Step 1
Check that your Mac is compatible.
IraVoice requires an Apple-silicon Mac running macOS 26 or later. Apple silicon means an M1, M2, M3, M4, M5, or later Apple chip—not an Intel processor.
Open About This Mac
Choose the Apple menu , then choose About This Mac.
Read Chip and macOS
Confirm the Chip begins with “Apple M” and the macOS version is 26 or newer.
Step 2
Download and install IraVoice.
The download is a Developer ID signed and Apple-notarized disk image. You can install it with the normal Mac drag-and-drop method or with Homebrew.
Normal installation
Download the trial
Open the trial download page, enter your email, and download
IraVoice-0.7.6.dmg.Open the DMG
Open Downloads in Finder, then double-click the IraVoice DMG.
Move the app
Drag IraVoice into the Applications folder. Run the copy in Applications, not the one inside the DMG.
Open IraVoice
Open Finder → Applications → IraVoice. The IraVoice menu-bar icon appears near the top-right of the screen.
Homebrew alternative
If you already use Homebrew, open Terminal and run:
brew install --cask mvplab-ai/tap/iravoiceThen open IraVoice from Applications.
Step 3
Allow the two permissions IraVoice needs.
IraVoice cannot work fully without these. The setup window shows a checkmark when each permission is active.
Grant Microphone access
If you need to find it later: System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone → IraVoice.
Grant Accessibility access
System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility → IraVoice.
Restart after Accessibility
Return to IraVoice and click Restart to apply Accessibility, or choose Restart IraVoice from its menu.
Step 4
Dictate into an app.
IraVoice works with ordinary editable fields in apps such as Mail, Messages, Notes, browsers, Slack, VS Code, and Terminal.
Place the cursor
Click the exact text field where the words should appear. Keep that app and field focused.
Hold Right Option
Press and keep holding the Right Option ⌥ key. A sound and overlay indicate that IraVoice is listening.
Speak naturally
Say the complete thought. You can include punctuation naturally, pause briefly, and correct yourself while speaking.
Release the key
Release Right Option. IraVoice recognizes and formats the speech on your Mac, then inserts the finished text in one paste.
Review important text
Check names, numbers, commands, addresses, and anything you plan to publish or send.
You say: “Hi Alex um thanks for the update new paragraph can we meet Thursday at three”
IraVoice can insert: “Hi Alex, thanks for the update. Can we meet Thursday at 3:00?”
Formatting varies with context. Always review consequential text.Step 5
Use the menu to make IraVoice yours.
Click the IraVoice icon in the menu bar. The most useful settings are:
Choose the language and regional variant closest to how you speak.
Keep this on in most rooms. Try it off only if your microphone becomes unnaturally quiet or clipped.
Choose the safety limit for one held recording: one, three, or five minutes.
Use the Apple on-device model for polished text, None for a raw transcript, or a local Ollama model if you have configured it.
On by default. IraVoice learns derived words and counts—not full sentences. Use Edit vocabulary for names and specialist terms.
Turn the listening cues on or off without changing recognition.
Start IraVoice automatically after signing in to the Mac.
Off by default. Turn it on only if you want transcripts saved locally.
Off by default. Turn it on only if you intentionally want WAV recordings retained locally.
Step 6
Choose the closest language and accent region.
Open IraVoice → Speech language. The menu is built from the SpeechTranscriber locales reported by macOS on your Mac, so its exact contents may differ by system version, device, and downloaded speech assets.
The current macOS 26 test Mac reported these 30 locale choices:
| Language | Reported regional choices |
|---|---|
| English | Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, United Kingdom, United States |
| German | Austria, Germany, Switzerland |
| Spanish | Chile, Mexico, Spain, United States |
| French | Belgium, Canada, France, Switzerland |
| Italian | Italy, Switzerland |
| Portuguese | Brazil, Portugal |
| Mandarin Chinese | China mainland, Hong Kong, Taiwan |
| Cantonese Chinese | China mainland |
| Japanese | Japan |
| Korean | South Korea |
Match the spoken language
Do not leave English selected while speaking Spanish, French, or another language.
Match the region when possible
For Indian English choose English—India; for British English choose English—United Kingdom; use the closest available region for your accent.
Allow first-use preparation
The first dictation in a newly selected locale may take longer while macOS downloads or prepares its speech assets.
Step 7
Get better results in a café or shared room.
Background speech is harder than steady fan or traffic noise. These changes usually help most:
- Leave Reduce background noise on.
- Choose the closest Speech language and region.
- Move closer to the Mac microphone, or use a headset microphone.
- Face away from nearby conversations and do not place the Mac beside a loud speaker.
- Speak in complete, calm phrases instead of shouting over the room.
- Review proper names, numbers, and technical identifiers before sending.
Step 8
Turn a rough idea into an agent-ready specification.
Voice-to-Spec is called Prompt Mode in the app. It turns developer speech into a reviewable Markdown brief with five fixed sections: Goal, Context, Constraints, Acceptance criteria, and Verification.
