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Collecting Logs

Symptom

You have a persistent issue with TalkWriter and support has asked you to send logs, or you want to include logs with your support request to speed up troubleshooting.

Quick Fix

Open Console.app, filter for "TalkWriter", reproduce the issue, and save the log output.

Step-by-Step: Collecting Logs with Console.app

✅ Step 1: Open Console

  1. Open Console (Applications → Utilities → Console)
  2. You will see a stream of system log messages

✅ Step 2: Filter for TalkWriter

  1. In the Search field at the top right, type: TalkWriter
  2. Press Enter
  3. Only messages from TalkWriter will appear

✅ Step 3: Start Streaming

  1. Click Start Streaming in the toolbar (if it is not already active)
  2. You should see a live feed of TalkWriter log messages

✅ Step 4: Reproduce the Issue

  1. Keep Console.app open
  2. Switch to TalkWriter
  3. Perform the action that causes the problem (dictate, paste, open settings, etc.)
  4. Switch back to Console.app — you should see new log entries related to the issue

✅ Step 5: Save the Logs

  1. Select all the relevant log entries (Cmd+A to select all, or click and drag to select specific entries)
  2. Go to File → Save Selection (or Edit → Copy then paste into a text file)
  3. Save the file as talkwriter-logs.txt

✅ Step 6: Collect Crash Logs (If Applicable)

If TalkWriter crashed:

  1. Open Console.app
  2. In the left sidebar, click Crash Reports
  3. Look for entries named TalkWriter
  4. Click the report to view it
  5. Click Save to save the crash report

What to Include in a Support Ticket

When contacting support@talkwriter.ai, include:

ItemWhere to Find It
TalkWriter versionSettings → About
macOS versionApple menu → About This Mac
Mac modelApple menu → About This Mac (e.g., MacBook Pro M2)
Description of the issueWhat you expected vs. what happened
Steps to reproduceNumbered steps to trigger the issue
Console logsFiltered log output from Console.app
Crash reportIf the app crashed (from Crash Reports)
ScreenshotIf there is a visible error message

Alternative: Export Logs from TalkWriter

TalkWriter may include a built-in log export:

  1. Open TalkWriter Settings
  2. Go to About or Support
  3. Look for Export Logs or Send Diagnostic Report
  4. This bundles relevant logs and system information automatically

FAQ

Are logs safe to share? Yes. TalkWriter logs contain technical information (timestamps, error codes, process IDs). They do not contain your dictated text, audio, or passwords.

How far back do logs go? Console.app shows recent logs from the current boot session. Crash reports are kept for longer. For the best results, reproduce the issue while Console.app is open.

Can I enable more detailed logging? Contact support and they can guide you through enabling debug-level logging if needed for complex issues.