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Common Issues

This guide covers the most common issues users encounter and how to solve them.
Quick fix for most issues: Restart Stenox. Click menu bar icon → Quit Stenox → Relaunch from Applications.

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No Text Appears After Dictation

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Symptoms

  • You speak and release the hotkey
  • Stenox processes (icon spins or shows activity)
  • But no text appears in your application

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Solutions

Most common cause
  1. Open System Settings
  2. Go to Privacy & Security → Accessibility
  3. Ensure Stenox is in the list and toggled ON
  4. If not listed, click + and add Stenox from Applications folder
  5. Restart Stenox
See Installation guide →
  • Stenox inserts text where your cursor is
  • Click in the text field/app before dictating
  • Ensure the application is active (not in background)
macOS protects certain fields from text insertion:
  • Password fields
  • Secure input fields
  • Some system dialogs
Workaround: Stenox will copy text to clipboard if direct insertion fails. Paste with Cmd+V.
  • Verify provider is configured (Settings → Transcription tab)
  • Check API key is valid (for cloud providers)
  • Test with WhisperKit (local) to isolate issue

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Hotkey Not Working

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Symptoms

  • Pressing Option+Space (or your custom hotkey) does nothing
  • Stenox doesn’t start recording

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Solutions

Another app may be using the same hotkey:
  1. Open Stenox Settings → Settings tab
  2. Try changing hotkey to something unique (e.g., Control+Space)
  3. Common conflicts: Spotlight, Alfred, Raycast, Rectangle
Tip: Use Control (not Cmd or Option) as modifier for fewer conflicts
  • Check menu bar for Stenox icon
  • If not visible, launch Stenox from Applications
  • Check System Settings → Login Items if it should start at launch
  1. Settings → Settings tab
  2. Click hotkey field
  3. Press Backspace to clear
  4. Press your desired hotkey combination
  5. Click Save
  1. Settings → Settings tab
  2. Try switching between:
    • Hold mode (press and hold entire time)
    • Toggle mode (press once to start, again to stop)
  3. See which works better for you

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Poor Transcription Accuracy

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Symptoms

  • Wrong words transcribed
  • Missing words
  • Gibberish or nonsense output

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Solutions

Check microphone:
  • Use external microphone or headset (better than built-in)
  • Position 6-12 inches from mouth
  • Reduce background noise
Check input device:
  1. Settings → Audio tab
  2. Verify correct input device selected
  3. Check input level (speak and watch meter)
Local (WhisperKit):
  • Try small.en instead of base.en for better accuracy
  • Download from Settings → Models tab
Cloud:
  • Use DeepGram Nova-3 (best accuracy)
  • Try AssemblyAI if you have strong accent
  • Don’t speak too fast or too slow
  • Enunciate clearly but naturally
  • Avoid filler words (“um”, “uh”, “like”)
  • Speak in complete sentences when possible
For technical terms, names, or unusual words:
  1. Settings → Vocabulary tab
  2. Add replacements: “stenox” → “Stenox”
  3. Save and test
Learn about Vocabulary →
  • Ensure correct language selected in Profile settings
  • Use English models (.en) for English-only dictation
  • Don’t use auto-detect for your primary language

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API Key Errors

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Symptoms

  • “Invalid API key” or “Authentication failed”
  • Transcription fails immediately
  • Error messages in Stenox

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Solutions

  1. Check you copied the COMPLETE key (no spaces or truncation)
  2. Verify key is active in provider dashboard:
    • DeepGram: console.deepgram.com
    • AssemblyAI: assemblyai.com/dashboard
    • Google Gemini: aistudio.google.com
    • Groq: console.groq.com
  3. Try creating a new API key
  4. Paste again in Stenox Settings
  • Verify your account is active (check email verification)
  • Ensure you haven’t exceeded free tier limits
  • Check provider status page for service issues
When pasting API key:
  • No spaces before or after
  • No quotation marks
  • No line breaks
  • Just the key itself

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Slow Processing / Long Wait Times

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Symptoms

  • Takes 10+ seconds to get transcription
  • Spinning icon for extended period
  • App feels sluggish

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Solutions

  • Test internet speed (fast.com or speedtest.net)
  • Ensure stable connection (not intermittent)
  • Try switching to different Wi-Fi network
  • Use Ethernet if possible
  • Switch from small.en to base.en (faster)
  • Settings → Models tab
  • Download base.en model
  • Processing time will improve (3-4s vs 5-6s)
  • Switch from Phi-3 to Qwen 1.5B (much faster)
  • Settings → Models tab
  • Download Qwen 1.5B model
  • Processing time improves (2-3s vs 5-7s)
For fastest processing:
  • Settings → AI Enhancement tab
  • Select None as provider
  • Reduces total time by 1-5 seconds
  • Free up system resources
  • Close browsers with many tabs
  • Quit unused applications
  • Check Activity Monitor for high CPU usage

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Rate Limit or Quota Exceeded

