# Grant microphone and Accessibility permissions on Mac

Source: https://help.contextli.com/articles/grant-microphone-and-accessibility-permissions-on-mac

On Mac, Contextli needs Microphone access to hear you and Accessibility access to paste text into other apps. Turn both on for Contextli in **System Settings > Privacy & Security**.

## Microphone

Contextli asks for the microphone during setup. If you clicked **Don't Allow**, or dictation records nothing:

1. In Contextli, click **Open System Settings** on the setup screen, or open **System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone** yourself.
2. Turn on the switch next to **Contextli**.
3. Go back to Contextli and click **Retry**.

## Accessibility (for Auto-Paste)

Accessibility lets Contextli paste your text where your cursor is. When it is missing, Contextli shows an **Enable Auto-Paste** window.

1. In the **Enable Auto-Paste** window, click **Open Settings**. This opens **System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility**.
2. Turn on the switch next to **Contextli**. If it is not in the list, click **+** and add Contextli from your Applications folder.
3. Return to Contextli and click **Check Again**. You will see **Permissions granted**.

Until Accessibility is on, your text is still copied to the clipboard and saved in Notes, so you can paste it with Cmd+V.

## Already on but paste still fails

This happens sometimes after an update.

1. Open **System Settings > Privacy & Security > Accessibility**.
2. Turn the **Contextli** switch off, then on again.
3. Quit Contextli from the menu bar icon and open it again.

## Other permissions you may see

- **Screen Recording**: macOS asks for this the first time you use a context with screenshot capture. See [Give the AI screen context with screenshot capture](/articles/use-screen-context-with-screenshot-capture).
- **Login Items**: to start Contextli when your Mac starts, approve it in **System Settings > General > Login Items**.
- **Siri Dictation**: macOS asks once to allow access to app data when you use the Shortcuts action.

## Related articles

- [Install Contextli on your Mac](/articles/install-contextli-on-mac)
- [Text is not pasted where my cursor is](/articles/text-is-not-pasted-at-my-cursor)
- ["No sound from your microphone" or empty notes](/articles/no-sound-from-your-microphone)