> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.snaply.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Advanced Dictation Settings

> Choose how dictation shortcuts behave, import voice notes, pause background audio, and tune recording feedback.

The main [Dictation](/dictation/overview) workflow is intentionally simple, but a few settings let you make it fit the way you work.

## Choose A Shortcut Mode

Open **Settings -> Shortcuts -> Dictation** and choose **Shortcut mode**:

| Mode             | Behavior                                                                                       |
| ---------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Click + hold** | Tap once to start or stop, or hold the shortcut and release it to finish. This is the default. |
| **Click only**   | Press once to start and press again to stop.                                                   |
| **Hold only**    | Dictation runs only while the shortcut is held down.                                           |

The shortcut itself can be a preset or a custom key combination. Snaply warns you about conflicts with the Writing Assistant and Meeting Notes shortcuts.

## Import A Voice Note

You do not need to record inside Snaply. From the **Dictation** page, click **Upload Voice Note** and choose a local audio file.

Supported formats:

* `WAV`
* `M4A`
* `MP3`

Snaply converts the file, transcribes it with your selected dictation model, and adds the result to **Recent Transcriptions**. The imported audio follows the same local history and retention behavior as a normal dictation.

## Pause Background Audio

Open **Settings -> Dictation** and enable **Auto-Pause Audio** if you want Snaply to pause music and videos when dictation starts. This is useful when media playing on your Mac would otherwise be picked up as background sound.

You can also enable **Dictation sound** in **Settings -> General** to hear a sound when recording starts and stops.

## Choose Punctuation Behavior

Under **Settings -> Dictation -> Punctuation behaviour**, choose:

* **Automatic**: Snaply adds punctuation from the way you speak.
* **Explicit**: in English, say words such as “comma”, “dot”, “question mark”, or “new line”. Other languages use automatic punctuation.

See [Punctuation](/dictation/punctuation) for examples and tradeoffs.

## Recover A Failed Dictation

If a transcription cannot be inserted, the result can still appear in history. From **Recent Transcriptions**, you can copy it, replay the audio, transcribe it again, show the audio file in Finder, or delete it. Audio is retained locally for seven days; after that, the text can remain while replay and retranscription are no longer available.

## Related Pages

* [Dictation overview](/dictation/overview)
* [Shortcuts](/dictation/shortcuts)
* [Clipboard behavior](/dictation/clipboard)
* [History](/dictation/history)