macOS permissions
Understand the access Nock uses for voice, keyboard shortcuts, text insertion, and screen context.
Launch preview Build and service availability vary. Check availability →
Open Settings → Permissions to inspect the current permission state and open the relevant macOS settings. Grant access for the features you intend to use.
| Permission | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Microphone | Capture a voice recording. |
| Accessibility | Insert text, read supported selections, and support the voice shortcut listener. |
| Input Monitoring | Detect configured voice keys while another app is active. |
| Screen Recording | Capture visual context for pointing and screen-aware requests. |
| Speech Recognition | Use Apple’s speech-recognition fallback. |
Screen access is needed for the visual tour and pointing features. Speech Recognition applies to the Apple fallback; cloud recognition still requires Microphone access.
Grant access
Section titled “Grant access”- Open a permission row in Nock.
- Use Grant if a system prompt is available, or Open System Settings otherwise.
- Enable the relevant Nock entry under Privacy & Security.
- Return to Nock and allow its status to refresh.
- Reopen the app if macOS says a restart is required.
After a denial, use System Settings rather than waiting for the same prompt to appear again. Keyboard access can require both Accessibility and Input Monitoring.
Why Nock Speech appears
Section titled “Why Nock Speech appears”The helper that captures audio and performs speech recognition can appear as Nock Speech. It has its own microphone and speech permissions. Review that entry when Nock itself looks permitted but recording produces nothing.
Permissions changed after an update
Section titled “Permissions changed after an update”macOS associates grants with an app’s identity and signature. Moving between development, test, and distributed copies can lead to fresh prompts. Check the installed copy you actually opened and grant access through the normal system interface. Do not disable macOS security protections to resolve a permission issue.
If keys do nothing, see keyboard shortcuts. If recording starts without words, see microphone. If words appear but are not inserted, see dictation.
Check the permission for the failing feature
Section titled “Check the permission for the failing feature”Use a short test after each change. For keyboard access, check whether the notch reacts to your saved shortcut. For the microphone, check whether words appear. For insertion, dictate into a basic note. For screen access, capture a small non-sensitive window and inspect whether it is visible.
Granting Screen Recording will not repair a microphone connection; granting Microphone will not make a paste work. This separation also helps explain why typed chat can work while a voice or desktop feature remains blocked.
If System Settings says a permission is enabled but Nock reports otherwise, first confirm which installed or test copy you opened. Use Nock’s refresh control where available, and follow any macOS request to quit and reopen. Avoid installing multiple copies or resetting all privacy permissions as a first troubleshooting step.