Hands-free dictation
Start and stop dictation with a single keypress — no holding required. Ideal for longer text like emails and messages.
What is hands-free mode?
By default, Epilude uses push-to-talk — you hold a key while speaking and release when done. Hands-free mode flips this: press once to start, speak as long as you need, then press again to stop. No holding required.
This is ideal for longer dictations like emails, messages, or notes where holding a key gets uncomfortable.
How to activate
There are two ways to start hands-free dictation:
- Dedicated hotkey — If you've configured a hands-free hotkey in Settings → Hotkeys, press it once to start
- Double-tap push-to-talk — If no dedicated hotkey is set, quickly double-tap your push-to-talk hotkey (within half a second) to enter hands-free mode
You'll see the dictation indicator appear, confirming Epilude is listening.
How to stop
- Press the hotkey again — Press your hands-free hotkey (or push-to-talk hotkey) to stop dictation. Epilude processes and inserts your text.
- Auto-timeout — If you stop speaking for an extended period, Epilude automatically ends the session after 10 minutes.
Configuring a dedicated hotkey
Open hotkey settings
Go to Epilude → Settings → Hotkeys.
Find the hands-free section
Under Hands-free mode, you'll see the current hotkey assignment. The default is Right Command (⌘).
Set your preferred key
Click the hotkey field and press your desired key. You can assign up to 3 alternative hotkeys for hands-free mode.
Push-to-talk vs. hands-free
| Push-to-talk | Hands-free | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | Hold to speak, release to stop | Press once to start, press again to stop |
| Best for | Quick phrases, short replies | Emails, long messages, notes |
| Default hotkey | Right Option (⌥) | Right Command (⌘) |
| Hands busy? | Requires one hand on keyboard | Only two quick presses |
Use both
You don't have to choose — push-to-talk and hands-free work side by side. Use push-to-talk for quick replies and hands-free for longer dictation.
Cancelling
To cancel a hands-free session without inserting text, press your hotkey to stop, then undo the insertion with ⌘Z in most apps.
Tips
- Use for emails and messages — Hands-free shines when you need to dictate several sentences without interruption
- Pair with Auto-Edits — Enable Auto-Edits for best results on longer dictations
- Speak naturally — You don't need to rush. Epilude keeps listening until you stop it
Related
- Auto-Edits — AI-powered text formatting
- Keyboard shortcuts — All available hotkeys
- Quick start — Get started with Epilude