# Nock overview

Nock brings voice, conversations, desktop actions, and small useful tools into a notch at the top of your screen. Dictate into a text field, ask about something on screen, or hand a focused task to an agent without making a chat window your whole workspace.

> Note:
>
> These guides describe the current Nock candidate. Check [Availability](/nock/availability) for the current public download and service status before installing.

## Choose your first workflow

Curious about the system underneath the notch? Start with [How Nock works](/nock/how-nock-works).

### [Speak instead of typing](/nock/dictation)Hold the dictation shortcut, speak, and put your words into the focused text field.
### [Ask the agent](/nock/agent-mode)Have a conversation or ask for an action, with visible results in the notch.
### [Work with your screen](/nock/pointing)Point out a region so an explanation has the context you meant.
### [Make something useful](/nock/widget-builder)Describe a small widget, test its behavior, and choose whether to keep it.

## Two shortcuts, two different jobs

On macOS, **Fn** is the default hold-to-dictate shortcut. **Left Control + Option** is the default hold-to-talk shortcut for the agent. Dictation inserts words; agent mode can answer, use enabled tools, or ask for more information. You can change these in Settings.

For a first test, use an empty document and a simple sentence. Then try an agent question that does not change anything, such as “Explain the difference between dictation and agent mode.” See the [quickstart](/nock/quickstart).

## Find your work

- The [notch](/nock/notch) contains Chat, Tasks, Apps, Studio, Web, and Settings.
- [Chats](/nock/chats) lets you revisit conversations or begin a new one.
- [Background tasks](/nock/background-tasks) separates running work from your next question.
- [Studio](/nock/studio) gathers previews and widgets you have made.
- [Glass Canvas](/nock/glass-canvas) is an optional board for notes, diagrams, web cards, and screen clips.

## Set up deliberately

The guides primarily describe the macOS candidate. Platform support and account entitlements vary; do not assume a feature available in source is available in every build. Start with [permissions](/nock/permissions), check [account access](/nock/account), and review [privacy](/nock/privacy) before enabling screen-aware or cloud-connected features.

Nock is not entirely offline. Local UI and saved work coexist with model requests and connected services. Review generated text, proposed actions, and coding changes before relying on them.