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See how permissions are handled on macOS or Windows.

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macOS Permissions

Vowen requires certain system permissions to function. Here’s what each one does and why it’s needed.

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Microphone (Required)

Why: Vowen needs access to your microphone to record your voice for transcription. How to grant:
  1. When prompted during onboarding, click “Allow”
  2. Or go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone and enable Vowen

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Accessibility (Required)

Why: Vowen uses Accessibility to:
  • Detect global keyboard shortcuts (shortcuts work in any app)
  • Auto-paste transcribed text into the focused input field
  • Read selected text for Command Mode context
How to grant:
  1. When prompted, click “Open System Settings”
  2. In System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility, toggle Vowen on
  3. You may need to unlock the settings with your password
If you grant Accessibility but shortcuts still don’t work, try removing Vowen from the list, then re-adding it. A restart of the app is required after granting this permission.

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Screen Recording (Optional)

Why: Only needed for Meeting Notes. Allows Vowen to capture system audio from other apps (Zoom, Teams, etc.) so it can transcribe what others say in meetings. How to grant:
  1. Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Screen & System Audio Recording
  2. Toggle Vowen on
You can skip this permission entirely if you don’t plan to use Meeting Notes. Vowen will never record your screen visually without your explicit action.

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Windows Permissions

Windows handles permissions automatically. No manual steps are needed for:
  • Microphone access (granted on first use)
  • Keyboard input monitoring (no special permission required)
  • System audio capture (handled by the OS)
Have a permissions question that isn’t answered here? See the Permissions FAQ.