Local Only Mode: Your Voice Stays on Your Device
Local Only Mode blocks all internet connections, ensuring your voice never leaves your device. If you accidentally select an online model, transcription will simply fail since all internet requests are disabled. Most users pair this mode with a local Whisper model for completely private transcription.
Common Setup
The most common way to use this feature:
- Install a local Whisper model on your machine
- Enable Local Only Mode in Spokenly
- Start transcribing with complete privacy
Result: All transcription happens on your device. No audio or text is sent anywhere.
Benefits
- Perfect for users who require enhanced privacy
- Work with sensitive information safely
- Guaranteed that no data leaves your device
FAQ
What's the difference if I only use local models anyway?
The app normally sends anonymous analytics (like which models you select) to help improve Spokenly. This data never includes your transcripts or audio and helps us improve the app. Local Only Mode blocks even these minimal analytics. Learn more on our privacy page.
Does Spokenly store my audio when using cloud models?
No. When using local models, your audio never leaves your device at all. When using online cloud models, your audio is only used for transcription and immediately discarded. We don't store your audio files or transcripts on our servers.
Technical Details
Local Only Mode works seamlessly with any OpenAI-compatible model hosted on your machine. For example, you can use Speaches or similar services. Deploy local text models (LLMs) and dictation models (Whisper), and Spokenly will communicate exclusively with these local endpoints.