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macOS Installation Guide

Short answer

Download usefo-mac-arm64.dmg (Apple Silicon) or usefo-mac-x64.dmg (Intel Mac) from use.fo/download, install the app, grant Accessibility and microphone permissions, set your trigger key, choose your plan, and start dictating.

Evidence and updates

Facts checked on July 24, 2026

Reviewed by use.fo product team. Sources below identify whether a fact comes from an official product page, a first-party test, customer evidence, or an independent source.

Update log: July 24, 2026 — Published the no-subscription product fact registry and clarified BYOK, Local AI, and Windows support boundaries.

Steps

  1. Download the correct installer

    Go to use.fo/download. For Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3, M4): download usefo-mac-arm64.dmg. For Intel Mac: download usefo-mac-x64.dmg. If unsure, check Apple menu → About This Mac → chip name.

  2. Install the app

    Open the .dmg file and drag use.fo to your Applications folder. Launch it from Applications.

  3. Allow necessary permissions — Accessibility

    When prompted, go to System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility → enable use.fo. This permission allows use.fo to paste text into your current app after dictation.

  4. Allow microphone access

    When you first dictate, macOS will ask for microphone access. Click Allow. You can also pre-grant this in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone → use.fo.

  5. Sign in

    Sign in with your use.fo account. If you have a Subscription or BYOK license, it will activate automatically.

  6. Set your trigger key

    In Settings → Trigger, choose a preset key or record your own custom shortcut. The default is a function key hold. Hold mode: hold key to record, release to process. Toggle mode: tap to start, tap again to stop.

  7. Choose your plan

    Select Subscription, BYOK, or Local AI in Settings. For BYOK, follow the BYOK setup guides. For Local AI on Apple Silicon, follow the Local AI setup guide.

  8. Start dictating

    Click into any text field in any app, hold your trigger key, speak clearly, and release. use.fo will process and paste the result.

Before you start

Requires macOS 12 Monterey or later. For Local AI / Local STT, requires Apple Silicon (M1 or later) — Intel Mac is not supported for local processing.

Troubleshooting

Problem: Text is not pasted into my app

Solution: Check that Accessibility permission is enabled for use.fo in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility. Some sandboxed apps (especially those from the App Store) may not accept paste from Accessibility. Try a different app to confirm the permission is working.

Problem: Microphone not detected

Solution: Confirm microphone access is granted in System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone. If using an external mic, ensure it is selected in System Settings → Sound → Input.

Problem: "use.fo is damaged" error on launch

Solution: Right-click the app in Applications, select Open, then click Open again in the security dialog. This is a macOS Gatekeeper warning for apps not from the App Store.

FAQ

macOS 12 Monterey or later is recommended. Some features may work on macOS 11, but Monterey or later is the tested baseline.

Yes for Subscription and BYOK. Local AI / Local STT is not supported on Intel Mac — only Apple Silicon.

Accessibility permission allows use.fo to paste the rewritten text into whichever app was active when you recorded. Without it, use.fo can still transcribe but cannot automatically paste the result.

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