Documentation

Getting Started

Get Ottex up and running in just a few minutes.

Installation

  1. 1Download Ottex from ottex.ai
  2. 2Open the downloaded .dmg file
  3. 3Drag Ottex to your Applications folder
  4. 4Launch Ottex from Applications or Spotlight

Ottex runs in your menu bar. Look for the Ottex icon in the top-right corner of your screen.

Permissions

Ottex needs a few permissions to work. You'll be prompted to grant these during first launch:

Microphone

Required

To capture your voice for transcription.

System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone

Accessibility

Required

To type transcribed text into any app and read selected text for Command Mode.

System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility

Screen Recording

Optional

Only needed for Context Awareness. Allows AI to see your screen for smarter responses.

System Settings → Privacy & Security → Screen Recording

API Key Setup

Ottex uses cloud AI models for transcription and text processing. You bring your own API key and pay only for what you use — typically $1-3 per month for regular use.

Why BYOK (Bring Your Own Key)?

No subscription trap. You pay directly for AI usage at cost. Most users spend $1-3/month. Heavy users might spend $5-10/month.

OpenRouter (Recommended)

Access 200+ models from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Meta, and more through a single API. Pay per token with no monthly fees.

  1. 1Go to openrouter.ai/keys
  2. 2Create an account or sign in
  3. 3Click "Create Key" and copy your new API key
  4. 4Add credits to your account (start with $5-10)
  5. 5In Ottex: Settings → AI Providers → OpenRouter
  6. 6Paste your key and click "Validate"

Recommended models:

  • Transcription: gemini-3.0-flash (fast, accurate, affordable)
  • AI Shortcuts: openai/gpt-oss-120b for ultra-fast, simple shortcuts

Google AI Studio (Alternative)

Direct access to Google's Gemini models. Has a generous free tier.

  1. 1Go to aistudio.google.com/apikey
  2. 2Sign in with your Google account
  3. 3Click "Create API Key" and copy it
  4. 4In Ottex: Settings → AI Providers → Google AI Studio
  5. 5Paste your key and click "Validate"

Free tier: Google AI Studio offers free usage up to certain limits. Great for trying out Ottex before committing to OpenRouter credits.

Choosing Models

After adding your API key, configure which models to use:

  • Settings → Voice to Text → Model: Choose an audio-capable model for transcription
  • Settings → AI Shortcuts → Default Model: Choose a text model for AI transformations

Your First Recording

Once you've set up your API key, you're ready to start dictating:

  1. 1Click in any text field (email, document, chat, etc.)
  2. 2Press your Toggle Recording hotkey (set in Settings → Hotkeys)
  3. 3Speak naturally — Ottex records your voice
  4. 4Press the hotkey again to stop
  5. 5Your transcribed text appears where your cursor was
TipTry Push-to-Talk: For quick messages, hold the Push-to-Talk key while speaking, then release. The text transcribes immediately.

Next Steps

Configure keyboard shortcuts →Learn voice formatting commands →Explore AI-powered features →