Frequently Asked Questions

What is Parakeet Flow?

Parakeet Flow is a lightweight Windows desktop application that transcribes speech to text using NVIDIA's Parakeet v3 AI model. It runs entirely on your computer, requires no internet connection after initial setup, and automatically copies transcribed text to your clipboard. Control everything with a simple global hotkey - no UI needed!

How does Parakeet Flow work?

It's simple:

1. Press Ctrl+Shift+Space anywhere on your computer to start recording
2. Speak into your microphone
3. Press Ctrl+Shift+Space again to stop recording
4. The transcribed text is automatically copied to your clipboard - just paste it anywhere!

What makes Parakeet Flow different from other dictation software?

Do I need a $2,000 GPU to run Parakeet Flow?

No! While an NVIDIA GPU can help with performance, we've optimized the ONNX runtime to run efficiently on standard modern CPUs. Parakeet Flow works great on Intel i5/Ryzen 5 processors and up. The app will use GPU acceleration if available, but it's not required.

What are the system requirements?

• OS:Windows 10/11 (64-bit)
• CPU:Modern Intel i5/Ryzen 5 or better recommended
• RAM:4GB minimum, 8GB recommended
• Storage:~500MB for app + models (~465MB downloaded on first launch)
• Microphone:Any Windows-compatible microphone
• Internet:Required only for initial model download

How accurate is the transcription?

Parakeet Flow uses NVIDIA's Parakeet v3 model, which benchmarks exceptionally well against human transcription and other AI models. The accuracy is comparable to or better than cloud-based services, with the added benefit of zero latency since processing happens locally.

How does the model download work?

On first launch, Parakeet Flow automatically downloads the required AI models (~465MB) from Cloudflare R2. The download includes:

• Parakeet v3 transcription model
• Silero Voice Activity Detection (VAD) model

All downloads are verified using SHA256 checksums to ensure integrity. Once downloaded, models are stored in ~/.parakeet-flow/models/ and the app works completely offline.

Can I customize the hotkey?

Yes! The default hotkey is Ctrl+Shift+Space , but you can change it in the app settings. The hotkey works system-wide, so you can trigger recording from any application.

Does Parakeet Flow collect any telemetry or analytics?

No. Parakeet Flow has zero telemetry, zero analytics, and zero data collection. We don't know how you use the app, and we don't want to. Your privacy is our design principle, not an afterthought.

Is Parakeet Flow HIPAA compliant?

Parakeet Flow is designed to be HIPAA-friendly by keeping all processing local. Since no Protected Health Information (PHI) ever leaves your device, it eliminates the need for Business Associate Agreements (BAAs) that cloud services require. However, you should consult with your compliance officer to ensure it meets your specific organizational requirements.

Where is my audio data stored?

Audio is temporarily recorded to a WAV file in your system's temp directory during transcription. This file is automatically deleted immediately after transcription completes. No audio is permanently stored. The transcribed text goes directly to your clipboard - you control where it goes from there.

How much does Parakeet Flow cost?

Parakeet Flow costs $49 for a lifetime license. This includes:

• Lifetime access to version 1.x
• All future updates
• No monthly fees
• No usage limits
• 30-day money-back guarantee

Compare that to Otter.ai at $16.99/month ($204/year) or Dragon at $150+/year. Parakeet Flow pays for itself in just 2-3 months.

What if I'm not satisfied?

We offer a 30-day money-back guarantee. If Parakeet Flow doesn't meet your needs for any reason, contact us for a full refund - no questions asked.

Do I need to create an account?

No account creation required. No login. No email signup. Just download, install, and start dictating. We only need your payment information for the one-time purchase.

Can I use Parakeet Flow on multiple computers?

The lifetime license is for personal use on your devices. If you need to use it on multiple computers (e.g., work and home), that's perfectly fine. For team or organizational use, please contact us for bulk licensing options.

How do I install Parakeet Flow?

1. Download the MSI installer (~15MB)
2. Run the installer (standard Windows setup)
3. Launch Parakeet Flow - models will download automatically on first launch (~465MB)
4. Press Ctrl+Shift+Space to start dictating!

Do I need an internet connection?

You only need internet for the initial model download (~465MB). After that, Parakeet Flow works completely offline. Perfect for working on planes, in areas with poor connectivity, or in secure environments where internet access is restricted.

What languages does Parakeet Flow support?

Currently, Parakeet Flow supports English transcription. The Parakeet v3 model supports multiple languages, and we're working on adding language selection in future updates.

Can I use Parakeet Flow with any application?

Yes! Since Parakeet Flow uses a global hotkey and clipboard integration, it works with any application that accepts text input. Use it in Word, VS Code, Slack, Notepad, email clients, or any other text editor. The transcribed text is copied to your clipboard, ready to paste anywhere.

The hotkey isn't working

Try these steps:

• Check if another application is using the same hotkey
• Restart Parakeet Flow
• Try changing the hotkey in settings to a different combination
• Some hotkeys require administrator privileges on Windows

Recording isn't starting

Check the following:

• Verify microphone permissions in Windows Settings
• Ensure your default input device is set correctly
• Use the "Mic Check" feature in the app to test your microphone
• Check that no other application is exclusively using your microphone

Model download failed

If the model download fails:

• Check your internet connection
• Ensure you have enough disk space (~500MB free)
• Try restarting the app - it will retry the download
• Check Windows Firewall isn't blocking the connection
• Contact support if the issue persists

Transcription accuracy seems low

To improve accuracy:

• Speak clearly and at a normal pace
• Reduce background noise
• Use a quality microphone (USB microphones often work better than built-in ones)
• Ensure your microphone is positioned correctly
• Wait for the model to "warm up" on first use (shown in the UI)