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Handless supports local (on-device) and cloud-based speech-to-text engines. Local engines need no internet. Cloud providers offer higher accuracy and broader language support but require API keys.

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Local Engines

Download models in Settings → Models → Library and run them entirely on your Mac.

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Model Sizes

Larger models are more accurate but slower and use more memory. Choose based on your needs:
  • Small (~40–150 MB) — fastest, good for quick notes
  • Medium (~500 MB–1.5 GB) — balanced accuracy and speed
  • Large (~1.5–3+ GB) — highest accuracy

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Cloud Providers

Connect your own API keys in Settings → Models → My Models.

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Setting Up a Cloud Provider

  1. Open Settings → Models → My Models
  2. Select a provider from the dropdown
  3. Enter your API key (click the console link to get one if needed)
  4. Click Test Connection to verify
  5. Configure provider-specific options (language, temperature, etc.)

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Provider Options

Available options vary by provider. Common ones include:
  • Language — set a specific language or leave on auto-detect
  • Temperature — controls randomness (lower = more deterministic)
  • Prompt / Glossary — provide context to improve accuracy (see Dictionary)
  • Speaker Diarization — identify different speakers in the audio
  • Realtime Streaming — show text incrementally as you speak

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Switching Providers

Switch between providers from the main interface:
  1. Click the current provider name in the sidebar
  2. Select from your configured cloud providers or downloaded local models
Settings for each provider are saved independently — switching doesn’t lose your configuration.