Start here
Kalam is voice dictation on your computer. Hold a key, speak, release, and your words are typed into the app you were using. This guide is the product manual — pick the job you have right now.
If you have not installed it yet
- Install Kalam — Windows, Linux, and macOS beta. Stable builds are coming soon.
- First-run setup — account, microphone, shortcuts, speech engine, try it.
- Your first dictation — one hold, one sentence, text in the focused app.
On Linux the dictation chip lives in the panel, not as a floating pill. See the Linux panel chip after install.
If it is installed and something is stuck
- Permissions by OS — microphone, macOS Accessibility and Input Monitoring, Linux insert prompts.
- Troubleshooting — nothing records, nothing types, hotkey silent, accuracy.
- Reset and re-run setup — wizard again without wiping, or a full reset.
- Uninstall — Windows, macOS, Linux.
If you want to use it well
| Job | Page |
|---|---|
| Understand the loop | The dictation pipeline |
| Pick local vs cloud speech | Speech-to-text and Choosing a speech mode |
| Tune Email vs Message vs Coding | Modes |
| Connect a cloud key | Setting up providers |
| Download an on-device engine | Local models |
| Keep passwords off the clipboard | Sensitive apps |
| Carry settings to another computer | Sync |
| Look up a shortcut | Hotkey reference |
Plans
Kalam is free to use. Pro adds a little more polish, your own profiles, and sync across your computers. Max is named in the app and is not for sale yet. Details: Plans.