Ask Peter.

Quick answers

Nothing happens when I hold fn

Inkbie needs permission to notice your key and type for you. On macOS 27 it's called Device Control and Data Access; on earlier versions, Accessibility. Allow Inkbie in System Settings, Privacy & Security, or choose the Allow item in Inkbie's menu bar menu. Then hold fn for a moment: a quick tap is ignored on purpose.

fn opens the emoji picker, or switches language

macOS can use fn (the Globe key) for emoji, input sources or Dictation too. The first time, Inkbie offers to fix it: in Keyboard settings, set “Press fn key to” to Do Nothing. Or keep fn as it is and choose another talk key in Inkbie's Settings, General: Right ⌥, Right ⌘ or your own shortcut.

Inkbie heard me, but nothing was typed

If there's no text field where your cursor is, Inkbie copies the words instead and says “No text field here.” Paste them with ⌘V. Or click where they should go and press ⌥⌘V: Inkbie pastes your last take again. It's kept in memory until Inkbie quits.

It says it's getting its voice ready

The first time, Inkbie downloads its voice model, about 600 MB, and shows how far it's got. After that it works offline. If it says the download didn't finish, check your internet and press Try again.

It can't hear me

Check that Inkbie is allowed to use the microphone; if not, its menu bar menu shows Allow the Microphone. Then open Settings, Voice, pick your microphone and watch the Level meter while you talk.

How do I talk without holding the key?

Double-tap fn: two quick taps and Inkbie keeps listening until you tap once more. You can turn this off in Settings, General.

Names come out spelled wrong

Add them in Settings, Words, spelled the way you want. With your first word, a small helper of about 100 MB downloads to check your list against what you said.

It typed in the wrong language

In Settings, Voice, Language is Automatic: it hears any of 25 languages and switches by itself. If it guesses wrong, pick your language there.