No magic, just a short on-device process: record, transcribe, clean up, and insert, one step at a time.
KeyVox records your voice, turns it into text using a model installed on your Mac or iPhone, applies your custom dictionary and formatting preferences, and then inserts the result where you were typing.
Every one of those steps runs on your device once setup is complete. Only the initial model download and optional extras like iCloud sync need an internet connection.
This covers the dictation process itself. Downloads, purchases, and iCloud sync are separate, optional steps.
On Mac, KeyVox first tries to place finished text directly in the active text field, with a fallback if a particular app does not support that method. On iPhone, the KeyVox keyboard places text directly into the active text field.
In both cases, KeyVox stops once the text is inserted. It does not automatically submit a form, send a message, or press Return.
Your writing style through Vibes and your List or Paragraph formatting stay adjustable right after dictation, as long as you have not started editing the text yourself.
On Mac, tap your trigger key to apply or undo the current Vibe, double-tap to cycle between Vibes, and hold the trigger with L or P to toggle list or paragraph formatting. On iPhone, long-press the Vibes key to undo a change, or choose a style and long-press to apply it; the Lists and Paragraphs keys work the same way with a long press.
| Step | Needs internet? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Recording your voice | No | The microphone and recording happen locally. |
| Transcribing speech to text | No, after setup | The dictation model runs on your device once installed. |
| Applying your dictionary and formatting | No | These preferences are stored and applied on the device. |
| Downloading a model the first time | Yes | The model file itself must be downloaded once. |
| iCloud dictionary sync, updates, purchases | Yes | These are separate Apple services, not part of transcription. |
KeyVox records your voice, transcribes it on your device, applies your dictionary and formatting preferences, and inserts the result where your cursor is.
No. Recording, transcription, dictionary correction, and formatting all happen on your Mac or iPhone.
Yes. KeyVox Vibes lets you try another writing style or switch back until you begin editing the text yourself.
Yes. KeyVox inserts editable text and leaves the final action to you.
Yes. KeyVox is free to use with no recurring fee for dictation or weekly limit.
Download KeyVox and watch your speech turn into text without it ever leaving your Mac or iPhone.
No KeyVox account. Dictation has no recurring subscription.
Here to help
Answers come from published KeyVox pages and articles.