factor varies by model and Mac
Storage on Disk
Section titled “Storage on Disk”FloWords stores files in your Library folder:
| Location | Purpose | Size |
|---|---|---|
WhisperModels/ | Downloaded Whisper models | 75 MB - 2.9 GB each |
ParakeetModels/ | Downloaded Parakeet models | 630 MB |
Recordings/ | Temporary audio files | Auto-cleaned |
default.store | Transcription history | 1-50 MB |
Check Your Current Status
Section titled “Check Your Current Status”View Memory Usage on Mac
Section titled “View Memory Usage on Mac”- Open Activity Monitor (⌘ + Space, search “Activity Monitor”)
- Click the Memory tab at the top
- Check Memory Pressure graph at bottom
- Find FloWords in the process list
Interpreting Memory Pressure:
- Green: Plenty of available RAM
- Yellow: Memory getting tight
- Red: Critical—close apps immediately
Understanding the Warning
Section titled “Understanding the Warning”FloWords monitors your system and warns you when memory is low to prevent performance issues.
Quick Fixes
Section titled “Quick Fixes”Switch to a Lighter Model
Section titled “Switch to a Lighter Model”Recommended: Apple Speech or Tiny
- Minimal RAM usage (~100-300 MB)
- Fast transcription
- Good for quick notes
- Works on any Mac
To switch:
- Open Settings (⌘,)
- Go to Model tab
- Select Apple Speech or Whisper Tiny
- Start recording to test
Recommended: Parakeet or Base
- Low memory footprint (~500-800 MB)
- Excellent quality
- Real-time performance
- Great for daily use
To switch:
- Open Settings (⌘,)
- Download Parakeet V3 if needed
- Select as active model
- Test transcription
Recommended: Groq or Gemini
- Zero local RAM usage
- Very fast processing
- Excellent accuracy
- Requires internet connection
Close Unnecessary Apps
Section titled “Close Unnecessary Apps”Free up memory by closing apps you’re not actively using:
- Open Activity Monitor (⌘ + Space)
- Click Memory tab
- Sort by Memory column (click header)
- Close memory-heavy apps you’re not using
- Retry transcription in FloWords
Apps that typically consume lots of RAM:
- Web browsers with many tabs (Chrome, Safari)
- Creative software (Photoshop, Final Cut Pro)
- Virtual machines (Parallels, VMware)
- Communication apps (Slack, Teams, Discord)
Try Cloud Models
Section titled “Try Cloud Models”Cloud models run on remote servers—zero RAM usage on your Mac:
- Groq Whisper Large v3 Turbo - Fast, free tier available
- Google Gemini 2.5 Flash - Very fast, free tier
- ElevenLabs Scribe v2 - Best accuracy (paid)
- Deepgram Nova-3 - Real-time streaming (paid)
- OpenAI GPT-4o Transcribe - Excellent quality (paid)
Long-Term Optimization
Section titled “Long-Term Optimization”Match Model to Your Mac
Section titled “Match Model to Your Mac”16 GB RAM
Recommended for best balance:
- Parakeet V3 (fast, accurate)
- Large v3 Turbo Q (~1 GB)
- Cloud models for heavy work
32 GB+ RAM
Use any model freely:
- Large v3 for best quality
- Multiple models installed
- No memory constraints
Cloud-Only
Regardless of your RAM:
- Groq, Gemini, ElevenLabs
- Zero local memory usage
- Requires internet
Consider Upgrading RAM
Section titled “Consider Upgrading RAM”When to consider upgrading:
- Frequent memory warnings with basic models
- Need professional models (Large v3)
- Heavy multitasking while transcribing
- Other apps regularly slow down
Apple Silicon Macs (M1/M2/M3/M4):
- RAM not upgradeable after purchase
- Consider trading in for higher RAM configuration
- Cloud models are excellent alternative
Intel Macs:
- Some models support RAM upgrades
- Check EveryMac.com for your model’s compatibility
- Typical upgrade cost: $50-200 for 8-16 GB
Free Up Disk Space
Section titled “Free Up Disk Space”While this doesn’t affect RAM during transcription, keeping your Mac clean helps overall performance:
- Open Settings (⌘,)
- Go to General tab
- Under History Retention, choose cleanup period
- Enable Auto-delete audio files
Understanding Memory Levels
Section titled “Understanding Memory Levels”FloWords monitors your available RAM and shows warnings when necessary:
| Status | Available RAM | What You’ll See |
|---|---|---|
| Healthy | > 3 GB | No warnings, smooth performance |
| Moderate | 2-3 GB | No warnings, large models may slow |
| Low | 1-2 GB | Warning notification appears |
| Critical | < 1 GB | Strong warning, may crash |
What to Do for Each Level
Section titled “What to Do for Each Level”When Low or Critical:
- Switch to smaller model (Tiny, Base, Parakeet)
- Close unused applications immediately
- Try cloud models instead
- Restart FloWords if needed
When Moderate:
- Avoid Large v3 and Large v2 models
- Use Base or Parakeet for best performance
- Monitor memory if running long transcription sessions
- Consider closing browser tabs
Still Having Issues?
Section titled “Still Having Issues?”If you’ve tried the fixes above and still experience memory problems:
Report the Problem
Section titled “Report the Problem”Email support@flowords.app with:
- Mac model and year (from About This Mac)
- macOS version
- Total RAM installed
- Which model causes the issue
- Screenshot of Activity Monitor showing memory pressure
Collect Diagnostic Logs
Section titled “Collect Diagnostic Logs”- Open Console.app (⌘ + Space, search “Console”)
- In the search filter, type
FloWords - Reproduce the memory warning
- Select all logs (⌘A)
- Export logs (File → Save Selection)
- Attach to your support email
Next Steps
Section titled “Next Steps”- Review All Models for detailed model comparison
- Performance Best Practices for optimization tips
- Cloud Providers Setup for RAM-free alternatives
- General Troubleshooting for other common issues