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Symptoms

  • “Rate limit exceeded” error
  • “Quota exceeded” message
  • Transcription fails after working previously

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Solutions

Wait a few minutes:
  • Groq has per-minute rate limits
  • Wait 1-2 minutes and try again
  • Limits reset quickly
Use fallback profile:
  • Create WhisperKit + MLX profile
  • Switch when you hit limits
Wait until next day:
  • Limit resets at midnight PST
  • Check aistudio.google.com for usage
Create no-enhancement profile:
  • Skip enhancement when you hit limit
  • Or use MLX (local) instead
Check remaining credits:
  • DeepGram: console.deepgram.com/billing
  • AssemblyAI: assemblyai.com/dashboard
Options:
  • Switch to Groq or WhisperKit (free)
  • Purchase more credits (pay-as-you-go)
See Free Tier Guide →

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Stenox Won’t Launch or Crashes

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Symptoms

  • App crashes on launch
  • Icon doesn’t appear in menu bar
  • Unresponsive or frozen

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Solutions

  1. Force quit if necessary (Cmd+Option+Esc)
  2. Relaunch from Applications folder
  3. Check if issue persists
  • Stenox requires macOS 13.0 (Ventura) or later
  • Check: Apple menu → About This Mac
  • Update macOS if needed
  1. Quit Stenox completely
  2. Move Stenox to Trash
  3. Empty Trash
  4. Download fresh copy from stenox.app/download
  5. Install and relaunch
  1. Open Console app (Applications → Utilities)
  2. Search for “Stenox” in filter
  3. Look for crash reports
  4. Send to [email protected] if issue persists
Reset Stenox settings:
  1. Quit Stenox
  2. Open Terminal
  3. Run: defaults delete com.gedeonapps.stenox
  4. Relaunch Stenox
  5. Reconfigure settings
Warning: This removes all settings, API keys, and vocabulary

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Model Download Issues

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Symptoms

  • Model download fails or hangs
  • “Download error” message
  • Incomplete model files

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Solutions

  • Ensure 5+ GB free space
  • Models range from 142 MB to 3.8 GB
  • Check: Apple menu → About This Mac → Storage
  • Stable connection required for downloads
  • Downloads can be 1-4 GB
  • Don’t interrupt or sleep Mac during download
  1. Quit Stenox
  2. Open Finder → Go → Go to Folder
  3. Enter: ~/stenox-models/
  4. Delete incomplete model folders
  5. Relaunch Stenox and try again
  • Start with smallest model first (base.en - 142 MB)
  • Test if downloading works
  • Then try larger models

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Microphone Not Working

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Symptoms

  • No waveform during recording
  • Silent audio
  • “No input device” error

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Solutions

  1. Open System Settings
  2. Go to Privacy & Security → Microphone
  3. Ensure Stenox is toggled ON
  4. Restart Stenox if you just granted permission
  1. Stenox Settings → Audio tab
  2. Check Input Device dropdown
  3. Select your microphone
  4. Test by speaking (watch input level meter)
  • Open Voice Memos or QuickTime Player
  • Test recording there
  • If it doesn’t work, issue is with microphone/macOS, not Stenox
  • For external microphone: reconnect USB/cable
  • Try different USB port
  • Check if microphone works on another device

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MLX Not Available (Intel Mac)

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Symptoms

  • MLX option grayed out or not visible
  • “MLX requires Apple Silicon” message

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Solution

MLX requires Apple Silicon. Intel Macs cannot use MLX models.
Alternatives for Intel Macs:
  1. Skip AI enhancement - Use transcription only (faster)
  2. Use cloud enhancement - Google Gemini or Groq LLMs
  3. Upgrade to Apple Silicon Mac
See AI Enhancement options →

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Getting Additional Help

If your issue isn’t covered here:

Email Support

Email: [email protected]Include:
  • Description of issue
  • macOS version
  • Stenox version
  • Steps to reproduce

Check Documentation

Browse our comprehensive docs:

Reset Settings

Last resort - reset Stenox:
  1. Quit Stenox
  2. Delete preferences (see above)
  3. Reinstall app
  4. Reconfigure from scratch

System Info

Gather system info for support:
  • macOS version (About This Mac)
  • Stenox version (Settings → About)
  • Console logs (Console app)
  • Screenshot of issue

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Quick Diagnostics Checklist

Use this checklist to diagnose most issues:
  • ✅ Permissions granted (Accessibility + Microphone)
  • ✅ Provider configured (Transcription + optional Enhancement)
  • ✅ API key valid (for cloud providers)
  • ✅ Internet working (for cloud providers)
  • ✅ Hotkey not conflicting (try different key)
  • ✅ Microphone working (test in other apps)
  • ✅ macOS 13.0+ (check About This Mac)
  • ✅ Stenox running (icon in menu bar)
  • ✅ Cursor in text field (before dictating)
  • ✅ Enough disk space (5+ GB for models)
Most issues are solved by: Granting permissions, checking API keys, or restarting Stenox.