Permission Issues

Echo requires macOS permissions to record audio, paste text, and optionally capture screen context. If any of these aren't working correctly, this page walks through the most common fixes.

Microphone Permission

Symptom

Echo shows an error like "Microphone access is required to start recording" when you try to record.

Fix

1. Open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone
2. Find Echo in the list and make sure it is toggled on
3. Quit Echo completely (right-click the menu bar icon > Quit) and reopen it

If Echo doesn't appear in the Microphone list at all, try recording once -- macOS should prompt you to grant access. If the prompt never appears, drag the Echo app from your Applications folder into the Microphone list manually.

Resetting Microphone Permission

If microphone access seems stuck or Echo can't detect it after granting:

1. Open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone
2. Toggle Echo off, then toggle it back on
3. Quit and reopen Echo

Accessibility Permission

Symptom

After transcription, text is copied to your clipboard instead of being pasted directly at your cursor. You see a notification saying "Transcript copied to clipboard. Enable Accessibility for auto-paste."

Fix

1. Open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility
2. Find Echo in the list and toggle it on
3. Switch back to Echo -- it will detect the change automatically

Note: Accessibility access allows Echo to paste transcribed text directly into any app at your cursor position. Without it, Echo still works but only copies text to the clipboard.

Echo Not in the Accessibility List

If Echo doesn't appear in the list:

1. Click the + button at the bottom of the Accessibility list
2. Navigate to your Applications folder
3. Select Echo and click Open
4. Toggle it on

Accessibility Toggle Has No Effect

If you've toggled Accessibility on but Echo still copies to clipboard:

1. Toggle Echo off in the Accessibility list
2. Quit Echo completely
3. Toggle Echo back on in the Accessibility list
4. Reopen Echo

In rare cases, macOS may require you to remove Echo from the list entirely, restart your Mac, then re-add it.

Screen Recording Permission

Symptom

Screen context features in AI Enhancement don't work, or Echo reports that screen capture is unavailable.

Fix

1. Open System Settings > Privacy & Security > Screen Recording
2. Find Echo in the list and toggle it on
3. Switch back to Echo -- it will detect the change

Note: Screen Recording is optional. Echo works fully without it. This permission is only needed if you want Echo to capture on-screen context to improve AI Enhancement results.

Resetting Screen Recording Permission

If Screen Recording access appears granted but isn't working:

1. Remove Echo from the Screen Recording list by selecting it and clicking the - button
2. Quit Echo completely
3. Reopen Echo and re-request Screen Recording permission from the Settings screen

Checking All Permissions at Once

You can verify the status of all permissions in one place:

1. Open Echo and go to Settings
2. Navigate to the Permissions section

Each permission shows a green checkmark when active or an orange indicator when it needs attention. Use the refresh button next to each permission to recheck its status without leaving the app.

Tips

• After changing any permission in System Settings, quit Echo completely and reopen it. Some macOS permissions don't take effect until the app restarts.
• If permission changes seem ignored, try restarting your Mac. macOS occasionally caches permission states.
• On macOS Ventura and later, you may see a prompt asking to allow Echo to control your computer. This is the Accessibility permission -- click OK or grant it in System Settings.

Related

• Setting up permissions -- Initial permission setup during onboarding
• Audio issues -- Microphone not detected or poor audio quality
• Common issues -- Overview of all troubleshooting topics