dictate
Download

Get set up

Setup & help

Getting dictate running on Android, granting the permissions it needs, and — if you run client-side — getting your own API keys.

Android permissions

After you install the .apk and open dictate, it asks for a few permissions. Each one is used for one specific thing:

Microphone

Required. dictate records your voice only while you hold the record button; nothing is captured otherwise. Grant it when first prompted, or in Settings → Apps → dictate → Permissions → Microphone.

Android microphone permission dialog asking to allow dictate to record audio

Accessibility service

This is how the finished text is typed into whatever app you're in, and how the on-screen terms are read for screen-context biasing. Enable it in Settings → Accessibility → dictate → turn On. Android shows a scary-sounding warning for any accessibility service; dictate uses it only to insert text at your cursor and read visible terms.

Android accessibility service confirmation dialog for enabling dictate

Display over other apps

Lets the floating record button sit on top of your other apps so you can dictate anywhere. Enable it in Settings → Apps → dictate → Display over other apps (or “Appear on top”).

Android Display over other apps settings screen with dictate toggled on

Notifications

Optional. Used for the ongoing “recording” indicator and to report a failed transcription. Denying it doesn't stop dictation from working.

Android notifications permission dialog for dictate

Client-mode API keys

By default dictate uses the hosted server and you need no keys. In client mode it calls the speech and cleanup providers directly with your own keys — nothing goes through a server. You need two:

AssemblyAI (speech-to-text)

  1. Create an account at assemblyai.com.
  2. Open the dashboard — your API key is shown on the home screen; copy it.
  3. In dictate: Settings → client mode → paste the key into AssemblyAI API key.

OpenRouter (LLM cleanup)

  1. Create an account at openrouter.ai.
  2. Go to Keys, create a new key, and copy it (it starts with sk-or-).
  3. In dictate: Settings → client mode → paste the key into OpenRouter API key.

Both providers bill you directly for what you use. Keys are stored on your device and sent only to those providers.

← Back to home