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Advanced Settings

This page covers the advanced configuration options available in Knowii Voice AI. These settings allow you to fine-tune the application's behavior, performance, and data management.

Application Behavior​

Control how Knowii Voice AI starts and runs:

Start Hidden​

Location: Settings > Advanced

  • Launch directly to system tray without showing the main window
  • Useful if you want the app running silently in the background
  • The app will be fully functional and ready to use via the system tray icon

Launch on Startup​

Location: Settings > Advanced

  • Automatically start when you log in to your computer
  • App will be ready to use immediately when you need it
  • Combined with "Start Hidden", creates a seamless background experience

Display Options​

Overlay Enabled​

Location: Settings > Advanced > Display

Enable or disable the visual overlay that provides feedback during recording and transcription:

  • Enabled (default): Shows the overlay during recording and transcription
  • Disabled: Hides the overlay completely
    • Useful during screen recordings, presentations, or screen sharing
    • No visual indication will appear during transcription

The overlay displays:

  • Recording indicator when you're actively recording
  • Transcription progress when processing
  • Cancel option to abort the current operation

Overlay Position​

Location: Settings > Advanced > Display

Only available when Overlay Enabled is turned on

Choose where the recording overlay appears on your screen:

Center Positions:

  • Bottom Center (default): Status shown at the bottom center of your screen
  • Top Center: Status shown at the top center of your screen

Corner Positions:

  • Top Left: Status shown in the top-left corner
  • Top Right: Status shown in the top-right corner
  • Bottom Left: Status shown in the bottom-left corner
  • Bottom Right: Status shown in the bottom-right corner

The overlay automatically respects screen margins and system UI elements (taskbars, menu bars, panels) to ensure it's always visible and doesn't overlap with other interface elements.

Transcription Options​

Translate to English​

Location: Settings > Advanced > Transcription

  • Automatically translate speech from other languages to English
  • Only available with Whisper models (not supported by Parakeet)
  • Useful for multilingual workflows where you speak in one language but need English output
  • Examples: Speaking French but need English documentation, translating meeting notes, etc.

Note: Translation requires more processing time than standard transcription.

Paste Options​

Paste Method​

Location: Settings > Advanced > Paste

Controls how transcribed text is inserted into applications:

  • Clipboard (Ctrl+V) (default on Windows/macOS): Simulates Ctrl/Cmd+V keystrokes to paste

    • Most compatible with applications
    • Works in virtually all text fields
    • Temporarily modifies clipboard (see Clipboard Handling below for behavior options)

  • Clipboard (Shift+Insert) (Windows/Linux only): Simulates Shift+Insert keystrokes to paste

    • More universal for terminal applications
    • Works better in some Linux/X11 applications
    • Alternative to Ctrl+V for applications that don't respond well to it
    • Temporarily modifies clipboard (see Clipboard Handling below for behavior options)

  • Direct (default on Linux): Types the text straight into the focused field

    • Bypasses clipboard completely
    • On Linux, uses your desktop's typing tool (wtype/kwtype/xdotool) for reliable results — see Typing Tool below
    • Useful for troubleshooting clipboard-related issues

When to change:

  • If transcriptions aren't being pasted correctly
  • If clipboard conflicts occur with other applications
  • For troubleshooting pasting issues in specific applications
  • If using terminal applications on Linux/Windows (try Shift+Insert method)

Typing Tool (Linux only)​

Location: Settings > Advanced > Paste

Chooses which system tool Knowii Voice AI uses to type transcriptions and send paste shortcuts on Linux. This matters because typing text reliably differs between Wayland and X11.

  • Auto (default): Automatically picks the best tool available on your system — wtype (or kwtype on KDE) on Wayland, xdotool on X11.
  • wtype / kwtype / dotool / ydotool / xdotool: Force a specific tool.

The dropdown only lists the tools actually installed on your computer. If your list shows just "Auto", install one of the tools (see the Installation guide) — otherwise the app falls back to a built-in method that can be unreliable on Wayland (text may fail to appear).

When to change:

  • If dictated text doesn't appear in your apps on Linux
  • If you have multiple tools installed and want to force a particular one

Clipboard Handling​

Location: Settings > Advanced > Paste

Control what happens to your clipboard after transcription:

  • Don't Modify Clipboard (default): Preserves your current clipboard contents

    • Transcription is pasted but your clipboard remains unchanged
    • Useful if you have something important copied that you don't want to lose
    • Note: this works for text. If your clipboard holds an image or files, it can't be put back after a clipboard-based paste — the transcription stays on the clipboard instead

  • Copy to Clipboard: Leaves transcription in clipboard after pasting

    • Allows you to paste the same transcription multiple times
    • Useful for repeated pasting or when you want to keep the text in clipboard

History Management​

Location: Settings > Advanced

Control how transcriptions are saved and managed:

Enable History​

  • Stores transcriptions in the database
  • Allows you to view, search, and manage past transcriptions
  • Access history from the History tab in the main window
  • When disabled, transcriptions are not saved anywhere

Save Transcriptions to Disk​

Requires History to be enabled

  • Saves transcription text as markdown files
  • Files organized by date in history/YYYY/MM/ folders
  • Example: 2025-01-15-14_30_45 - Transcription.md
  • Useful for backups or accessing transcriptions outside the app

Save Audio to Disk​

Requires History to be enabled

  • Saves audio recordings as WAV files
  • Allows playback of original recordings from history
  • Files stored alongside transcriptions: 2025-01-15-14_30_45 - Audio.wav
  • Warning: Audio files can consume significant disk space

Limit History​

Requires History to be enabled

  • Keeps only the most recent unstarred transcriptions
  • Default limit: 100 most recent entries
  • Starred transcriptions are always kept regardless of this setting
  • Helps manage disk space automatically
  • Older unstarred transcriptions are automatically deleted

Clear All History​

Requires History to be enabled

Warning: This action is permanent and cannot be undone!

  • Permanently deletes all transcriptions (including starred entries)
  • Deletes all associated files (text and audio)
  • Clears the database completely
  • Use with caution - consider backing up your data first

Performance Settings​

Model Unload Timeout​

Location: Settings > Advanced > Performance

Control when the AI model is automatically unloaded from memory to free up system resources:

  • Never: Model stays loaded in memory (fastest, uses more RAM/VRAM)
  • Immediately: Unload right after each transcription (slowest, minimal memory usage)
  • After 2/5/10/15 minutes: Balanced options
  • After 1 hour: For regular but not constant use

Recommendations:

  • Never: If you use transcription frequently throughout the day and have sufficient RAM
  • After 2-5 minutes: Balanced option for moderate use
  • After 10-15 minutes: Good for occasional use
  • Immediately: Only if you're very constrained on memory

When a model is unloaded, the next transcription will have a delay while the model reloads.

Tips​

  • Start with default settings and adjust based on your needs
  • Monitor disk space if saving audio files
  • Use "Limit History" to prevent excessive disk usage
  • Combine "Start Hidden" and "Launch on Startup" for seamless background operation
  • Disable the overlay during screen recordings, presentations, or screen sharing
  • Use corner positions for the overlay if center positions interfere with your work

Need Help?​

If you have questions about advanced settings, visit the Support page.