Free tool
Dictation shortcut cheatsheet
Printable macOS and Windows hotkey reference for hold-to-dictate workflows. Learn the UBIK Flow pattern before you install.
Reference page only — no data collected
Platform
Pick the OS you dictate on. Shortcuts match UBIK Flow defaults.
Core shortcuts
Hold to dictate, release to insert text at the cursor.
Agent mode
Turn a voice instruction into a polished draft with local AI.
Custom shortcut
Assign your own hotkey in UBIK Flow settings.
Downloading decoder_model_merged_q4.onnx
Try dictation on this page
Choose spoken language and Whisper model below. Hold the shortcut (or click Start demo) and speak: words appear live after each pause, like live speech-to-text.
Your words
0 words
Uses local Whisper in your browser, like our other transcription tools. This demo only fills this field; UBIK Flow inserts text in any desktop app.
Dictation workflow
The habit that makes voice input feel effortless.
Step 1
Focus the field
Click the email, doc, or chat box where text should appear.
Step 2
Hold the shortcut
Press and hold your dictate hotkey before you start speaking.
Step 3
Speak naturally
Talk at a normal pace. Pause briefly for punctuation if needed.
Step 4
Release to insert
Let go when done. Edit in place, then send.
This page is a reference cheatsheet. Download UBIK Flow to dictate with these shortcuts in every app on your desktop.
The shortcuts above illustrate the UBIK Flow workflow. Customize them in the app.
About this tool
Learn the hold-to-dictate habit before you install anything
Voice typing fails when it feels fiddly. The fix is muscle memory: one shortcut, hold to speak, release to stop. This free dictation shortcut cheatsheet is a printable reference for macOS and Windows: the same hold-to-dictate pattern UBIK Flow uses on desktop.
Nothing to install on this page. No account. No data collected. Just a clear map of keys so you know what to expect before you download the app.
Why shortcuts matter for speech workflows
Browser tools like speech to text and live speech to text are great demos. Daily work happens in email clients, docs, chat, and IDEs. Without a global hotkey, you copy-paste from a tab forever.
A hold-to-dictate shortcut keeps focus where you are:
- Click the field you are editing
- Hold the dictation key
- Speak naturally
- Release: text lands in place
That is faster than push-to-talk toggles for most people and matches how UBIK Flow is designed to feel.
What this cheatsheet covers
- Platform tabs: macOS vs Windows layouts
- Core dictation shortcut: hold-to-talk primary binding
- Workflow steps: focus, hold, speak, release
- Print-friendly layout: desk reference without UI chrome
- Install CTA: when you are ready for real app-wide dictation
Use it as training material for teams adopting voice, or as a personal reminder during the first week of desktop dictation.
How this fits the UBIK free tool cluster
| Step | Tool |
|---|---|
| Verify mic | Microphone test |
| Try browser dictation | Speech to text or Live speech to text |
| Transcribe a file | Audio to text |
| Clean output | Transcript formatter |
| Measure length | Word counter |
| Cut fillers | Filler word counter |
| Learn hotkeys | Shortcut cheatsheet (this page) |
The cheatsheet is the bridge from experimenting in the browser to living in your OS with UBIK Flow.
macOS vs Windows habits
Both platforms support global shortcuts, but finger reach differs. macOS often uses function keys or right-option style bindings; Windows uses right-control patterns familiar to power users. The cheatsheet shows defaults: UBIK Flow lets you customize once installed.
Print the sheet for week one. Circle the key you will actually use. Hide other dictation tools that conflict (built-in OS dictation, unused hotkey apps).
Privacy note
This page is static reference content. It does not access your microphone, keyboard, or files. Compare that to cloud dictation services that process audio remotely: UBIK Flow keeps recognition local on desktop, consistent with our speech to text philosophy.
Tips for building the habit
- Practice 5 minutes daily in a low-stakes app (notes, not executive email)
- Hold, do not tap: tapping feels like old push-to-talk
- Short phrases first: build confidence before long dictation
- Review with word counter and filler word counter after sessions
- Check mic quality with microphone test if recognition feels off
Who should print this
- New UBIK Flow users during onboarding
- IT teams rolling out accessible input options
- Writers and lawyers moving from keyboard to voice
- Developers documenting while coding
- Anyone tired of alt-tabbing to a browser tab to dictate
Related free tools
- Speech to text
- Live speech to text
- Audio to text
- Transcript formatter
- Word counter
- Filler word counter
When to use UBIK Flow instead
This cheatsheet is reference only: it does not register shortcuts on your system. UBIK Flow on Mac or Windows implements them: customizable hold-to-dictate, local models, AI sidebar, and dictation inside every app.
Study the sheet here. Install UBIK Flow when you are ready for the shortcuts to actually work everywhere you type.
Questions
UBIK Flow
Like this, but everywhere you work
UBIK Flow is a desktop app that brings local speech recognition and AI into your daily workflow, on top of what you're already doing, without copy-paste.
- Dictate in any app, with on-device transcription
- AI sees your screen and understands your context
- ChatGPT and Claude in a side panel, one shortcut away
Mac and Windows. Works offline. Free download.
Free tools
More free tools
Microphone test
Check your mic with a live level meter, frequency view, device details and a practical quality rating. No audio is uploaded.
Speech to text
Record a thought, stop, and turn your speech into editable text. Free, with no account or audio upload.
Audio to text
Upload MP3, WAV, or M4A and transcribe locally in your browser with Whisper. Copy or download the text. Your audio never leaves this device.
Filler word counter
Count filler words in a transcript, see matches per 100 words, and review highlights in context. Paste text or import a document. Nothing is uploaded.