Settings Sections
Steno settings are grouped into focused cards so you can tune behavior without hunting through menus.
Current sections:
- Permissions
- Recording
- Engine
- Cleanup
- Text Output (Insertion)
- Media
- Word Corrections
- Cleanup Style
- Text Shortcuts
- General
Most users should only need to visit:
- Permissions
- Recording
- Engine
- Text Output
Power users often customize Cleanup Style, Word Corrections, and Text Shortcuts.
Save Behavior
Settings edits are not always applied immediately. Use the bottom actions:
- Save and Apply: persists preferences and rebuilds runtime configuration
- Save API Key: updates keychain key and rebuilds cleanup runtime
- Clear API Key: removes stored key and returns cloud cleanup to local fallback behavior
After permission changes in System Settings, Steno refreshes status and may re-register monitors/hotkeys when idle.
Recommended Baseline
For most users:
- keep Option hold-to-talk enabled
- keep hands-free enabled on a function key you do not otherwise use
- keep insertion order as
direct -> accessibility -> clipboard - validate whisper paths with Test Setup
- start with cleanup mode
cloud if configuredonly if you have an API key
Permissions
Grant and maintain required macOS permissions for recording and insertion.
Engine and Model
Fix missing binaries, model path issues, and tune thread counts.
Text Output
Control insertion method priority and app-specific reliability.
Cleanup and Style
Tune cleanup quality, tone, structure, and command handling.