> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.rekody.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Install the app

> Download Rekody for Mac, grant two permissions, and make your first dictation.

Rekody for Mac is a free download. Setup takes about two minutes: drag to Applications, grant two permissions, and let the on-device model download once.

<Card title="Download Rekody for Mac" icon="download" href="https://github.com/rekody/rekody-app/releases/latest/download/Rekody.dmg">
  Rekody.dmg, direct from the latest GitHub release. macOS 13 or later.
</Card>

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the DMG and drag Rekody to Applications">
    Then launch Rekody from Applications. It lives in your menu bar.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Follow the setup">
    Rekody walks you through the permissions it needs to hear you and to type for you:

    * **Microphone**, so it can capture your voice while you dictate.
    * **Accessibility**, so it can place the finished text where your cursor is.

    Both are standard macOS permissions granted in System Settings, and setup takes you to the right pane.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Let the model download finish">
    Setup downloads the on-device voice model once. Stay on a network for that first download. After it finishes, dictation runs fully offline.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Note>
  The model download happens exactly once. From then on, your voice is transcribed on your Mac, not on a server.
</Note>

## After setup

Rekody lives in your menu bar. Its Settings are where you pick a speech engine, turn optional AI cleanup on or off, and choose hold-to-talk or hands-free.

<Frame caption="Settings: the default Rekody Streaming engine, with optional local and cloud engines.">
  <img src="https://mintcdn.com/rekody/tt70CbnQ-gY5MINH/images/settings-engines.png?fit=max&auto=format&n=tt70CbnQ-gY5MINH&q=85&s=8dd0c6edb69435d4cbee58f75328f979" alt="Rekody Settings showing the engine picker, cleanup toggle, and dictation options." width="1400" height="1908" data-path="images/settings-engines.png" />
</Frame>

<Warning>
  Run **Setup** before switching engines. Local Whisper and the cloud engines each need their model downloaded or an API key added first, and Setup is what wires that up.
</Warning>

## Next

<Card title="Your first dictation" icon="mic" href="/app/first-dictation">
  Hold or tap, speak, done.
</Card>


## Related topics

- [Install the CLI](/developers/install-cli.md)
- [Rekody](/index.md)
- [Privacy and your data](/app/privacy.md)
- [The pill](/app/the-pill.md)
- [FAQ](/app/faq.md)