Spokenly recording indicator for Mac
Always know when Spokenly is recording.
Dictation Indicator puts a border around your Mac screen whenever Spokenly is using the microphone. No more guessing whether it heard you.
Coming soon to the Mac App Store
Stop guessing whether Spokenly heard you
Push-to-talk, a shortcut, a click: however you start Spokenly, the question is the same. Is it recording right now?
Dictation Indicator watches the microphone, not the keyboard, so it knows the answer for every way you start Spokenly. Spokenly is built in, so the border shows up whenever it records.
How Dictation Indicator shows when Spokenly is recording
Lights up when Spokenly uses the microphone
The border appears within about 0.1 seconds of Spokenly starting to record and fades away when it stops. The icon in the menu bar turns the border color too, and the badge can show as well.
Works with your Spokenly shortcut
No shortcut to set up. It reacts to the microphone, not the keyboard, so it works with your shortcut, push-to-talk or a click, and stays in sync when you cancel with Esc.
Know when Spokenly stopped recording
If Spokenly stops on its own, the border fades away, so you notice before you keep talking to nothing.
No permissions, nothing to configure
Dictation Indicator never records or listens to audio, so macOS never asks it for microphone access.Spokenly is on the list from the start.
A Spokenly indicator you can see from across the room
Around the edges of the screen, on top of everything. Only your dictation apps trigger it, so Zoom calls and screen recordings don't.
Private by design
It only checks which app is using the microphone. Nothing leaves your Mac.
- No audio recorded
- Never connects to the internet
- No account
- No analytics
Requirements
- macOS 14 Sonoma or later
- A Mac with Apple Silicon
Not only Spokenly
Superwhisper, Wispr Flow, MacWhisper, VoiceInk, Apple Dictation, Typeless, Aqua Voice, Willow Voice, Amical, Monologue, VoiceTypr, OpenSuperWhisper and Handy are built in, and any other dictation app can be added in one click.
Always know when Spokenly is recording
A border around your screen while Spokenly records. Nothing to set up.
Coming soon to the Mac App Store
Spokenly recording indicator: FAQ
Does Dictation Indicator work with Spokenly?
Yes. Spokenly is built in. When Spokenly starts recording, a border appears around your Mac screen within about 0.1 seconds, and it fades away when recording stops. The welcome guide finds Spokenly if it is installed, so there is nothing to set up.
Do I need to set up a shortcut for Spokenly?
No. Dictation Indicator does not read the keyboard. It reacts to the microphone, so it works however you start Spokenly: your shortcut, a click or push-to-talk. It stays correct when you cancel with Esc or Spokenly stops on its own.
Does it need microphone access?
No. Dictation Indicator never records or listens to audio, so macOS never asks it for microphone access. It only checks which apps are using the microphone.
Will Zoom calls or screen recordings trigger the border?
Not by default. Only the dictation apps on your list, like Spokenly, trigger it. You can switch to showing the border whenever any app uses the microphone.
Will the border show up in my screen recordings?
No, not by default. The border is hidden from screenshots and screen recordings, so it does not appear in videos you record.
Is Dictation Indicator made by Spokenly?
No. Dictation Indicator is an independent Mac app and is not affiliated with Spokenly. It works alongside Spokenly by watching which app is using the microphone.
What do I need, and when can I get it?
A Mac with Apple Silicon running macOS 14 Sonoma or later. Dictation Indicator is coming soon to the Mac App Store.
Spokenly is a trademark of its owner. Dictation Indicator is an independent app and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Spokenly.