Troubleshooting

If something isn't working as expected, you're likely to find the answer here. This page covers the most common issues and links to more detailed guides for specific topics.

Echo Won't Start Recording

No model selected. Echo needs a transcription model before it can record. Open Echo and go to Settings > Transcription to download or select a model.

Microphone permission not granted. Check that Echo has microphone access in System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone. See Permission issues for step-by-step instructions.

No keyboard shortcut set. Echo requires a keyboard shortcut to start recording. Open Settings > Recording and set a shortcut in the Echo Shortcuts section.

Text Not Appearing After Transcription

Accessibility not enabled. Without Accessibility access, Echo copies your transcription to the clipboard instead of pasting it directly. You'll see a notification saying "Transcript copied to clipboard. Enable Accessibility for auto-paste." Grant Accessibility access in System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility to enable automatic pasting.

Cursor not in a text field. Make sure your cursor is placed in a text field before stopping the recording. Echo pastes text at your current cursor position.

Poor Transcription Quality

Using a small model. Smaller models are faster but less accurate. Try switching to a larger model like Large v3 Turbo or a cloud service for better results. See Improving transcription quality for detailed guidance.

Background noise. Excessive ambient noise can reduce accuracy. Try moving to a quieter environment or using a directional microphone closer to your mouth.

Wrong language. If your selected language doesn't match what you're speaking, transcription quality will suffer. Check your language setting in Settings > Transcription.

Microphone Not Detected

If Echo doesn't detect your microphone, or the wrong microphone is being used, see Audio issues for troubleshooting steps.

Exporting Diagnostic Logs

If you're experiencing an issue you can't resolve, you can export diagnostic logs to share with support.

Open Echo and go to Settings
Under the diagnostics section, click Export
Once complete, click Show in Finder to locate the log file

Tips

Many permission-related issues can be resolved by quitting Echo completely and reopening it after making changes in System Settings.
Check the Permissions troubleshooting page if Echo's permission status doesn't update after granting access.
If you're unsure which model to use, start with Large v3 Turbo (Quantized) for a good balance of speed and accuracy.

Permission issues -- Fix Accessibility, Microphone, and Screen Recording permissions
Audio issues -- Microphone detection and audio quality problems
Transcription quality -- Tips for improving accuracy
Privacy -- How Echo handles your data