Dictation
Use BridgeMind One push-to-talk dictation on macOS with the Fn key, hands-free mode, microphone selection, and universal text placement.
BridgeMind One dictation lets you speak into your Mac and place the transcription into the app that was focused when you started.
Dictation is currently a macOS feature. It requires an internet connection because audio is uploaded to BridgeMind's hosted Together Whisper transcription service. It is not an offline or on-device transcription mode.
Enable Dictation
- Open BridgeMind One Settings.
- Turn on Fn push-to-talk.
- Choose a microphone if you do not want the default input.
- Grant Microphone access in macOS System Settings.
- Grant Accessibility access so BridgeMind One can observe the Fn gesture and paste text into the focused app.
The permissions are under System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone and Accessibility.
Fn Gestures
| Gesture | Result |
|---|---|
| Hold Fn, then release | Record while held, transcribe on release, and place the text into the original app |
| Double-tap Fn | Start hands-free recording |
| Tap Fn while hands-free | Stop, transcribe, and place the text |
| One quick tap | Do nothing, which prevents accidental short recordings |
You can disable the physical Fn gesture at any time in Settings. The on-screen voice control remains available.
What You See
On a MacBook with a notch, the dictation state appears as a compact pill around the notch. On a display without a notch, BridgeMind One shows a small floating status surface instead.
The surface distinguishes listening, transcribing, and error states so you can tell whether it is still capturing audio.
Where Text Goes
BridgeMind One remembers the app that was focused when dictation began. After transcription, it returns the text through the standard paste flow.
Accessibility permission is required for global Fn detection and text placement. Clipboard managers or apps that block simulated paste can interfere with the final step.
Microphone Selection
Choose an input in Settings → Microphone. When another microphone is available, BridgeMind One avoids switching a Bluetooth headset into its lower-quality call-audio mode.
If the selected device disappears, reopen Settings and choose an available input before the next recording.
Audio and Privacy
Audio is uploaded over HTTPS to BridgeMind's Together Whisper transcription service. Treat spoken content the same way you would treat text sent to a hosted AI service:
- Do not dictate passwords, private keys, or authentication codes.
- Follow your organization's policy for confidential or regulated information.
- Stop the recording if the wrong application or conversation is in focus.
Troubleshooting
Fn works only inside BridgeMind One
Confirm that Accessibility permission is enabled for the installed BridgeMind One app, then quit and reopen it.
Recording does not start
Confirm Microphone permission, verify that an input device is connected, and check that Fn push-to-talk is enabled.
Transcription finishes but no text appears
Return focus to the target app, confirm Accessibility permission, and check whether that app accepts normal paste commands.
The wrong microphone is active
Select the desired input explicitly in BridgeMind One Settings before starting another recording.
Chat Mode
Use standalone AI conversations for analysis, drafting, planning, and one-off work without attaching a project folder or persistent teammate.
Skills and Plugins
Give BridgeMind One agents reusable procedures and controlled access to connected services while credentials remain managed by the app.