# Use the contexts bar and Quick Mic button

Source: https://help.contextli.com/articles/use-the-contexts-bar-and-quick-mic

The contexts bar and the Quick Mic button let you start dictating with a click instead of a hotkey. You can turn them on, off or change how the bar looks in **Settings > Widgets**.

## The contexts bar

The contexts bar sits on your screen so you can start dictating without opening the app. It holds 4 context slots.

1. Click the Contextli mark on the bar (**Open contexts**) to expand it.
2. Click a context to start dictating with it, or click the start button to dictate with the last context you used.
3. Speak, then click **Stop recording**. To throw the recording away, click **Cancel recording**.

Show or hide the bar with **Cmd+Option+M** on Mac, **Alt+Shift+M** on Windows or **Ctrl+Alt+M** on Linux. You can also use the tray or menu bar icon: **Widgets > Context Bar**.

## Change the bar's style

1. Open **Settings** and click the **Widgets** tab.
2. Pick a style: **Capsule** (a dark pill at the bottom of the screen), **Edge Rail** (a slim column on the left or right edge) or **Notch** (top center). The live preview updates as you choose.
3. To hide the bar for good, turn off **Show contexts bar**.

![Settings, Widgets tab: contexts bar styles Capsule, Edge Rail and Notch plus Quick Mic Button toggle](https://cdn.kamaan.io/kamaan/sites/6ae9f572170cd8d9857a277c/images/contextli-settings-widgets.webp)

## The Quick Mic button

Quick Mic is a small microphone button that floats above all your windows. It is off by default.

1. In **Settings > Widgets**, turn on **Quick Mic Button**.
2. Drag the button anywhere on screen.
3. Click it to start recording. Click it again to stop, or hold it if you use Hold to Record.

Show or hide it with **Cmd+Option+O** on Mac, **Alt+Shift+O** on Windows or **Ctrl+Alt+O** on Linux.

## Prefer only the keyboard?

Turn off both **Show contexts bar** and **Quick Mic Button** in **Settings > Widgets**. Your hotkeys keep working.

## Related articles

- [What are contexts?](/articles/what-are-contexts)
- [Default keyboard shortcuts on Mac, Windows and Linux](/articles/default-keyboard-shortcuts)
- [Dictate hands-free with a mouse button, trackpad or Siri](/articles/dictate-hands-free-with-a-mouse-button-or-siri)