> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.stenox.app/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Creating Profiles

> Step-by-step guide to creating custom Stenox profiles

"og:title": "Stenox Docs"

## Create Your First Profile

Follow this guide to create a custom profile for specific use cases.

## Step-by-Step: Create a Profile

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open Profile Settings">
    1. Click Stenox menu bar icon
    2. Go to **Settings**
    3. Select **Profiles** tab
  </Step>

  <Step title="Click New Profile">
    Click the **+ New Profile** button
  </Step>

  <Step title="Name your profile">
    Enter a descriptive name (e.g., "Work Email Professional")
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose transcription provider">
    Select from:

    * Parakeet (local)
    * WhisperKit (local)
    * DeepGram
    * AssemblyAI
    * Groq Whisper

    [Compare providers →](/providers/overview)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose AI enhancement provider">
    Select from:

    * None (skip enhancement)
    * MLX (local)
    * Google Gemini
    * Groq LLMs

    [Compare providers →](/providers/overview)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Configure custom prompt (optional)">
    Add custom enhancement instructions:

    **Example for email:**

    ```
    Rewrite in professional, business-appropriate tone.
    Format as clear, concise email.
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Add auto-activation rules (optional)">
    * Click **Add Trigger Rule**
    * Choose App Bundle ID or Window Title
    * Enter identifier (e.g., `com.apple.mail` or "Gmail")

    [Learn about auto-activation →](/profiles/auto-activation)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose profile color (optional)">
    Select a color for easy visual identification
  </Step>

  <Step title="Save profile">
    Click **Save** to create the profile
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Example Profile Configurations

### Professional Email Profile

**Use case:** Business emails, formal communications

**Configuration:**

* **Name:** "Professional Email"
* **Transcription:** DeepGram Nova-3
* **Enhancement:** Google Gemini 2.5 Flash
* **Custom prompt:**
  ```
  Rewrite in professional, business-appropriate tone.
  Use formal language. Format as clear, concise email.
  Remove filler words and make it direct.
  ```
* **Auto-activate:**
  * Window title contains: "Gmail"
  * App bundle: `com.apple.mail`
  * Window title contains: "Outlook"
* **Color:** Blue

***

### Quick Notes Profile

**Use case:** Fast note-taking, personal notes

**Configuration:**

* **Name:** "Quick Notes"
* **Transcription:** Groq Whisper v3-turbo
* **Enhancement:** None (skip for speed)
* **Custom prompt:** N/A
* **Auto-activate:**
  * App bundle: `com.apple.Notes`
  * Window title contains: "Obsidian"
* **Color:** Green

***

### Code Documentation Profile

**Use case:** Code comments, technical documentation

**Configuration:**

* **Name:** "Code Documentation"
* **Transcription:** DeepGram Nova-3
* **Enhancement:** Google Gemini 2.5 Flash
* **Custom prompt:**
  ```
  Format for technical documentation.
  Preserve all code and technical terms exactly as stated.
  Use active voice and clear, concise language.
  Add appropriate formatting for code blocks if applicable.
  ```
* **Auto-activate:**
  * App bundle: `com.microsoft.VSCode`
  * App bundle: `com.apple.dt.Xcode`
  * Window title contains: "GitHub"
* **Color:** Purple

***

### Privacy-First Profile

**Use case:** Sensitive work, confidential dictation

**Configuration:**

* **Name:** "Privacy (Offline)"
* **Transcription:** Parakeet v2
* **Enhancement:** MLX Qwen 3 1.5B
* **Custom prompt:** Default
* **Auto-activate:**
  * Manual activation only (for privacy-sensitive moments)
* **Color:** Red

***

### Casual Chat Profile

**Use case:** Chat apps, informal messages

**Configuration:**

* **Name:** "Casual Chat"
* **Transcription:** Groq Whisper v3-turbo
* **Enhancement:** Google Gemini 2.5 Flash
* **Custom prompt:**
  ```
  Fix grammar but keep casual, friendly tone.
  Use contractions. Keep it conversational.
  ```
* **Auto-activate:**
  * App bundle: `com.tinyspeck.slackmacgap` (Slack)
  * App bundle: `com.hnc.Discord` (Discord)
  * Window title contains: "Messages"
* **Color:** Yellow

## Profile Management

### Editing Profiles

1. Settings → Profiles tab
2. Select profile from list
3. Modify any settings
4. Click **Save**

### Duplicating Profiles

1. Select existing profile
2. Click **Duplicate** button
3. Modify settings as needed
4. Save with new name

**Use case:** Create variations of existing profiles quickly

### Deleting Profiles

1. Select profile
2. Click **Delete** button
3. Confirm deletion

**Note:** Cannot delete the Default profile

### Setting Default Profile

1. Select desired profile
2. Click **Set as Default**
3. This profile will be used when no auto-activation rules match

## Custom Enhancement Prompts

### Professional Tone

```
Rewrite in professional, business-appropriate tone.
Use formal language and proper email structure.
Remove filler words and make it clear and direct.
```

### Casual Tone

```
Fix grammar but keep casual, friendly tone.
Use contractions (e.g., "don't" instead of "do not").
Keep it conversational and natural.
```

### Technical Documentation

```
Format for technical documentation.
Preserve all technical terms, code, and API names exactly as stated.
Use active voice and clear, concise language.
Add appropriate section breaks if needed.
```

### Creative Writing

```
Fix grammar while preserving creative voice and style.
Enhance descriptive language where appropriate.
Maintain the author's unique tone and perspective.
```

### Minimal Editing

```
Only fix obvious grammar and punctuation errors.
Change as little as possible.
Preserve the original phrasing and tone.
```

## Tips for Effective Profiles

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Start simple" icon="seedling">
    Begin with 2-3 profiles. Add more as you identify specific needs.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Name descriptively" icon="tag">
    Include use case in the name: "Work Email - Professional" vs "Profile 1"
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Test before relying" icon="vial">
    Test each profile thoroughly before using for important work.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Use colors effectively" icon="palette">
    Consistent color coding helps identify active profile quickly.
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Include local fallback" icon="shield">
    Always have one profile with Parakeet or WhisperKit + MLX for offline/privacy needs.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Profile not saving" icon="floppy-disk">
    * Ensure all required fields filled
    * Check API keys are valid (for cloud providers)
    * Try saving without auto-activation rules first
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Auto-activation not working" icon="wand-magic">
    * Verify app bundle ID or window title is correct
    * Test by manually activating profile first
    * Check for conflicting rules in other profiles

    [See auto-activation guide →](/profiles/auto-activation)
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Poor enhancement results" icon="spell-check">
    * Adjust custom prompt to be more specific
    * Try different AI enhancement provider
    * Test with and without enhancement to isolate issue
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Next Steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Auto-Activation" icon="wand-magic" href="/profiles/auto-activation">
    Set up automatic profile switching.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Providers" icon="server" href="/providers/overview">
    Choose the best providers for your profiles.
  </Card>

  <Card title="System Prompts" icon="message" href="/profiles/system-prompts">
    Craft effective formatting instructions.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Vocabulary" icon="book" href="/setup/vocabulary">
    Add custom words and terms globally.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>