# How to change your dictation shortcut

> Rebind the key that starts dictation, and switch between push-to-talk and toggle recording.

Open Settings → Transcription and click the shortcut field, then press the key combination you want. The default is the Fn (Globe) key on macOS and Ctrl + Space on Windows and Linux. The same screen switches between push-to-talk (hold to record) and toggle (tap to start, tap to stop).

*Category: Dictation · Last updated: 2026-09-01*

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## The defaults

`Fn` — macOS — the **Fn (Globe)** key, held down.

`Ctrl + Space` — Windows and Linux — held down.

`⌥ + ⌘ + L` — Read Aloud on macOS. On Windows and Linux this is **Ctrl + Alt + L**.

`Esc` — Cancel whatever Walkie is currently doing.

## Rebind the dictation key

1. Open Walkie and go to **Settings → Transcription**.
2. Click the shortcut field.
   It switches into a listening state.
3. Press the key or combination you want.
   Modifier-only combinations are allowed, which is why Fn alone works as a default.
4. Click away to save. The new binding takes effect immediately.

> **Tip:** Pick something you cannot press by accident but can reach without looking. Modifier keys you rarely use — Right Command, Right Option, or Caps Lock if you have remapped it — make good dictation keys because they never collide with an app shortcut.

## Push-to-talk vs toggle

| Mode | How it works | Best for |
| --- | --- | --- |
| **Push-to-talk** | Hold the key while speaking, release to transcribe | Short bursts — messages, replies, commit messages |
| **Toggle** | Tap to start, tap again to stop | Long dictation where holding a key is uncomfortable |

> **Note:** Push-to-talk is the default because the release is an unambiguous signal that you have finished speaking. In toggle mode, Walkie waits for you to stop it, so a forgotten session keeps recording.

## Driving Walkie from a script or window manager

Walkie accepts command-line flags, which lets a window manager, hotkey daemon, or script control a running instance. This is the recommended approach on Wayland compositors such as Hyprland, where global shortcuts inside an application are unreliable.

| Flag | What it does |
| --- | --- |
| `--toggle-transcription` | Start or stop recording |
| `--start-transcription` | Start recording — bind to key-down |
| `--stop-transcription` | Stop and transcribe — bind to key-up |
| `--cancel` | Cancel the current operation |
| `status` | Print app state as JSON and exit |

Binding `--start-transcription` to key-down and `--stop-transcription` to key-up reproduces push-to-talk behaviour through your window manager.

## Frequently asked questions about how to change your dictation shortcut

### Can I use a single modifier key as the shortcut?

Yes. The macOS default is the Fn key on its own, and other single modifiers work the same way.

### My shortcut conflicts with another app. What happens?

Whichever application registered the shortcut first usually wins, and the behaviour is inconsistent across platforms. Rebind Walkie to something unused rather than trying to win the conflict.

### Does the shortcut work when Walkie's window is closed?

Yes. Walkie keeps running in the tray or menu bar and its shortcut stays live. Closing the window does not quit the app unless you launched it with --no-tray.

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Source: https://trywalkie.com/en/docs/dictation/changing-your-shortcut
Walkie help center: https://trywalkie.com/en/docs