Install, pick a model, press F8.
Three steps, and the only wait is the model download. The 14-day trial starts with an email and no credit card.
1
Download and install
Download WhisperType from the link below: an .exe installer on Windows, a .dmg on macOS.
Windows SmartScreen warning — this is expected
Because WhisperType is not yet code-signed, Windows Defender SmartScreen will show a blue warning dialog when you run the installer. This is normal for indie software. Here's exactly what to do:
- The dialog says: "Windows protected your PC"
- Click "More info" (small link below the message)
- Click "Run anyway" (appears after step 2)
- Installation proceeds normally
WhisperType is not code-signed yet. You can verify the installer by checking the SHA-256 hash in the changelog.
On macOS — four steps, the first time
WhisperType is not code-signed yet, so macOS stops the first open. This is the way past it.
-
1 · Download
Open the .dmg
Drag WhisperType into Applications. Then eject the disk.
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2 · First open
macOS stops it once
On macOS 15 and later it says Apple could not verify WhisperType. Click Done, not Move to Trash. On macOS 14 or earlier you can instead right-click WhisperType in Applications and choose Open.
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3 · Allow
Open Anyway
System Settings → Privacy & Security → scroll down → Open Anyway. Once for each version you download.
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4 · Set up
Three permissions
Setup asks for Microphone to hear you, Accessibility to type the text and Input Monitoring to see the F8 key. Updating from 1.3 asks for the macOS permissions one last time; later updates keep them.
2
First run: AI model download and trial signup
On first launch, setup has you pick a transcription model and start your 14-day free trial. This happens once — after that, transcription runs offline.
What to expect on first run:
- Model download: you pick one of four, from Base (~75 MB) to Large v3 (~3 GB); Small (~475 MB) is preselected, and on Apple Silicon it is already inside the app. How long it takes depends on your connection
- Trial signup: enter an email address to start your 14-day free trial. No credit card.
- A progress bar shows the download status. Don't close the app.
- WhisperType then lives in the system tray on Windows and in the menu bar on macOS.
The model is downloaded once and stored locally. Internet is used for this step, license checks, updates and usage statistics — never for transcription itself.
3
Press F8. Speak. Press F8 again.
Click into any app where you want to type — Discord, VS Code, a browser, anything. Press F8. The floating widget appears. Talk. Press F8 again. Your words appear wherever your cursor was.
That's it. The whole product.
Quick tips
- The widget floats — you can drag it anywhere on screen.
- Speak naturally, without pausing at the start or the end.
- Auto chooses between English and Spanish; for another language, pick it in Settings.
- Change F8 in Settings → Hotkey.
- Discord mic conflict: If Discord is set to "exclusive mode" on your microphone (Settings → Voice & Video → Input Device → Advanced), it may block WhisperType from accessing the mic. Disable Discord's exclusive mode or switch Discord to a different input device while WhisperType is running.
Keyboard shortcuts
| F8 | Start / Stop recording |
|---|---|
| Ctrl / Cmd + , | Open Settings |
| Ctrl / Cmd + H | Open History |
F8 can be changed in Settings → Hotkey. The other two are fixed.
Troubleshooting
App doesn't start
On macOS, if the launch is blocked, use Open Anyway in System Settings → Privacy & Security. On Windows, check that Windows 10/11 64-bit is up to date; if you get a VCRUNTIME error, install the latest Visual C++ Redistributable.
No audio detected
On Windows: Settings → Privacy → Microphone — make sure WhisperType has microphone access and that your microphone is the default recording device. On macOS: System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone. The waveform in the widget should move when you speak.
Text not appearing in app
Make sure your cursor is in a text field before pressing F8. WhisperType puts the text on the clipboard and sends the paste shortcut (Ctrl+V on Windows, Cmd+V on macOS); an app that blocks pasting, such as a game in exclusive fullscreen, will not receive it. On macOS, check that Accessibility is granted.
GPU not being used
There is no GPU switch. WhisperType uses an NVIDIA GPU automatically when the CUDA 12 libraries are present, Metal on Apple Silicon, and the CPU otherwise. If transcription feels slow, pick a smaller model in Settings → Model.
SmartScreen warning on install
This is expected. Click "More info" then "Run anyway." WhisperType is not code-signed yet. You can verify the installer SHA-256 hash in the changelog to confirm you have an untampered copy.
Contact support
Not finding what you need? Email hello@whispertype.ai or visit the community page.
Stuck? Reach out.
Get help from the dev directly. Bugs, feature requests, setup questions — all welcome.
Get in touch