Configuration files

Dictato stores every setting in plain JSON inside your config folder. Hand-edit them, commit them to a dotfiles repo, or script them — the app reads the files on launch and writes them back atomically when you change settings in the UI.

preferences.json

Every UI setting except shortcuts. Examples:

{
  "languages": ["en", "da"],
  "pauseMediaWhileRecording": true,
  "useScreenContext": true,
  "customVocabulary": "Dictato, WhisperKit, Parakeet",
  "saveAudioRecordings": true,
  "microphoneMode": "onDevice",
  "selectedModel": "parakeetV3",
  "soundProfile": "systemTink",
  "postProcessingEnabled": false,
  "postProcessingMethod": "onDevice",
  "middleMouseEnabled": false,
  "gesturesEnabled": true,
  "captureTextSelection": false,
  "captureCopy": false,
  "capturePaste": false
}

Unknown keys are ignored. Missing keys fall back to defaults, so you can ship a minimal file with only the knobs you care about.

shortcuts.json

One entry per shortcut action. Each action maps to an array of shortcuts — multiple bindings means any of them fires the action.

{
  "pushToTalk": [
    { "keyCode": null, "modifierFlags": 8388608 },
    { "keyCode": 15,   "modifierFlags": 1310720 }
  ],
  "lockRecording": [
    { "keyCode": 49, "modifierFlags": 0 }
  ],
  "stopLockedRecording": [
    { "keyCode": 53, "modifierFlags": 1048576 }
  ],
  "regionScreenshot": [
    { "keyCode": 21, "modifierFlags": 1179648 }
  ],
  "drawOnScreen": [
    { "keyCode": null, "modifierFlags": 1572864 }
  ],
  "addTextQuote": [
    { "keyCode": 17, "modifierFlags": 524288 }
  ],
  "exitActiveTool": [
    { "keyCode": 53, "modifierFlags": 0 }
  ]
}

Shortcut fields

• keyCode — virtual key code (UInt16) or null for a modifier-only shortcut. These are standard macOS virtual key codes (kVK_ANSI_A = 0, kVK_Space = 49, kVK_Escape = 53, kVK_ANSI_R = 15, etc. — see Carbon/HIToolbox/Events.h).
• modifierFlags — decimal NSEvent.ModifierFlags raw value. Sum the bits you want:

So ⇧ ⌘ 4 is 131072 + 1048576 = 1179648. Fn alone is 8388608.

Action names

pushToTalk, lockRecording, stopLockedRecording, regionScreenshot, drawOnScreen, addTextQuote, exitActiveTool.

history.json

The index of your past dictations. Written by the app, not meant for hand-editing — deletions and renames are handled through the UI. Safe to back up or inspect.

hooks.json

Shell commands, Claude prompts, and webhooks to run on Dictato events. See Hooks for the full reference.

Syncing

Point Settings → Folders → Config folder at an iCloud Drive, Dropbox, or Syncthing folder to keep preferences, shortcuts, history, and hooks in sync across Macs. Dictato re-reads the files when the folder path changes.