Dictate with the hotkey
Freestyle picks a sensible default hotkey per platform:
Dictation defaults to Hold (push-to-talk). There are two activation modes:
Hold (push-to-talk)
Hold to record, release to transcribe. Great for quick bursts. This is the default.
Toggle
Press once to start, press again to stop. Great for longer dictation.
On Linux, true hold-to-talk needs access to the input device. If it isn’t available, Freestyle falls back to toggle mode and tells you how to enable it.
On macOS, paste needs Accessibility permission. On Linux it uses
xdotool or wtype. If nothing shows up, check Settings → Permissions.Transcription
Freestyle Transcribe is the built-in transcription service, built by the Freestyle team and tuned for developer dictation. Sign in and it works — there is nothing to configure and no API key to paste.- Transcription and cleanup in one pass, and fast.
- Zero-day retention by default. Transcriptions are private and not stored.
Shape the final text
Freestyle has four features that turn raw speech into exactly the text you want. Each has its own page with examples and details:AI cleanup
Run your transcript through a language model to fix punctuation, drop filler, and polish phrasing — at the intensity you choose.
Dictionary
Swap spoken phrases for exact text after transcription, like
type script → TypeScript.Vocabulary
Teach the speech model tricky names, brands, and jargon so it spells them right.
Formats
Reshape text based on the app you’re in — an email in Gmail, a casual note in Slack.
Next steps
Build a plugin
Extend the dictation pipeline with your own code.
Join the community
Ask questions and hang out with contributors on Discord.