Choose a destination
Open IraVoice → Prompt destination. Keep Focused app for the safest, review-first workflow. Codex and Claude Code appear only when their CLI is installed.
Choose the repository if needed
Automatic repository context is on by default. If the menu says Repository: Not detected, choose Choose repository….
Hold Fn or Globe and speak
Hold Fn / Globe, describe the task and its important restrictions, then release the key.
Review the five sections
Check filenames, URLs, commands, versions, quantities, “do not” instructions, and acceptance criteria before using the brief.
Goal:Context:Constraints:Acceptance criteria:Verification:What happens with Codex or Claude Code
IraVoice opens a visible Terminal in the verified Git repository, launches the installed CLI, verifies the process and focus, waits for a real ready prompt, and then submits the guarded specification. It does not use unattended or permission-bypass flags.
Step 9
Understand the trial and activate your license.
No card and no app account.
The three-day clock starts after usable text is delivered.
Voice actions stop; settings remain available.
Pay $50 once and paste the emailed key.
Activate a paid license
Buy IraVoice
Use the official Buy page. Checkout, tax, receipt, and key delivery are handled by Gumroad on payments.iravoice.com.
Copy the license key
Open the Gumroad receipt email and copy your unique IraVoice license key.
Paste it into IraVoice
Open the IraVoice menu → Licence…, paste the key, and activate it.
Confirm the status
The menu should show Licensed. The verified license is stored in the macOS Keychain and that Mac works offline afterward.
Step 10
Know what stays local and what connects.
- Microphone audio
- Speech recognition
- Default supported formatting
- Vocabulary and repository context
- Optional text history and audio recordings
- Apple speech-asset download on first use
- One Gumroad paid-license verification
- A finished specification sent only when you choose Codex or Claude Code
Local text history and audio retention are off by default. If you turn them on, use Delete retained text & audio… to remove both. Preferences, vocabulary, settings, logs, and Keychain license state are separate from that deletion command.
For the complete policy, read IraVoice Privacy.
Step 11
Fix common problems.
Holding the key does nothing
Open IraVoice → Setup & permissions…. Confirm both permissions. In System Settings, make sure the enabled entry belongs to /Applications/IraVoice.app, then restart IraVoice.
IraVoice heard me, but no text appeared
Return to the intended text field and press Command-V. If the text pastes, focus changed before insertion. Also confirm Accessibility is active and keep the destination field focused until processing finishes.
The first use is slow or shows model preparation
Stay connected briefly while macOS downloads or prepares speech assets for the selected language. Try again after preparation completes. Changing the recognizer, formatter, or language can reload models.
Recognition is poor for my accent
Choose the closest regional Speech language, speak a short test, and add names or technical terms with Edit vocabulary…. Test during the free trial; a visible language option is not a guarantee for every speaker.
Recognition is poor in a café
Keep Reduce background noise on, move closer to the microphone, and use a headset if possible. If the audio seems too quiet or clipped, compare one short attempt with noise reduction off.
Codex or Claude Code is unavailable
Install and sign in to the corresponding CLI first. If IraVoice detects an update, terms, trust, authentication, or choice screen, complete it yourself, then paste the specification that IraVoice copied.
The trial expired or activation failed
Open Licence… to see the exact status. Confirm you are online for the one activation request, paste the complete key from the Gumroad receipt, and try again. After successful verification, normal use is offline.
I still need help
Open IraVoice → Show log… and note the time of the failed attempt. The log records status and errors, not dictated text. Then use the support form or email hello@iravoice.com.
Step 12
Keep this quick reference nearby.
Hold, speak, release.
Hold, describe the task, release.
Use if safe insertion was unavailable.
Ready to try it?
Start with one sentence.
Install IraVoice, click a text field, and hold Right Option. The full trial lasts three days and starts only after the first usable voice result.
Frequently asked questions
Short answers before you begin.
What keys do I hold to use IraVoice?
Hold Right Option to dictate ordinary text. Hold Fn or Globe to turn a spoken developer request into a five-section Voice-to-Spec brief. Keep the key held while you speak, then release it.
Does the three-day trial start when I install the app?
No. The trial clock starts after the first completed voice action that delivers usable text. Installing the app, granting permissions, or an empty attempt does not start it.
What happens after the trial expires?
Dictation and Voice-to-Spec stop until a paid license is activated. The app still opens, so you can change settings or paste a license key.
Does IraVoice upload my voice or transcript?
No. The default speech-recognition and formatting path runs on the Mac. Apple speech assets may download on first use. Paid activation makes one license-verification request to Gumroad. If you explicitly hand a finished specification to Codex or Claude Code, that text then follows the selected agent's terms; microphone audio is never handed off.
Why did IraVoice copy text instead of inserting it?
The focused field may have changed or macOS Accessibility access may be missing. IraVoice preserves the result on the clipboard when safe insertion is not available. Return to the intended field and press Command-V.
Can IraVoice work with accents and background noise?
Choose the closest regional Speech language and leave Reduce background noise on in shared rooms. A headset microphone or speaking close to the Mac usually helps. No dictation app is accurate for every speaker and every café, so review names, numbers, and important text before sending it.