Voice and the mic
Say a to-do or a message instead of typing it, on the Mac, iPhone, or the web.
On the Mac
- Click in a chat's message field.
- Press Command-D to start, and press it again to stop. Or hold Command-D for half a second or more, talk, and let go.
- The words appear where the cursor was. Press Escape to cancel.
You can also choose Edit > Start Dictation. Quick Capture (Control-Space) has a mic too. A recording stops after 60 seconds.
To choose a microphone, open Settings, then General, and look under Dictation. Download the English speech pack there, and English is turned into words on your Mac. Other languages, and recordings it can't turn into words, are turned into words online.
If the mic is not allowed, turn on Little Worker in System Settings, Privacy & Security, Microphone.
On iPhone
The mic is in the bar above the tabs and in each chat.
- Touch and hold the mic to talk, and let go to stop.
- Or tap it once to start, and tap again to stop.
- The words appear in the line as you talk, and you can change them before you send.
The app asks for the microphone the first time you press it. If you said no, the next press offers Open Settings. The Tell Lou control opens a new to-do already listening.
On the web
The mic button is in the chat. Open Settings, then Dictation, to set it up:
- Microphone: choose the one to use. System Default follows your computer.
- Hold to record: hold the microphone button while you talk, and release to send.
- Language: Automatic works for most people. Choose your language if Dictation often gets your words wrong.
Dictation needs a current version of Safari, Chrome, Edge, or Firefox.
What happens to what you say
When you use the mic, what you say is turned into words. The iPhone app does this on the iPhone. The Mac app does it on the Mac when it can, and otherwise sends the recording to an AI provider. The web app sends the recording to an AI provider too. Little Worker keeps the words, not the recording.
The Privacy Policy names both providers.