---
title: "DictationDesk docs: hotkeys, offline mode, privacy"
canonical: https://dictationdesk.com/docs
last_modified: 2026-10-25
publisher: Surge Software Solutions Private Limited
---

# DictationDesk docs: hotkeys, offline mode, privacy

> Install, hotkeys, speaking tips, privacy and offline mode.

## Install and sign in

The Windows app is in private testing and not downloadable yet: coming soon.

In the web dashboard open Devices → New token, copy the sk_dev_ token, paste it in the app under Account, then press Sync. No account? The app works fully offline in English.

## Hotkeys

- Ctrl+Win (hold): dictate; release to type. Pressing another key while holding cancels.
- Ctrl+Win+Alt (hold): command mode: select text first, then say “make this formal”, “shorter”…
- Settings → Hold to talk off: press once to start, again to stop.
- Settings → Dictation hotkey: any shortcut such as Ctrl+Shift+Space, or a modifier combo such as Ctrl+Win. (macOS is planned, no date yet.)

## Speaking tips

- Say comma, full stop, question mark, new line, new paragraph for explicit punctuation.
- Correct yourself naturally: “at five, no wait, at six” → “at six”. “Scratch that” deletes the last sentence.
- In code editors: camel case user name → userName, snake case, open paren, equals, dot.
- Emails get a greeting line and a sign-off block automatically; chat messages drop the trailing full stop.

## Privacy

Surge Software Solutions Pvt Ltd's company-wide policy: https://surgesoftware.co.in/privacy. This section explains how DictationDesk applies it.

- No screenshots, ever. The app only reads the name of the focused app to choose formatting.
- Audio is processed in memory and never stored, on our servers or on your PC.
- Text is not stored on our servers unless you turn on Cloud history. Local history (last 500) can be turned off.
- Offline only mode keeps everything on your PC using whisper.cpp.
- Cloud speech-to-text and AI polish run on our own servers in Bengaluru. If they are down, a fallback provider is used, which may be outside India (Anthropic for AI polish). Indian-language speech (when switched on) is processed by Sarvam AI. Emails are sent through Resend.

## Offline mode

The Windows app includes whisper.cpp with the English base model (148 MB on disk, used only while transcribing). More models can be downloaded from Settings → Offline model. Offline dictation is free and unlimited.