Offline Dictation
TalkWriter requires an active internet connection for all dictation. Offline dictation is not currently available.
Why TalkWriter Needs the Internet
TalkWriter's dictation pipeline runs in the cloud:
| Pipeline Stage | Runs Where | Needs Internet? |
|---|---|---|
| Audio capture | Your Mac | ❌ No |
| Speech-to-Text (Soniox) | Cloud servers | ✅ Yes |
| AI Polish | Cloud servers | ✅ Yes |
| TalkTone (Pro) | Cloud servers | ✅ Yes |
| Paste into app | Your Mac | ❌ No |
The speech recognition engine and AI processing both require server-side computation. This is what enables TalkWriter's high accuracy and intelligent text cleanup.
What Happens Without Internet
| Scenario | What You Experience |
|---|---|
| No internet at all | Dictation fails. The pill overlay shows an error indicator. |
| Internet drops mid-dictation | Audio captured before the drop may be partially processed. Results are not guaranteed. |
| Slow or unstable internet | Dictation works but with higher latency. Some dictations may time out. |
What Still Works Offline
Even without internet, you can still use these TalkWriter features:
| Feature | Works Offline? |
|---|---|
| Scratchpad (manual typing) | ✅ |
| Reading saved Snippets | ✅ |
| Viewing Dictionary | ✅ |
| Changing Settings | ✅ |
| Voice dictation | ❌ |
| AI Polish | ❌ |
| TalkTone | ❌ |
Tips for Unreliable Connections
If your internet is not always stable:
- Test before important sessions. Do a quick test dictation to confirm your connection works.
- Use a wired connection. Ethernet is more stable than Wi-Fi for dictation.
- Avoid peak bandwidth times. If others on your network are streaming or downloading, TalkWriter may experience higher latency.
- Keep dictations short. Shorter dictations are less likely to be affected by brief connection drops.
- Use the Scratchpad as a backup. If dictation fails, switch to typing in the Scratchpad until your connection recovers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will offline dictation ever be supported? We are always evaluating new capabilities. Check the TalkWriter blog and changelog for updates on future features.
Can I use Apple's built-in dictation offline and then polish with TalkWriter? Apple Dictation (available via the Globe key or Fn key system dictation) can work offline on newer Macs. However, there is no integration between Apple Dictation and TalkWriter's AI Polish at this time.
How much bandwidth does TalkWriter use? Dictation uses minimal bandwidth — roughly comparable to a voice call. A stable connection matters more than raw speed.
Does TalkWriter cache anything locally? TalkWriter does not cache dictation results. Each dictation is processed fresh in real time.
Was this helpful? Let us know at support@talkwriter.ai