General Settings
App-wide settings for interface, startup, backups, and diagnostics.
Interface
Recorder Style controls how the recorder appears while you dictate.
| Style | Behavior |
|---|---|
| Notch | Shows a compact recorder at the top of the screen. |
| Mini | Shows a small floating recorder window. |
Both styles can show realtime partial text when the selected transcription model supports streaming. Assistant Mode responses appear in the recorder and stay available for follow-up prompts until you close it.
General
The General section contains app-wide behavior:
| Setting | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Hide Dock Icon | Runs VoiceInk as a menu bar app without a Dock icon. |
| Launch at Login | Starts VoiceInk automatically when you sign in to your Mac. |
| Auto-check Updates | Checks for new app versions in the background. |
| Show Announcements | Shows in-app announcements for important changes. |
| Check for Updates | Runs an immediate update check. |
History and Privacy
Transcript and audio retention controls are not in General Settings. Open History from the sidebar, then click the History Settings button beside the search field.
See Transcription History for cleanup options, what each option deletes, and how to run cleanup manually.
Backup
Backup lets you export and import VoiceInk settings.
Use Export Settings before moving to a new Mac, testing a large configuration change, or sharing a setup. Use Import Settings to restore a saved configuration.
The backup includes app settings, Modes, dictionary entries, model configuration, custom providers, and other saved preferences.
Diagnostics
Use Export Logs when troubleshooting with support. Logs help diagnose model downloads, provider connection issues, permissions, audio input behavior, paste behavior, and other app-level problems.