OpenTypeless

Windows Microphone Permission

Use this guide when OpenTypeless or Ask Anything cannot hear speech on Windows, records silence, or returns a dictation timeout even though the app opens normally.

Check Windows microphone access

  1. Open Windows Settings > Privacy & security > Microphone.
  2. Turn on Microphone access for the device.
  3. Turn on Let apps access your microphone, then allow desktop apps if Windows shows that separate option.
  4. Open System > Sound > Input and choose the microphone you actually use.
  5. Speak a short sentence and confirm the Windows input meter moves before testing OpenTypeless again.

Why this affects Ask Anything

Ask Anything needs usable audio before it can send anything to STT or an LLM. If Windows blocks the microphone permission, the chain can stop before transcription and may look like silence, timeout, or thinking forever.

Windows microphone FAQ

Why does normal typing work but dictation fails?

Typing does not need microphone permission. Voice input, normal dictation, and Ask Anything all need the selected Windows microphone to deliver audio.

Why does Ask Anything time out on Windows?

A timeout can happen when no usable speech reaches the STT provider, when the wrong input device is selected, or when the provider/network call fails.

Should I reinstall OpenTypeless?

Check Windows microphone permission and input level first. Reinstalling rarely fixes a blocked or muted system input device.

Does this use cloud words?

Permission checks do not use cloud words. A successful hosted STT or Ask Anything request can use cloud words after audio is actually sent.

Related guides

Ask Anything troubleshooting

Use this when recording, timeout, or popup behavior fails.

/docs/ask-anything-troubleshooting

Ask Anything credit usage

Understand when STT and LLM calls count toward cloud words.

/docs/ask-anything-credit-usage

Provider index

Check the STT provider if audio is captured but transcription fails.

/docs/provider-index

Download OpenTypeless

Install the latest desktop build before debugging old client behavior.

/download