The hotkey does nothing when I press it

Check that Contextli is running and signed in, that you are pressing the hotkey shown in Settings > General > Keyboard Shortcut, and that no other app uses the same keys. Most cases are fixed by one of the steps below.

1. Make sure Contextli is running

Look for the Contextli icon in the menu bar (Mac) or system tray (Windows, Linux). Closing the window only hides the app, but if you clicked Quit, the hotkey stops working. Open Contextli again.

2. Check you are signed in

If you see You’re signed out, click Sign in. Your notes and settings are still there. See I was signed out of Contextli.

3. Check which hotkey is set

1. Open Settings > General.
2. Look at Keyboard Shortcut under Recording. Defaults are Option+Space on Mac and Ctrl+Space on Windows and Linux.
3. Check Recording Mode. In Hold to Record you must hold the keys while you speak. In Toggle Recording you press once to start and once to stop.

After a Windows update, the hotkey may have gone back to Ctrl+Space. See My settings reset after a Windows update.

4. Rule out a clash with another app

If another app or a system shortcut already uses your keys, Contextli shows a Hotkey Registration Warning. Pick a different combination in Settings > General > Keyboard Shortcut. See Change your recording hotkey.

5. Context hotkeys

A context’s hotkey only works when that context is turned on in Contexts. Built-in contexts other than Default Transcription start switched off.

6. Other things to check

• Credits: if you see No credits left, Cloud dictation is paused until credits reset or you add more. See How credits work.
• Microphone on Mac: Contextli needs microphone access. See Grant microphone and Accessibility permissions on Mac.
• It records but nothing appears: that is a paste issue. See Text is not pasted where my cursor is.
• Still stuck: quit Contextli from the tray or menu bar and open it again.

If none of this helps, tell us what happens when you press the hotkey (nothing, an error, or it records but does not paste) at [email protected].

Related articles

• Change your recording hotkey
• Default keyboard shortcuts on Mac, Windows and Linux
• Contact Contextli support