Set up Blip AI on Mac

What you need: a Mac running macOS 11 or later, Apple Silicon or Intel. There's one download for both.

1. Download and install

1. Go to the download page and click Download for Mac. You'll get a file named like Blip-AI-0.5.8-universal.dmg.
2. Open the file from your Downloads folder.
3. Drag Blip AI into your Applications folder.
4. Open Blip AI from Applications.

If macOS won't open the app, choose Apple menu → System Settings → Privacy & Security, scroll to Security and click Open Anyway, then enter your Mac password. Apple says the button stays there for about an hour after you try to open the app.

2. Allow the Microphone

Blip needs the microphone to hear you. Click Allow when macOS asks.

If you clicked Don't Allow by mistake:

1. Choose Apple menu → System Settings.
2. Click Privacy & Security, then Microphone.
3. Turn on Blip AI.

3. Allow Accessibility

Accessibility is what lets Blip type the text into other apps, such as Slack, Gmail or your code editor. Without it, Blip can hear you but can't type anything.

1. Choose Apple menu → System Settings.
2. Click Privacy & Security, then Accessibility.
3. Turn on Blip AI.
4. If Blip AI isn't in the list, click + at the bottom, choose Blip AI from Applications, and click Open.

These are the same steps as Apple's guide to allowing accessibility apps.

4. Sign in

Sign in with your Blip account, or create one. The free plan includes 2,000 words a month, and you don't need a card.

5. Dictate for the first time

1. Click into any text box, for example a new note or an email.
2. Hold Fn and say a sentence.
3. Let go. The cleaned-up text appears where your cursor is.

A few things worth knowing:

• Hands-free: hold Fn + Space to keep dictating without holding the key.
• Action Mode: start with "Hey Blip" and describe what you want, such as "Hey Blip, reply that Thursday works." Blip drafts the reply instead of typing your words back.
• Your words: add names and jargon to Blip's custom dictionary so they're spelled right.
• Hotkeys are configurable in Blip's settings, if Fn clashes with another shortcut.

FAQ

Why does Blip AI need Accessibility access on Mac? macOS only lets apps type into other apps if you allow them under Privacy & Security → Accessibility. Blip uses that permission to place the transcribed text where your cursor is.

Blip hears me but no text appears. What's wrong? Accessibility is almost always the cause. Check that Blip AI is turned on under System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility. If it's already on, turn it off and on again, then quit and reopen Blip AI.

Does Blip AI work on Intel Macs? Yes. The download is a universal app for Apple Silicon and Intel Macs running macOS 11 or later.

Can I use Blip AI without the Fn key? Yes. You can change the push-to-talk hotkey in Blip's settings.

Does Blip AI work offline on Mac? Blip Cloud is the default and needs internet. You can also download an on-device Whisper model in the app to transcribe offline.