Set up TessFlo

You need an Apple Silicon Mac (M1 or later), macOS 14 or later, and space for a speech model. TessFlo supports English dictation. Intel Macs are not supported.

Connect to the internet to download TessFlo and a model, and to start your seven-day trial with your first dictation. Installing the app does not start the trial.

Install and set up

1. Download TessFlo from the TessFlo website.
2. Open the downloaded disk image. Drag TessFlo into Applications, then open it from there.
3. Read the Terms and Privacy Policy in the welcome screen, scrolling to the end of each. If you agree, select the agreement checkbox and confirm you are at least 18, legally an adult where you live, and able to agree. Then choose Agree & Continue. Otherwise, choose Not now. This does not start a trial or payment.
4. On Choose how you dictate, select a speech model. Best Quality is the default. Choose Download model and review its notice.
5. Keep TessFlo open until the download and installation check finish. 100% downloaded does not yet mean ready.
6. Choose Continue to set up text delivery. Pick one of the two options below.

You can skip the model download to explore TessFlo. Before dictating, install one from Settings → Models.

Finish setup with automatic paste

1. Choose Allow auto-paste.
2. In System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility, turn on TessFlo. Return to TessFlo.
3. Check that TessFlo says Auto-paste is on. If needed, choose Check again. Opening System Settings alone does not grant access.
4. Choose Start dictating to open Home. This finishes setup; it does not start recording.

If you cannot enable Accessibility, choose Use clipboard instead.

Finish setup with clipboard delivery

Choose Use clipboard instead. TessFlo opens Home with automatic paste off. Completed text is copied to the clipboard; click your destination and press Command+V.

This option does not need Accessibility permission. Both delivery options need Microphone permission. You can enable automatic paste later in Settings → Text output.

Try a short dictation

1. Open TextEdit and click in a new document.
2. Check Settings → Recording → Dictation shortcut. The initial default is Option+Space, but TessFlo may choose another if it is unavailable.
3. Press the shortcut once. Allow Microphone access if asked, then wait until TessFlo is listening.
4. Say a short sentence, such as “Please send the meeting notes tomorrow.”
5. Press the same shortcut again to stop. Wait for processing to finish.
6. Check the text in TextEdit. With manual delivery, press Command+V. You can also choose Copy under Latest dictation in TessFlo.

What to expect: your finished text appears in the document or is available to copy. Captions, when enabled for a supported model, are only a preview. Final text arrives after you stop.

The first use of a model may take longer while it prepares. You can cancel the operation; cancellation does not create a completed dictation. Later access checks may need the internet—see Trial and license.