Reset to Defaults

If your TalkWriter configuration has become cluttered or something is not working as expected, resetting to defaults gives you a fresh start. Here is what gets reset, what is preserved, and how to back up beforehand.

When to Reset

• A setting change caused unexpected behavior and you cannot find which one
• You want to start fresh after heavy customization
• Support recommends a reset during troubleshooting
• You inherited a Mac with someone else's TalkWriter setup

What Gets Reset vs. What Is Preserved

Category	Reset?	Notes
Speech & language preferences	Yes	Returns to English (US)
AI Polish toggle	Yes	Returns to On
Keyboard shortcuts	Yes	Returns to default bindings
Theme & appearance	Yes	Returns to System
Notification preferences	Yes	Returns to defaults
Startup behavior	Yes	Launch at Login returns to Off
Menu bar icon settings	Yes	Returns to Show Menu
Auto-update preferences	Yes	Returns to Automatic
Custom dictionary	Preserved	Not affected by reset
Text snippets	Preserved	Not affected by reset
Session history	Preserved	Not affected by reset
Account & billing	Preserved	Subscription unchanged
Analytics data	Preserved	Not affected by reset

info

Your dictionary, snippets, and session history are separate from settings and are never deleted by a reset. Only configuration preferences are restored to defaults.

Back Up Before You Reset

Before resetting, take note of any customizations you want to restore:

1. Screenshot your keyboard shortcuts for reference
2. Export your dictionary and snippets as CSV backups (Import & Export guide)
3. Note your language setting so you can re-select it after

tip

Dictionary and snippet exports are not affected by a reset, but a backup is always smart.

How to Reset

1. Open Settings (Cmd + ,)
2. Navigate to Advanced (or scroll to the bottom)
3. Click Reset to Defaults
4. Read the confirmation dialog
5. Click Reset to confirm

All settings are immediately restored to factory defaults.

After Resetting

You may want to reconfigure:

1. Set your speech language back to your preferred language
2. Re-enable Launch at Login if desired
3. Reconfigure your Push-to-Talk key if you used a non-default key
4. Choose your theme (light, dark, or system)
5. Adjust notification preferences

Resetting a Single Setting

If you only need to fix one setting:

1. Open the relevant settings section
2. Click the reset icon (circular arrow) next to the individual setting
3. That single setting returns to its default value

This is faster than a full reset when you know which setting is the problem.

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FAQ

Can I undo a reset? No. Once settings are reset, the previous configuration is not recoverable. Back up important customizations first.

Does resetting affect my subscription? No. Your account, plan, and billing are completely separate from app settings.

Will I need to sign in again? No. Your authentication session is preserved.

Can Enterprise administrators reset settings remotely? Yes. Enterprise admins can push default configurations to team members through the admin console.