Granting Permissions

Yapper needs two permissions to work: Microphone access to hear your voice, and Accessibility access to type text into applications. Here’s how to grant them.

Microphone Permission

Yapper needs microphone access to capture your voice for transcription.

When You’re Prompted

The first time you try to record, macOS will show a dialog asking for microphone access:

1. Click Allow in the dialog
2. You’re all set—Yapper can now hear your voice

If You Clicked “Don’t Allow”

If you accidentally denied permission, you can fix it:

1. Open System Settings
2. Go to Privacy & Security → Microphone
3. Find Yapper in the list
4. Turn on the toggle next to it

Accessibility Permission

Yapper needs Accessibility access to simulate keyboard input—this is how it types your transcribed text into other applications.

Granting Accessibility Access

1. Open System Settings
2. Go to Privacy & Security → Accessibility
3. Click the lock icon and enter your password to make changes
4. Find Yapper in the list
5. Turn on the toggle next to it

If Yapper isn’t in the list, you may need to add it manually:

1. Click the + button below the app list
2. Navigate to Applications
3. Select Yapper and click Open
4. Turn on the toggle next to Yapper

Why Accessibility Access?

You might wonder why a dictation app needs Accessibility permissions. Here’s what Yapper uses it for:

• Simulating keyboard input — Yapper “types” your transcribed text character by character, as if you were typing on your keyboard
• Reading selected text — When you use AI Transform, Yapper reads the text you’ve selected so the AI can rewrite it
• Nothing else — Yapper doesn’t monitor your activity or access other applications’ data

This is the same permission that text expanders, keyboard macro apps, and automation tools require.

Checking Permission Status

You can verify permissions are correctly configured in Yapper:

1. Click the Yapper icon in the menu bar
2. Select Settings (or press ⌘ ,)
3. Go to the Preferences tab
4. Look at the Permissions section

You’ll see:

• Green checkmark — Permission granted, you’re good to go
• Orange warning — Permission needed, click “Grant Permission” to open System Settings

Common Issues

”Yapper wants to use Accessibility features” keeps appearing

If the permission prompt keeps showing:

1. Go to System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility
2. Find Yapper in the list
3. Turn the toggle off, then back on
4. If that doesn’t work, remove Yapper from the list and add it again

Permission was granted but still not working

Try these steps:

1. Quit Yapper completely (menu bar icon → Quit Yapper)
2. Reopen Yapper
3. If still not working, restart your Mac

Toggle is greyed out

If you can’t change the permission toggle:

1. Click the lock icon at the bottom of the System Settings window
2. Enter your password to unlock settings
3. Now you can toggle the permission

After Granting Permissions

Once both permissions are granted, you’re ready for your first transcription.