Ottex Docs

Getting Started

Get Ottex up and running in just a few minutes.

Installation

  1. Download Ottex from ottex.ai
  2. Open the downloaded .dmg file
  3. Drag Ottex to your Applications folder
  4. Launch Ottex from Applications or Spotlight

Ottex runs in your menu bar. Look for the Ottex icon in the top-right corner of your screen.

Permissions

Ottex needs a few permissions to work. You'll be prompted to grant these during first launch:

Microphone (Required)

To capture your voice for transcription.

System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone

Accessibility (Required)

To type transcribed text into any app and read selected text for Command Mode.

System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility

Screen Recording (Optional)

Only needed for Context Awareness. Allows AI to see your screen for smarter responses.

System Settings → Privacy & Security → Screen Recording

API Key Setup

Ottex uses cloud AI models for transcription and text processing. You bring your own API key and pay only for what you use — typically $1-3 per month for regular use.

Why BYOK (Bring Your Own Key)? No subscription trap. You pay directly for AI usage at cost. Most users spend $1-3/month. Heavy users might spend $5-10/month.

OpenRouter (Recommended)

Access 200+ models from OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, Meta, and more through a single API. Pay per token with no monthly fees.

  1. Go to openrouter.ai/keys
  2. Create an account or sign in
  3. Click "Create Key" and copy your new API key
  4. Add credits to your account (start with $5-10)
  5. In Ottex: Settings → AI Providers → OpenRouter
  6. Paste your key and click "Validate"
Recommended models:
  • Transcription: gemini-3.0-flash (fast, accurate, affordable)
  • AI Shortcuts: Depending on the use case, start with openai/gpt-oss-120b for ultra‑fast, simple shortcuts, or choose the model that best fits the task.

Google AI Studio (Alternative)

Direct access to Google's Gemini models. Has a generous free tier.

  1. Go to aistudio.google.com/apikey
  2. Sign in with your Google account
  3. Click "Create API Key" and copy it
  4. In Ottex: Settings → AI Providers → Google AI Studio
  5. Paste your key and click "Validate"

Free tier: Google AI Studio offers free usage up to certain limits. Great for trying out Ottex before committing to OpenRouter credits.

Choosing Models

After adding your API key, configure which models to use:

  • Settings → Voice to Text → Model: Choose an audio-capable model for transcription
  • Settings → AI Shortcuts → Default Model: Choose a text model for AI transformations

Your First Recording

Once you've set up your API key, you're ready to start dictating:

  1. Click in any text field (email, document, chat, etc.)
  2. Press your Toggle Recording hotkey (set in Settings → Hotkeys)
  3. Speak naturally — Ottex records your voice
  4. Press the hotkey again to stop
  5. Your transcribed text appears where your cursor was

Try Push-to-Talk: For quick messages, hold the Push-to-Talk key while speaking, then release. The text transcribes immediately.

NextVoice Formatting →