DocumentationInstall Whiskers
Getting Started
Quick StartInstall WhiskersGrant permissionsYour first dictation
Features
Push-to-talk dictationHands-free (lock) modeAI EnhancementFile transcriptionVocabulary and snippets
Settings
HotkeysModels — local vs cloudMicrophoneAI Enhancement settingsDictionaryAPI Keys panelFile Transcription panel
API Key Setup
Setting up your Groq API keySetting up your Deepgram API keySetting up your OpenAI API key
Troubleshooting
Common issues and fixes
Getting StartedStep 1 of 3

Install Whiskers

Download the app, drag it to Applications, and open it for the first time.

Installation takes about a minute.

System requirements

RequirementMinimum
macOS15.0 Sequoia
ChipApple Silicon recommended; Intel works with cloud models
RAM8 GB
Disk75 MB – 3 GB depending on which local model you choose

Install

  1. Download the .dmg from the Whiskers website.
  2. Open it. A Finder window appears.
  3. Drag Whiskers into Applications.
  4. Eject the disk image.
Mounted Whiskers .dmg in Finder, with the Whiskers app icon and an Applications shortcut

First launch

Whiskers isn't distributed through the Mac App Store, so macOS will refuse to open it on the first double-click:

  1. Open Applications.
  2. Right-click Whiskers → Open.
  3. Confirm the dialog.

After this one-time approval, Whiskers opens normally from Spotlight, Launchpad, or the menu bar.

macOS gatekeeper dialog asking 'Are you sure you want to open it?' with the Open button highlighted

What you'll see

Whiskers lives in the menu bar — no Dock icon by design. Look for the Whiskers mark near the top-right of your screen.

macOS menu bar with the Whiskers icon visible near the top-right

Click it for Settings, the main menu, and Quit. On first launch, onboarding will walk you through permissions and choosing a model — the next two pages cover those in detail.

Updates

Whiskers checks for updates on launch. When one's available, click Install and Relaunch — your settings, hotkeys, dictionary, and downloaded models all carry over.