Documentation

Overview

Halo turns speech into text wherever your cursor already is — a message, a doc, a terminal, a code editor. There is no separate window to dictate into; you speak, and the words appear in whatever field is focused. This guide walks through installing Halo, granting it microphone access, and the basics of dictating and switching modes.

Installing Halo

1. 1. Download. Get the installer for your platform from the download page.
2. 2. Install. Run the installer and follow the on-screen steps. On first launch, your OS may ask you to confirm that Halo is allowed to run — this is standard for any newly installed desktop app.
3. 3. Find the icon. Once installed, Halo runs quietly in the background. Look for its icon in the menu bar (Mac) or system tray (Windows) — that's where you'll find settings, mode switching, and the option to quit.

Granting microphone permission

Halo needs microphone access to hear you — audio never leaves your device without your dictation triggering it. The first time you try to dictate, your OS will show a permission prompt. Choose Allow.

If you accidentally deny the prompt, or need to re-check the setting later:

• macOS: System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone, then enable the toggle next to Halo.
• Windows: Settings → Privacy & security → Microphone, then confirm Halo is allowed under app permissions.

On macOS, Halo also needs Accessibility permission to insert text at your cursor and to listen for its global shortcut — you'll be prompted for that separately.

The push-to-talk shortcut

Dictation is triggered by a global keyboard shortcut that works no matter which app is focused. Press and hold to speak, release to stop — Halo transcribes what you said and inserts it right where your cursor is.

You can change the shortcut, or switch it from press-and-hold to a tap-to-toggle style, from Settings → Shortcuts. Pick something that doesn't collide with a shortcut you already rely on in another app.

Choosing a mode

A mode tells Halo how to shape what it hears — the same spoken sentence can come out as a casual note, a properly punctuated email, or a code comment, depending on which mode is active.

Switch modes from the menu bar / tray icon before you start dictating. The active mode is shown there at all times, so it's always clear what Halo is about to do with your voice.

Where your text goes

Halo inserts transcribed text directly at your cursor's position in whatever field is focused — a chat box, a document, an address bar, a terminal prompt. There's no intermediate window to copy from; once you release the shortcut, the text is already there, ready to edit like anything you'd typed yourself.

Troubleshooting

Halo isn't picking up my voice

Check that the correct input device is selected in Settings → Audio, and confirm microphone permission is still granted (see above).

The shortcut doesn't do anything

Another app may already be using that key combination. Try a different shortcut in Settings → Shortcuts, and on macOS, double-check Accessibility permission is still enabled.

Text is inserted in the wrong place, or not at all

Make sure the field you want text in is actually focused before you speak. Some apps restrict how background tools can insert text — if a specific app never receives dictated text, that app is likely blocking it at the OS level.

The menu bar / tray icon disappeared

Quit and relaunch Halo. If it still doesn't appear, confirm it's not blocked from running in the background by your OS's startup or battery settings.

FAQ

Can I use more than one mode?

Yes — modes are switched per dictation, not locked to a session, so you can move between them freely as you change tasks.

Where do I see what's changed in a new version?

Check the changelog.

Still stuck?

Revisit Troubleshooting above, or reach out at hello@superhalo.io.