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Record hotkey and shortcuts

The Record hotkey is Option + Space on a Mac or Alt + Space on Windows by default. How it works, how to change it, and which keys you cannot use.

Last updated · October 22, 2026

How the Record hotkey works

Press Option + Space on a Mac or Alt + Space on Windows once to start recording, speak, and press it again to stop. VocType then transcribes and pastes. You don't need to keep holding the key while you talk. Pressing Esc while recording also stops it, and the recording is still transcribed and pasted.

Change it

  1. Open VocType from its menu bar icon and go to Settings.
  2. Under Hotkeys, click the Record shortcut.
  3. Press the new combination. Press Esc to cancel.

If Option + Space clashes with another app, F5 and F6 are good single-key choices. Setup offers them too.

Which keys you can use

  • A modifier (Option, Shift, Control or Command) plus a letter, number, punctuation key, keypad key, Space, Tab, Return or an arrow key. Shift alone is not enough for a key you type with, such as Shift+K.
  • Or a single function key, F1 to F24, with no modifier.
  • Or modifier keys on their own, such as Option+Command, or a single key such as Right Command. Tap them quickly without touching another key. On a Mac, this needs Accessibility turned on. To use Fn, set the Globe key to Do Nothing in System Settings first. On Windows, the Windows, Alt or Shift key alone can't be used, because Windows acts on them.
  • Esc cannot be the Record hotkey.
  • Shortcuts macOS uses itself, such as Spotlight, the app switcher, Quit and Close, are blocked. You will see "Your operating system reserves that key combination. Pick another."
  • If another app already owns the combination, you will see "Another app is using that hotkey. Pick something else." Your previous hotkey keeps working.

Closing a message

Press Esc to close most error messages on the recording pill.

Still stuck?

Email support@voctype.com and tell us what you tried. We aim to reply within 2 business days.

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