How to do voice typing with Oravo
Learn how to use Oravo Desktop
Oravo on Desktop
Once you've downloaded and installed the Oravo app on your desktop, you're ready to go.
Put your cursor in a text box
Press and hold your hotkey
Speak freely
Let go of the hotkey to see your formatted transcript
1. Put your cursor in a text box
For Oravo to know where you want to transcribe, your cursor must be in a textbox. This can be in any application on your computer—Slack, Microsoft Teams, Google Docs, Notion, you name it. Just look for the flashing cursor.
2. Press your hotkey
Once you hear Oravo's signature ping or see the white bars start moving, you can start dictating.
3. Let go of your hotkey
To paste the text, let go of the hotkey to paste in the text box you're in. Ta-da, Oravo should have pasted your dictation in the textbox. If not, please let us know.
P.S. If you click Esc, your transcript will be canceled, but don't worry—you can still find it in the Recent Activity page.
[Bonus] More ways to start a dictation on your desktop
Click on your Oravo bar in the center of your screen
Press Fn + Space (Mac) or Ctrl + Win + Space (Windows) to go hands-free mode, then Fn or Ctrl to paste
Troubleshooting: Microphone Not Detected
If Oravo isn't detecting your microphone or you're not seeing any transcription, try these steps:
Choose Your Microphone in Settings:
- •Open Settings in Oravo
- •Select your specific microphone instead of "Built-in mic" or "Auto-Detect"
- •Click Save and Close—changes won't save automatically
- •If your mic isn't listed, quit and reopen the app to refresh the list
Check System Microphone Permissions:
- Mac:Go to System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone and ensure Oravo is allowed access
- Windows:Go to Start → Settings → Privacy & security → Microphone and make sure Microphone access is on and apps can use your mic
Check Audio Input Settings:
- Mac:Open System Settings → Sound → Input and ensure the microphone is not muted with proper input volume
- Windows:Right-click the speaker icon and select Open Sound settings → Input to adjust input volume and check mute status
Test Your Microphone:
- •Use the Oravo bar to speak and check if text appears in Recent Activity
- •If no text appears, download the audio file to verify if sound was recorded
Check for Common Issues:
- •Confirm your mic isn't muted (check hardware mute keys)
- •Ensure your internet connection is stable
- •Temporarily disable VPNs, firewalls, or proxies that might block the app
Note: Bluetooth microphones often cause delays and lower audio quality. We recommend using a built-in or wired microphone for the best experience.
If these steps don't resolve the issue, use the "Report an issue" feature in the app with details about what you've tried.