Dictation is slow or stuck

Speed up dictations that take longer than usual to appear, and recover when transcription stalls or times out.

If a dictation takes longer than usual to appear, your text isn't lost. Most delays are temporary and clear on the next try. This article covers what slows dictation down and how to recover when it stalls.

Quick checks

Start with the fastest fixes:

  • Wait a moment, then try again. A brief network blip or a slow first dictation after launch usually resolves on its own.
  • On Cloud mode, check your connection. Cloud transcription needs a stable internet connection. A weak or dropping signal adds delay.
  • Try a shorter dictation. Very long recordings take longer to process. Break a long thought into a few shorter ones.
  • Using a Bluetooth mic? AirPods and other Bluetooth mics can be slow to start recording, which delays the first moment of dictation. See AirPods and Bluetooth audio.

Why dictation takes longer than usual

A few things add time to a dictation, and they differ between Cloud mode and Local Mode.

In Cloud mode (the default), your audio is sent to Epilude's cloud for transcription, so speed depends on your internet connection and the length of what you said. A slow or unstable connection is the most common cause of delay.

In Local Mode, transcription runs on your Mac, so speed depends on your Mac's resources. Heavy apps running at the same time can slow it down. Close what you don't need, or switch to Cloud mode for very long dictations.

The first dictation right after you launch Epilude or wake your Mac can also be slower while the app warms up. Later dictations in the same session are quicker.

When dictation stalls or times out

If a dictation never inserts or shows an error, redictate and it usually completes. A stall most often means the connection dropped partway through in Cloud mode, or the app needs a moment to recover.

If it keeps happening:

  1. Check the menu bar to confirm Epilude is still running
  2. Quit Epilude from the menu bar and relaunch it
  3. Try the dictation again

Speed up Cloud mode

Cloud mode is fastest on a stable connection with shorter dictations. If you want the quickest possible turnaround and don't need heavy polishing, lower your Cleanup level. Higher levels do more rewriting, which adds a little time to each dictation.

Speed up Local Mode

Local Mode runs entirely on your Mac, so freeing up resources helps it most. Close memory-heavy apps before a long session, and confirm Epilude Model 1 finished downloading. If dictation is paused rather than slow, the model may still be installing. See Local Mode to check its status.

Still slow?

If dictation stays slow after trying the steps above, contact support. Include your macOS version, whether you're on Cloud mode or Local Mode, and roughly how long a dictation takes to appear.

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