HyperWhisper relies on a handful of global shortcuts so you can control recording without leaving your current app. This page covers the default bindings, how to customize them, and what macOS permissions you need for auto-paste to work reliably.Documentation Index
Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://hyperwhisper.com/docs/llms.txt
Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
Default Global Shortcuts
| Action | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Toggle recording | ⌥Space | Starts/stops a transcription session and opens the recording dialog. |
| Push-to-talk (hold) | ⌥; | Records while held, stops on release. Best for short dictation. |
| Streaming recording | ⌥⇧Space | Streams transcription as you speak. |
| Change mode | ⇧⌥K | Cycles through available modes from anywhere. |
| Cancel recording | Esc | Discards the active session without saving. |
Recording activation modes
You can trigger recording in three ways, configured per-mode in Settings → Shortcuts:- Toggle — Press once to start, press again to stop. Hands-free after activation.
- Push-to-talk (hold) — Hold the key down to record, release to stop. Mirrors a walkie-talkie. Great for short bursts where you want zero risk of leaving recording on.
- Double-tap to lock — Tap the activation key twice quickly (within 1.5 seconds) to lock recording on. Tap twice again to stop. Useful when you want hands-free without using the toggle key.
Push-to-talk has a 250 ms activation delay before recording begins. This filters out keys you press as part of normal shortcuts (e.g.
⌥C) so you don’t trigger an accidental recording every time you use a modifier.Bare modifier keys (Option, Control)
You can use a single modifier key — like just Option or just Control — as your push-to-talk trigger, with no other key combined. This requires Accessibility permission (why). The Fn (Globe) key on modern Mac keyboards is system-reserved by macOS and cannot be used reliably as a push-to-talk trigger. Pick Option, Control, or a regular hotkey combination instead.Editing Shortcuts
- Open Settings → Shortcuts.
- Click the recorder control for any action, then press the new key combination.
- Conflicting assignments are flagged immediately; pick an unused combo if macOS rejects it.
- Use the Reset to Defaults link to revert all shortcuts in one step.
Troubleshooting Shortcuts
- Some key combinations (especially bare function keys) may be consumed by other apps or macOS. Pick modifiers like
⌥,⌃, or⇧to reduce conflicts. - If a shortcut stops responding, open the main window once—macOS occasionally pauses background apps from listening until they become active again.