The settings window is where you configure Vowen. Most options live in their own dedicated pages in the sidebar; this page covers the overall layout and the handful of settings that affect Vowen itself rather than a specific feature.
Opening Settings
- Click the Vowen icon in the menu bar (macOS) or system tray (Windows) and choose Open Settings
- Use
Cmd+,(macOS) when the Vowen window is already in focus. Since Vowen is a background app, the menu bar route is usually the faster way in.
Sidebar Navigation
The main sidebar has four top-level sections:| Section | What’s There |
|---|---|
| Home | Voice log, daily activity, quick stats |
| Notes | Meeting notes list and recordings |
| Transcribe | Manual file transcription |
| Settings | All configuration options |
Settings Pages
Inside the Settings section, each page covers a specific area:- General: theme, startup, text insertion method, restore clipboard, sound effects, recording indicator
- Audio: input device selection and testing
- Models: download and manage transcription models
- Shortcuts: configure keyboard shortcuts (alternative / multiple shortcuts are Pro)
- AI Setup: connect AI providers, select models (Custom API and multiple providers are Pro)
- Language: set transcription language (Translate-to-English is Pro)
- Recording: VAD, silence detection, hands-free options, real-time preview (Pro), mute background audio (Pro)
- Tones: per-app writing style profiles (free includes 1 tone, unlimited on Pro)
- Dictionary: custom vocabulary, threads, expansions (free includes 1 custom expansion), auto-add corrections (Pro)
- Workflows: voice-triggered automations (free includes 3 workflows + 1 custom utility), webhooks / scripts inside workflows are Pro
- Memory: persistent AI context (free includes 3 items, unlimited on Pro)
- Integrations: Obsidian, webhooks, and notes integrations (Pro)
- Privacy: data handling preferences, import/export data (Pro)
- Sync: cloud sync setup (Pro)
- Account: license activation and plan management
Menu Bar (macOS) and System Tray (Windows)
Vowen lives in your menu bar on macOS and your system tray on Windows. Right-click the icon to:- See current recording status
- Switch microphone
- Switch transcription model
- Start or stop meeting notes
- Open settings
- Copy last transcription
- Quit the app
Text Insertion
Vowen can deliver your transcription using either the paste method (simulatesCmd+V / Ctrl+V) or direct insertion (types each character as if you were typing it).
The paste method is fast but overwrites your clipboard; enable Restore clipboard after paste in the same settings page to put your previous clipboard contents back automatically. Direct insertion is the right choice on non-QWERTY keyboard layouts (AZERTY, QWERTZ, Dvorak) or in apps that block standard paste.
See Text Insertion Methods for the full explanation.