# Dictation is slow or cuts off my first words

Source: https://help.contextli.com/articles/dictation-is-slow-or-cuts-off-the-start

Pick your specific microphone in **Settings > General > Microphone**, wait for the start sound before you speak, and turn off **Polished Transcription** if you want raw text back faster.

## First words are missing

1. Open **Settings > General** and choose your actual mic under **Microphone** instead of **System Default**. Switching devices can delay the start.
2. Wait for the start sound before you speak. If **Sound Effects** is off in **Settings > General**, turn it on so you can hear when recording starts.
3. On Windows, try **Hold to Record** with **Ctrl + Win**: hold the keys, say a full sentence, then let go. See [Choose Toggle or Hold to record](/articles/toggle-vs-hold-to-record).

## The end gets cut off

Finish your last word before you press the hotkey again or release it in Hold mode. Leave a short pause at the end.

## Text takes long to appear

- **Turn off Polished Transcription.** Go to **Contexts** and switch off the toggle on the Default Transcription card. This skips the AI tidy-up step, so raw text appears faster. See [Turn Polished Transcription on or off](/articles/turn-on-polished-transcription).
- **Check your internet connection.** With **Contextli Cloud**, audio is processed online.
- **On-device processing** depends on your computer. If you use **Your Device** in **Settings > Data Control**, a smaller model or the **Fast** preset is quicker. See [Choose Cloud, your own API keys or on-device processing](/articles/choose-cloud-api-keys-or-on-device-processing).

## Messages you may see

- **AI polish failed**: your words are saved in Notes. Open Notes to retry.
- **Processing Timeout**: transcription took too long. Try again.

## Still slow?

Record a short screen video while you dictate (on Windows, Windows key + Alt + R starts a recording) and send it to support@contextli.com with your computer model.

## Related articles

- ["No sound from your microphone" or empty notes](/articles/no-sound-from-your-microphone)
- [Turn Polished Transcription on or off](/articles/turn-on-polished-transcription)
- [Contact Contextli support](/articles/contact-support)