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Troubleshooting and logs

Applies to WhisprDesk 1.7.3 · Updated 2026-10-25

Most WhisprDesk problems come down to a missing permission, a model that is not downloaded yet, or a missing API key. This page covers the common fixes and how to collect a debug log if you need to contact support. Debug logs are written only to your Mac and are never sent anywhere automatically.

Before you start

Open the WhisprDesk app: click its icon in the Dock, or open it from your Applications folder. The WhisprDesk window opens with Home / History selected in the sidebar. If WhisprDesk is running but you don't see its window, click the WhisprDesk icon in the menu bar at the top right of your screen and open the window from its menu. Settings is at the bottom of the sidebar on the left.

Text does not paste into my app

Where: WhisprDesk > Settings > Privacy & Data > Permissions

  • Make sure WhisprDesk has the Accessibility permission:
    1. Open the WhisprDesk app: click its icon in the Dock (or open it from your Applications folder).
    2. Click Settings at the bottom of the sidebar.
    3. Click Privacy & Data.
    4. Under Permissions, click Test & Grant next to Accessibility and allow it in System Settings.
  • Without Accessibility, the text is still copied. Press Cmd+V to paste it.
  • Your dictation is also saved in Home / History (when Data Retention is on). Open the WhisprDesk app, click Home / History in the sidebar, hover over the dictation, and click Copy text.
  • If permission looks granted but paste still fails, open your Mac's System Settings, click Privacy & Security, then Accessibility, remove WhisprDesk from the list, and add it again. The Reset accessibility permissions button in WhisprDesk takes you to that screen; it does not remove anything itself.

The Globe key opens the emoji picker

Where: your Mac's System Settings > Keyboard, or WhisprDesk > Settings > Hotkeys

  1. Open your Mac's System Settings and click Keyboard.
  2. Set Press 🌐 key to to Do Nothing.

Or choose a different hotkey in WhisprDesk:

  1. Open the WhisprDesk app: click its icon in the Dock (or open it from your Applications folder).
  2. Click Settings at the bottom of the sidebar, then click Hotkeys.
  3. Under Dictation Hotkey, click the key field and press a new key.

Nothing happens when I dictate

Where: WhisprDesk > Settings > Transcription, then Privacy & Data, then Preferences

  1. Open the WhisprDesk app: click its icon in the Dock (or open it from your Applications folder).
  2. Click Settings at the bottom of the sidebar, then click Transcription.
  3. Check the banner at the top. If it says No model selected, download and click a local model on the Local tab, or add a key and click a model on the Cloud tab.
  4. Click Privacy & Data and check that Microphone is granted under Permissions.
  5. If you see No Audio Detected, click Preferences and check your input device, and make sure your microphone is not muted.

Re-transcribe says I need a local model

Where: WhisprDesk > Settings > Transcription > Local tab

Re-transcribe only uses local models. To download one:

  1. Open the WhisprDesk app: click its icon in the Dock (or open it from your Applications folder).
  2. Click Settings at the bottom of the sidebar, then click Transcription.
  3. Click the Local tab, choose NVIDIA Parakeet or OpenAI Whisper, and click Download on a model.

More: Audio and history.

Cloud transcription fails

Where: WhisprDesk > Settings > Transcription > Cloud tab

  • Check that your API key is correct and has credit with the provider: open the WhisprDesk app, click Settings at the bottom of the sidebar, click Transcription, then the Cloud tab, and check the API Key field for your provider.
  • Cloud uploads (from Upload in the sidebar) are limited to 25 MB per file. For larger files, use Local mode.
  • The provider's service status and limits apply.

Recording inside a note stops

Where: your Mac's System Settings > Privacy & Security > Screen Recording

Recording into a note needs your OpenAI API key and the Screen Recording permission (shown in WhisprDesk as System Audio).

  1. Open your Mac's System Settings and click Privacy & Security.
  2. Click Screen Recording and turn on WhisprDesk.
  3. In WhisprDesk, open the WhisprDesk app, click Notes in the sidebar, open the note, and try recording again.

More: Notes.

The local API returns an error

Where: WhisprDesk > Integrations > External App Gateway

See the error table in Local API. A 500 usually means the Whisper Base model, or Parakeet, is not downloaded.

Collect a debug log

Where: WhisprDesk > Settings > System > Debug Logging

  1. Open the WhisprDesk app: click its icon in the Dock (or open it from your Applications folder).
  2. Click Settings at the bottom of the sidebar.
  3. Click System and scroll to Debug Logging.
  4. Turn on Debug mode. It stays on after a restart until you turn it off.
  5. Reproduce the problem.
  6. Go back to Settings > System > Debug Logging and click Show in Finder next to Logs folder. You can also copy the folder path with the copy button.
  7. Attach the most recent log file to your email to support.
  8. Turn Debug mode off when you are done, because it writes to disk continuously.

Before you share a log: logs never contain your API keys, but in debug mode they can include text you were typing in other apps. Do not share a debug log that may contain private text. Open the file and check it first if you are unsure.

Contact support

Where: WhisprDesk > Settings > License > Contact support

  1. Open the WhisprDesk app: click its icon in the Dock (or open it from your Applications folder).
  2. Click Settings at the bottom of the sidebar, then click License.
  3. Click Contact support.

Or email support@whisprdesk.com. Include your macOS version, what you were doing, and a debug log if you can.