Choosing Your Dictation Hotkey

How the dictation hotkey works

ParrotKey uses a modifier key as your dictation hotkey. Press the key to start recording your voice, and press it again to stop. Your spoken words are then transcribed and inserted at your cursor position in whatever application you are using.

During onboarding, you choose which modifier key to use. This is the key you will press every time you want to dictate text, so it is worth picking one that feels natural and comfortable.

Available modifier keys

macOS

On macOS, you can choose from the following modifier keys:

• Control (left or right)
• Option (left or right)
• Command (left or right)

Windows

On Windows, you can choose from the following modifier keys:

• Ctrl (left or right)
• Shift (left or right)
• Alt (left or right)

Recommended default

The default recommendation is Right Option on macOS or Right Alt on Windows. This key works well because:

• It is easy to reach with one hand, making it convenient to press quickly without interrupting your workflow.
• It rarely conflicts with other application shortcuts, so you are unlikely to trigger unintended actions.
• It leaves your other hand free to type or use the mouse while you control dictation.

How to choose your hotkey during onboarding

1. Look at the modifier key grid. During the hotkey selection step, ParrotKey displays a grid of available modifier keys for your platform.
2. Select 1 or 2 modifier keys from the same side. Click on the key or keys you want to use. You can select keys from the left side or the right side, but not a combination of both.
3. Review your selection. The selected key or keys will be highlighted in the grid to confirm your choice.
4. Test the hotkey. Press your chosen hotkey to verify that ParrotKey detects it. ParrotKey will confirm the detection so you know it is working.

Three hotkey modes

ParrotKey has three distinct modes, each triggered by a different key combination based on the modifier key you choose:

Transcribe (main dictation)

Press your chosen modifier key to start and stop dictation. This is the mode you will use most often. Your voice is transcribed into text and inserted at your cursor position.

Edit (AI text editing)

Press Shift + your modifier key to activate Edit mode. For example, if your modifier key is Option on macOS, you would press Shift+Option. Select existing text, trigger Edit mode, and speak an instruction such as "make it more formal" or "translate to French." ParrotKey uses AI to transform the selected text according to your instruction.

Correct (grammar fix)

Press Control + your modifier key to activate Correct mode. For example, if your modifier key is Option on macOS, you would press Control+Option. Select any text and trigger Correct mode to automatically fix grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors without changing the meaning.

Changing your hotkey later

You are not locked into the hotkey you choose during onboarding. If you find that your chosen key conflicts with another application or is not comfortable, you can change it at any time by going to Settings > Input within ParrotKey.