AI Polish Not Working
Symptom
You dictate text, but TalkTone (AI polish) does not apply. The text appears as raw transcription without any grammar cleanup, style adjustment, or formatting.
Quick Fix
Open TalkWriter Settings → TalkTone and make sure a TalkTone style is selected (not "Off").
Step-by-Step Diagnostic
✅ Step 1: Check TalkTone Setting
- Open TalkWriter Settings
- Go to the TalkTone tab
- Make sure a style is selected (Professional, Casual, Concise, Friendly, Technical, or Custom)
- If it is set to Off, TalkWriter returns raw transcription with no AI polishing
✅ Step 2: Check Your Plan
TalkTone requires a paid plan:
| Plan | TalkTone Access |
|---|---|
| Free (2,000 words/week) | ❌ Not included |
| Pro ($9.99/month) | ✅ All styles |
| Enterprise ($29/month) | ✅ All styles |
If you are on the Free plan, upgrade to Pro to access TalkTone.
✅ Step 3: Check Privacy Mode
Privacy Mode disables TalkTone because it prevents server-side text processing:
- Open TalkWriter Settings → Privacy tab
- If Privacy Mode is on, TalkTone is disabled by design
- Turn off Privacy Mode if you want AI polishing
- If your Enterprise admin enforces Privacy Mode, you cannot change this setting
✅ Step 4: Check Internet Connection
TalkTone requires sending your transcribed text to our AI servers:
- Open a browser and visit talkwriter.ai
- If the website does not load, fix your internet connection first
- On slow connections, TalkTone may time out — see Slow Processing
✅ Step 5: Check for Service Issues
- Visit status.talkwriter.ai
- Check if the AI processing service is reporting any issues
- If there is an incident, TalkTone may be temporarily unavailable while transcription still works
✅ Step 6: Restart TalkWriter
- Quit TalkWriter from the menu bar
- Reopen it
- Dictate a test sentence and check if TalkTone is applied
How to Tell If TalkTone Is Working
| Indicator | TalkTone ON | TalkTone OFF |
|---|---|---|
| Settings shows | A style name (e.g., "Professional") | "Off" |
| Processing time | Slightly longer (1-2 extra seconds) | Faster |
| Output quality | Polished grammar, adjusted tone | Raw transcription with filler words |
Still Not Working?
- Try switching to a different TalkTone style to rule out a style-specific issue
- Contact support@talkwriter.ai with your plan, TalkTone setting, and a sample of the unpolished output
FAQ
Can I use TalkTone on the Free plan? No. TalkTone requires TalkWriter Pro ($9.99/month) or Enterprise ($29/month).
Does TalkTone work with all languages? TalkTone works best with English. Support for other languages is being expanded.
Can I create a custom TalkTone style? Yes, on Pro and Enterprise plans. Go to TalkTone settings and click "Create Custom Style."