General
Is Handless free?
Yes. Handless is free and open source. No subscriptions, no usage limits, no catch.Does it work offline?
Yes. Local engines like Whisper, Moonshine, and Parakeet run entirely on your Mac — no internet required. Cloud providers obviously need a connection.What does “bring your own API keys” mean?
Instead of routing audio through a middleman, you connect directly to providers like OpenAI, Deepgram, or Groq with your own API keys. Your data goes directly to the provider — Handless never sees it.What languages are supported?
Depends on the engine. Whisper supports 99+ languages. Cloud providers vary — check each provider’s documentation for specifics. The Handless UI itself supports 17 languages.How is audio processed?
Audio is captured locally on your Mac and sent to your chosen engine (local or cloud). The resulting text is pasted into your focused app. With local engines, audio never leaves your machine.Troubleshooting
The shortcut isn’t working
- Make sure Handless has Accessibility permission in System Settings
- Try switching the keyboard implementation in Settings → General (HandyKeys ↔ Tauri)
- Check if another app is using the same shortcut
- Restart Handless
Transcription quality is poor
- Try a larger local model (e.g. Whisper Large instead of Small)
- Use a cloud provider for better accuracy
- Add frequently misheard terms to your Dictionary
- Make sure your microphone is positioned well
- Set the correct language instead of relying on auto-detect
Text isn’t pasting into my app
- Verify Accessibility permission is granted
- Try a different paste method in Settings → Output
- Some apps block automated paste — use “Copy to clipboard” mode and paste manually