## https://sprecho.ai/help/getting-started/install-sprecho-on-mac — Install Sprecho on your Mac

> Download, install and set up Sprecho on macOS in about three minutes, including the two system permissions dictation needs.

*Updated: 2026-08-23* *Plans: free, pro, enterprise* *Platforms: macos*

Sprecho is a desktop app: you install it once, and from then on you can dictate
into any application on your Mac — Mail, Slack, Word, your browser, your code
editor — using one key.

Installing takes about three minutes. Two of them are macOS asking whether it
should trust the app, which is normal for anything that types on your behalf.

### Before you start

- **macOS 10.15 (Catalina) or later.** Anything from 2019 onwards qualifies.
- **An internet connection.** Speech recognition and formatting run on Sprecho's
  servers in Germany, not on your Mac.
- **About 200 MB of disk space.**

You do not need a paid plan to install. The free plan covers 2,000 words per
week, and the 14-day Pro trial starts without a credit card.

### 1. Download the right build

Open [sprecho.ai/download](https://sprecho.ai/download). The page detects your
Mac and highlights the correct build:

- **Apple Silicon** — every Mac with an M1, M2, M3 or M4 chip.
- **Intel** — Macs sold before late 2020.

Not sure which you have? Click the Apple menu, choose **About This Mac**, and
look at the **Chip** line. If it says "Apple M…", take the Apple Silicon build.

### 2. Install the app

Open the downloaded `.dmg` file and drag the Sprecho icon onto the **Applications**
folder. Then eject the disk image and launch Sprecho from Applications or
Spotlight.

The first launch may take a few seconds longer than usual while macOS verifies
the app's signature. That check happens once.

### 3. Grant the two permissions

Sprecho asks for exactly two macOS permissions, and it cannot work without
either. The onboarding walks you through both.

#### Microphone

This is what records your voice. macOS shows a standard dialog the first time
Sprecho tries to listen — click **Allow**.

If you dismissed it by accident, open **System Settings → Privacy & Security →
Microphone** and switch Sprecho on.

#### Accessibility

This is what lets Sprecho **type the finished text into the app you are using**.
Without it, dictation still records and transcribes, but nothing appears in your
document.

macOS never grants this from a dialog alone. Open **System Settings → Privacy &
Security → Accessibility**, click the **+** button, add Sprecho, and make sure
its toggle is on.

> Restart Sprecho after granting Accessibility. macOS only hands the permission
> to a freshly launched process, so the app cannot pick it up mid-session.

### 4. Sign in and dictate

Sign in with the account you created on the website, or create one directly in
the app.

Then put your cursor wherever you want text to appear and **hold the `fn` key**
while you speak. Release it, and a moment later your words land in the document,
punctuated and cleaned up.

`fn` is the default because it is the one key on a Mac keyboard that no
application uses for anything else. You can change it in **Settings → General**.

### If something does not work

| What you see | What it usually is |
|---|---|
| Nothing is recorded | Microphone permission is off, or the wrong input device is selected |
| Recording works, no text appears | Accessibility permission is off, or Sprecho was not restarted after granting it |
| Text appears in the wrong app | The target app lost focus while you were speaking — click into it first |

If dictation used to work and stopped after a macOS update, macOS has almost
certainly reset the Accessibility entry. Removing Sprecho from the list and
adding it again fixes it.

### FAQ

#### Does Sprecho work on Intel Macs?
Yes. There are separate builds for Apple Silicon and Intel, and the download page picks the right one for you automatically. macOS 10.15 Catalina or later is required.

#### Do I need to pay to install Sprecho?
No. The download is free and the app includes a free plan with 2,000 words per week. You can start a 14-day Pro trial without entering a credit card.

#### Does dictation need an internet connection?
Yes. Speech recognition and formatting run on Sprecho's servers in Germany, so the app needs to be online while you dictate.