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Install SwitchDesk and grant permissions
Drag SwitchDesk from the disk image to Applications and open it. Dictation needs three macOS permissions: Microphone, Accessibility and Input Monitoring. Meeting Notes, Create Video and the meeting countdown each ask for their own the first time you use them.
Install the app
SwitchDesk needs macOS 14.6 or later. Get the download →
Open the .dmg and drag SwitchDesk to Applications
Double-click the file in your Downloads folder. In the window that opens, drag the SwitchDesk icon onto the Applications folder, then eject the disk image.
Open SwitchDesk from Applications
The first time, macOS asks if you’re sure, because the app came from the internet rather than the App Store. Click Open. It asks once.
Follow the setup screens
Pick a theme and a text size, check that the Globe key is free, try a dictation and set up your categories. You can change each of these later in
Settings.
Allow the three dictation permissions
SwitchDesk asks for these the first time you dictate. You can also grant them from Settings then Dictation: the “Permissions” card lists each one with a “Grant…” button, or “Granted” once it’s on.
Microphone
Why we askSwitchDesk uses the microphone for dictation, meeting recording, and narration in screen recordings.
Voice Dictation — asked from Settings → Dictation or the first time you dictate.
Accessibility
Why we askLets SwitchDesk insert dictated text into other apps’ fields.
Voice Dictation — asked with the microphone, the first time you dictate.
Input Monitoring
Why we askLets SwitchDesk detect the Globe key while you’re in other apps.
Voice Dictation — so holding 🌐 works in any app.
Microphone: click Allow
macOS shows an alert the first time SwitchDesk listens. Click Allow.
Accessibility and Input Monitoring: switch SwitchDesk on
For these two, macOS opens
System Settings then Privacy & Securityinstead of an alert. Find SwitchDesk in the Accessibility list (then the Input Monitoring list) and switch it on. macOS may ask you to quit and reopen the app.Check the Permissions card
Back in
Settings then Dictation, each row should read “Granted”. If one doesn’t, press ↻ next to “Permissions” to re-check.The Permissions card in Settings → Dictation, all granted.
Permissions you’ll see later
Nothing else is asked up front. Each of these appears the first time you use the feature that needs it.
| Permission | When SwitchDesk asks, and why |
|---|---|
| Calendar | Meeting Notes — asked when you turn on “Countdown before meetings”. SwitchDesk reads your upcoming events to start a countdown before meetings. |
| System Audio Recording | Meeting Notes — asked the first time you record a call. SwitchDesk captures system audio only while you record a meeting, so it can transcribe the other participants for your meeting notes. |
| Screen & System Audio Recording | Create Video — asked the first time you record your screen. Lets SwitchDesk record the screen, window or area you pick in Create Video. |
| Camera | Create Video — asked when you switch the camera on. SwitchDesk uses the camera for the optional webcam bubble in screen recordings. |
Change a permission later
Open System Settings then Privacy & Security, pick the permission and switch SwitchDesk on or off. Turning one off stops only the feature that needs it.
- Microphone, Accessibility, Input Monitoring: the lists of the same names
- Calendar:
System Settings then Privacy & Security then Calendars - System Audio Recording and Screen & System Audio Recording:
System Settings then Privacy & Security then Screen & System Audio Recording - Camera:
System Settings then Privacy & Security then Camera