Installing Talkie
Download Talkie from the Mac App Store or install via CLI with `curl -fsSL go.usetalkie.com/install | bash`. The CLI installer downloads the app, installs the command-line tools, and launches Talkie automatically.
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· KNOWLEDGE BASE
Common topics.
Twelve articles across four channels. Each entry stands on its own.
01 / GETTING STARTED
Your first dictation
Press the global hotkey (default: Option+D) from anywhere on your Mac to start dictating. Speak naturally. Talkie transcribes locally on your device using the Neural Engine. Press the hotkey again or click the menu bar icon to stop. Your text is copied to the clipboard automatically.
Keyboard shortcuts
Option+D starts/stops dictation. Option+T opens Talkie. You can customize these in Talkie Settings > Shortcuts. The global hotkey works system-wide, even when Talkie is in the background.
02 / DATA & PRIVACY
Where is my data stored?
All data lives in a local SQLite database on your Mac. If you enable iCloud sync, data is encrypted with your Apple ID keys and stored in a Private CloudKit container. Talkie Systems has zero access to your data.
Syncing across devices
Talkie uses Apple iCloud (CloudKit) to sync between your devices. Data is encrypted end-to-end with your Apple ID. Enable sync in Settings > iCloud. All synced devices must be signed into the same Apple ID.
Setting up API keys
Go to Settings > API Keys. Enter your OpenAI or Anthropic key. Keys are stored in the macOS Keychain (Secure Enclave) and only accessed at runtime. Talkie never sends your keys to our servers.
03 / ADVANCED
Using the CLI
The Talkie CLI lets you capture and transcribe from the terminal. Run `talkie capture` to record, `talkie list` to see recent captures, and `talkie transcribe` to process audio files. Run `talkie --help` for all commands.
Workflows & automation
Workflows let you chain AI actions on your transcriptions — summarize, extract action items, translate, or send to external services. Create workflows in Settings > Workflows or use the built-in templates.
Mobile capture
Use Talkie for iOS to capture voice memos on the go. Recordings sync to your Mac via iCloud where they are transcribed locally. The mobile app is a lightweight capture tool — all AI processing happens on your Mac.
04 / TROUBLESHOOTING
Microphone not working
Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone and ensure Talkie is enabled. If the hotkey does not trigger recording, check System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility. Restart Talkie after granting permissions.
Sync issues
Ensure all devices are on the same Apple ID with iCloud Drive enabled. Check Settings > iCloud in Talkie to confirm sync is active. If data is not appearing, try toggling sync off and on. Large recordings may take a few minutes to sync.
App will not launch or crashes
Try deleting and reinstalling from the App Store. If using the CLI version, run `talkie doctor` to diagnose issues. Check Console.app for crash logs. Talkie requires macOS 14 (Sonoma) or later.
· STILL NEED HELP
CHANNEL · 01 / EMAIL
Send a message.
Reach the team at hello@usetalkie.com. Include your macOS version and a short description — most replies land within a day.
OPEN MAILCHANNEL · 02 / REFERENCE
Read the docs.
Long-form documentation, CLI reference, and security architecture for engineers who want to know exactly what Talkie does and where data lives.