Settings Overview
The Settings panel is where you configure every aspect of TalkWriter. This guide gives you a quick tour of each section with links to detailed articles.
Opening Settings
| Method | How |
|---|---|
| Menu bar | Click the TalkWriter icon > Settings |
| Keyboard shortcut | Cmd + , from any TalkWriter window |
All Settings Sections
General
Fundamental app preferences:
- Launch at Login — start TalkWriter when your Mac boots. Details
- Menu Bar Icon — choose icon style and click behavior. Details
- Auto-Update — control how TalkWriter updates itself. Details
Speech & Language
How TalkWriter processes your voice:
- Speech Language — select your dictation language or enable auto-detection. Details
- AI Polish — toggle automatic grammar, punctuation, and filler word cleanup. Details
Dictionary & Snippets
Your custom vocabulary and text shortcuts:
- Dictionary — add, edit, and organize custom words. Details
- Snippets — create text expansion triggers. Details
Keyboard Shortcuts
Customize key bindings for all TalkWriter actions:
- Push-to-Talk key, Scratchpad toggle, and more. Details
Appearance
Control how TalkWriter looks:
- Theme — light mode, dark mode, or follow system. Details
Notifications
Configure what TalkWriter tells you and when:
- Session alerts, word limit warnings, update notifications, quiet hours. Details
Privacy
Control your data:
- Data retention periods, zero retention mode, data deletion. Details
Account & Billing
Manage your subscription:
- Current plan, upgrade options, billing history. Details
Advanced
Power user settings:
- Reset to Defaults — restore all settings to factory state. Details
- Sync cache management and debug logging
Searching Settings
The Settings panel includes a search bar at the top. Type any keyword — like "language", "shortcut", or "dark mode" — to jump directly to the relevant setting.
If you are not sure where a setting lives, use the search bar. It searches setting names, descriptions, and related keywords.
Settings Sync
Your settings are tied to your TalkWriter account and sync across devices when signed in. Changes made on one Mac appear on your other Macs automatically.
Device-specific settings (like audio input device) remain local and do not sync.
FAQ
How do I reset a single setting without resetting everything? Most settings have a reset icon (circular arrow) next to them. Click it to restore just that setting to its default.
Do settings changes take effect immediately? Yes. All changes are applied instantly — no restart required.
Can Enterprise administrators lock certain settings? Yes. Enterprise admins can enforce settings organization-wide. Locked settings appear grayed out with a lock icon.