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Documentation Index

Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.vowen.ai/llms.txt

Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

Shortcut Not Working At All

1

Check Permissions (macOS)

Accessibility permission is required for global shortcuts. Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility and ensure Vowen is enabled.
2

Restart Vowen

Fully quit (right-click tray icon > Quit) and relaunch. After granting Accessibility permission, a restart is required.
3

Check for Conflicts

Close other voice-to-text apps (Wispr Flow, SuperWhisper, Spokenly) that might grab the same shortcut. Also check system shortcuts in System Settings > Keyboard > Keyboard Shortcuts.
4

Re-record the Shortcut

Go to Settings > Shortcuts, click the shortcut field, and press your desired key combination again.

Platform-Specific Issues

macOS: Fn Key Not Working After Install

The Fn key sometimes doesn’t register immediately after first install or after granting permissions. Fix: Fully quit and relaunch Vowen. If it still doesn’t work, try restarting your Mac.

Windows: “Option Key” Confusion

macOS documentation refers to the “Option” key. On Windows:
  • Option = Alt
  • Command = Windows key
So “Option + Shift” becomes “Alt + Shift” on Windows.

Windows: Left Command Key Doesn’t Work

There’s a known issue where the left Command (Windows) key in shortcuts may not work properly. Fix: Use the right-side modifier key, or choose a different shortcut combination that doesn’t include the Windows key.

Mouse Button Shortcuts

Vowen supports mouse buttons (Middle, Back/M4, Forward/M5) as shortcuts.

Mouse Button Stuck / Won’t Stop Recording

This has been fixed in recent versions. Update to the latest version via Settings > General > Check for Updates.

Browser Navigation When Using Mouse Buttons

When using the Forward/Back mouse buttons for Vowen, they may also trigger browser navigation. Workaround: Vowen suppresses the original key function in recent versions. Update to the latest version for this fix.

Keyboard Layout Issues

AZERTY / Non-QWERTY Keyboards

Shortcuts work with any keyboard layout since they use key codes, not characters. If you’re on a non-QWERTY layout and experiencing paste issues:
  • Try switching text insertion method to “Direct typing” in Settings > General

Specific Scenarios

Some apps intercept certain key combinations:
  • F7 in browsers — triggers Caret Browsing mode (use a different key)
  • Ctrl+Shift in terminals — may be bound to copy/paste
  • Remote desktop apps — may consume shortcuts before Vowen sees them
Try a different shortcut that doesn’t conflict with the target app.
Check if:
  • Your microphone is connected and working
  • The correct audio device is selected in Settings > Audio
  • The audio device isn’t being used exclusively by another app
Vowen has a 500ms grace period to detect overlapping shortcuts. If you have similar shortcuts (e.g., Fn and Fn+Control), the more specific one wins. Try making your shortcuts more distinct.
Configure alternative shortcuts in Settings > Shortcuts. Each shortcut can independently toggle AI Enhancement on or off, regardless of the global setting.