Trueears supports three recording modes that control how the Ctrl+Shift+K hotkey (or Cmd+Shift+K on macOS) starts and stops audio capture. Choose the mode that best matches how you dictate.
To change your recording mode: Settings > Preferences > Recording Mode.
Modes
Auto (default)
Auto combines Toggle and Push-to-Talk into a single adaptive mode based on how long you press the hotkey:
- Quick tap → acts as Toggle (start recording; press again to stop)
- Hold → acts as Push-to-Talk (records while key is held; releases when you let go)
Auto is the default because it handles both short commands and long dictation without switching modes.
Use Auto if you are unsure which mode to pick. It covers the most scenarios and you can always switch later.
Toggle
Press Ctrl+Shift+K once to start recording. Press it again to stop. Trueears continues capturing audio between the two presses regardless of how much time passes.
Toggle is ideal when you dictate long passages, emails, or documents where you want to speak freely without holding a key.
Push-to-Talk
Hold Ctrl+Shift+K to record. Release the key to stop. Recording ends immediately when you let go.
Push-to-Talk is ideal for short, discrete voice commands where you want precise control over exactly when audio is captured.
Comparison
| Mode | Start | Stop | Best for |
|---|
| Auto | Quick tap or hold | Release (hold) or second tap (toggle) | General use, mixed dictation and commands |
| Toggle | Press once | Press again | Long dictation — emails, documents, notes |
| Push-to-Talk | Hold key | Release key | Short commands, precise start/stop control |
How to change recording mode
Open Settings
Press Ctrl+Shift+S (or Cmd+Shift+S on macOS) to open the Settings window.
Go to Preferences
Click the Preferences tab in the Settings sidebar.
Select a mode
Under Recording Mode, choose Auto, Toggle, or Push-to-Talk. The setting takes effect immediately.
