Customize and resolve conflicts.
VoiceInput has two hotkeys: main hotkey (hold to talk) and Flash Route hotkey (one-shot capture). This page covers customization and conflict troubleshooting.
Defaults
- Main hotkey: ⌘+⇧+; (Cmd + Shift + Semicolon) — hold to speak, release to stop and insert text
- Flash Route hotkey: ⌘+⇧+' (Cmd + Shift + Apostrophe) — capture a thought when you have no input field; AI auto-routes to flomo / Notion / Reminders / Calendar
These are core interactions. The chosen combos hit naturally on standard keyboards and rarely conflict with macOS system shortcuts.
How to change
Click VoiceInput menu bar icon → Settings (⌘,) → Shortcuts
Click the shortcut row → enter "wait for keypress" mode → press your desired combo → auto-saves.
Allowed combos
- Must include at least one modifier: ⌘ / ⌥ / ⌃ / ⇧
- Main key can be a letter, digit, symbol, or F1–F12 function key
- Function-key-only combos aren't supported (macOS limitation)
- System-reserved combos (like ⌘+Tab) won't register
Conflicts with other apps
If pressing your hotkey triggers a different app, something else has claimed the combo. Common culprits:
- Input methods: Sogou / WeChat input might claim ⌘+⇧+key
- System shortcuts: System Settings → Keyboard → Shortcuts covers Input Sources / Mission Control / Spotlight
- Third-party tools: BetterTouchTool / Karabiner / Raycast / Alfred can register globals
- App-internal shortcuts: some apps grab keys when foregrounded (IDEs, terminals)
How to diagnose
- On the desktop (no app focused) press your VoiceInput hotkey — does it fire?
- If it fires on desktop but fails inside a specific app → that app stole it; pick a different VoiceInput hotkey
- If it fails on desktop too → system-level conflict; check System Settings → Keyboard → Shortcuts
- Out of options? Use F-series keys (F13–F19 are almost never used)
No response at all?
Not a conflict — it's the Input Monitoring permission. macOS 13+ requires explicit grant to listen for global keys.
Check: System Settings → Privacy & Security → Input Monitoring → find VoiceInput → toggle on. Full guide: Permissions · Input Monitoring.
+ button → /Applications/VoiceInput.app) — it'll come back.
Press Esc to cancel
Press Esc mid-recording to cancel — no text inserted, no cloud quota consumed. This binding is fixed.
Double-tap modifier (optional)
In Settings you can enable "double-tap right Option to bypass AI Tidy this time" — useful when you want raw recognition output. An escape hatch for power users.