# VoiceInk recording indicator for Mac: Dictation Indicator

> VoiceInk's on-screen cue is small. Dictation Indicator puts a border around your whole Mac screen whenever VoiceInk is recording, so you know it's listening before you start talking.

## Don't lose a thought to a VoiceInk recording that never started

You hit your VoiceInk shortcut and start talking. Did it start? When your eyes are on another window, a small cue on screen is easy to miss.

With Dictation Indicator, the whole screen tells you. The border appears the moment VoiceInk starts recording and fades when it stops, including when you cancel with Esc.

## How Dictation Indicator shows when VoiceInk is recording

- The border (or badge) appears within about 0.1 seconds of VoiceInk starting to record and fades when it stops.
- No shortcut to set up: it reacts to the microphone, so it works with your VoiceInk shortcut, push-to-talk or a click, and stays in sync when you cancel with Esc.
- VoiceInk is built in, so there is nothing to configure. No permissions: it never records or listens to audio.

## FAQ

### Does Dictation Indicator work with VoiceInk?

Yes. VoiceInk is built in. When VoiceInk 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 VoiceInk if it is installed, so there is nothing to set up.

### Do I need to set up a shortcut for VoiceInk?

No. Dictation Indicator does not read the keyboard. It reacts to the microphone, so it works however you start VoiceInk: your shortcut, a click or push-to-talk. It stays correct when you cancel with Esc or VoiceInk 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 VoiceInk, 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 VoiceInk?

No. Dictation Indicator is an independent Mac app and is not affiliated with VoiceInk. It works alongside VoiceInk 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.

VoiceInk is a trademark of its owner. Dictation Indicator is an independent app and is not affiliated with or endorsed by VoiceInk.

More: https://dictationindicator.com/index.md