# Dictation Indicator > A macOS menu bar app that lights up a border around your screen, or shows a badge, while your dictation app is recording, so you never talk for minutes only to find out nothing was recorded. Website: https://dictationindicator.com/ ยท Status: Coming soon to the Mac App Store. ## The problem If you talk to your AI instead of typing, you've probably had this happen: you talk for ten minutes, then realize your dictation app wasn't recording. Dictation apps show a small, dark recording indicator that is easy to miss, and the ideas that came up while you talked are gone. ## How it works - It watches which app is using the microphone. When your dictation app starts recording, the border appears within about 0.1 seconds. When it stops, the border fades. - No shortcut to set up: it does not read the keyboard, so it works however you start recording (a shortcut, a click, push-to-talk) and stays correct when you cancel with Esc. - No permissions: it never records or listens to audio, so macOS never asks for microphone access. - Only dictation: Zoom calls and screen recordings don't trigger it, unless you choose "any app using the microphone". ## Works with 14 dictation apps are built in: Superwhisper, Wispr Flow, MacWhisper, VoiceInk, Apple Dictation, Typeless, Aqua Voice, Spokenly, Willow Voice, Amical, Monologue, VoiceTypr, OpenSuperWhisper and Handy. Any other app can be added in one click from "Recently used the microphone" in Settings. ## Make it yours - Show a border, a badge, or both. - Border: Glow (fades inward) or Solid, eight color presets plus a color picker, width 2 to 40 pt, opacity 20 to 100%, corners 0 to 40 pt, optional pulse, main display or all displays. - Badge: a floating circle or rounded square with a microphone, in your color. Top center under the menu bar by default, drag it anywhere, 32 to 96 pt, optional glow. - Both sit on top of full-screen apps and are hidden from screenshots and screen recordings by default. Clicks pass through the border. ## Privacy No audio recorded, no account, no analytics, and the app never connects to the internet itself. Nothing leaves your Mac. Full policy: https://dictationindicator.com/privacy.md ## Requirements macOS 14 Sonoma or later, on a Mac with Apple Silicon. ## FAQ ### Does it work with Superwhisper and Wispr Flow? Yes, both are built in, along with 12 other dictation apps like MacWhisper, VoiceInk and Typeless. Any other app can be added in one click. ### Do I need to set up a shortcut? No. It reacts to the microphone, so it works however you start recording, and stays correct when you cancel with Esc. ### Does it need microphone access? No. It never listens to audio. It only checks which app is using the microphone. ### Will Zoom calls light it up? Not by default. Only your dictation apps do. You can switch to any app using the microphone. ### Will it show up in my screen recordings? No. The border and the badge are hidden from screenshots and screen recordings by default. ### Does it work in full-screen apps and on several displays? Yes. It stays on top of full-screen apps, clicks pass through the border, and it can show on all displays. ### Can I change how it looks? Yes. Glow or Solid, any color, width, opacity and corners, an optional pulse, and a badge you can drag anywhere. ### Does it collect any data? No. No account, no analytics, and the app never connects to the internet itself. ### What do I need? A Mac with Apple Silicon on macOS 14 Sonoma or later. ### When can I get it? Soon, on the Mac App Store. ## More - Support: https://dictationindicator.com/support.md (email support@dictationindicator.com) - Superwhisper recording indicator: https://dictationindicator.com/superwhisper.md - Wispr Flow recording indicator: https://dictationindicator.com/wispr-flow.md - MacWhisper recording indicator: https://dictationindicator.com/macwhisper.md - VoiceInk recording indicator: https://dictationindicator.com/voiceink.md - Typeless recording indicator: https://dictationindicator.com/typeless.md - Aqua Voice recording indicator: https://dictationindicator.com/aqua-voice.md - Spokenly recording indicator: https://dictationindicator.com/spokenly.md - Willow Voice recording indicator: https://dictationindicator.com/willow-voice.md