Otter.ai is not recording audio, or only hears you: headphones, Safari and noise cancellation
By Ryleigh Newman · Published
When Otter records silence, or only your own voice, the usual cause is how it listens. Recording by hand in a web browser uses your microphone, so it only hears the other person if their voice comes out of your speakers. Headphones stop that. So does Safari, where Apple blocks recording audio playback, and so does noise cancellation. The fixes are to take the headphones off, use Chrome or Firefox, or use the desktop app or Notetaker, which capture the audio directly.
I built YapToText, a dictation app for the Mac, so read what I say about Otter with that in mind. Every fact about Otter here comes from its own help center, read on October 11, 2026.
This app is completely free. You don't have to make an account. There are no subscriptions, no difficult downloads, and nothing is locked. Made for Apple silicon Macs. Source on GitHub.
Match the cause
From Otter's help article My audio isn't being recorded, read October 11, 2026.
| What is happening | Why | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Only your voice is transcribed | You are wearing headphones, so the other side never reaches the microphone | Record without headphones, or use the desktop app |
| Nothing from the speakers, in Safari | Apple prevents recording audio playback in Safari | Use Chrome or Firefox, or the desktop app |
| Voices drop out | Noise cancellation treats a voice from the speakers as background noise | Turn off noise cancellation while you record |
| A video will not transcribe | The same headphone or browser limit | Download it and import the file |
Why headphones break it
In a browser, Otter records through the microphone. Sound that plays only in your ears never gets there. Otter's own example is a YouTube video playing through headphones while Otter tries to transcribe it: the audio goes to your ears and the microphone picks up nothing. For anything you can download, Otter recommends importing the file. The import page has the steps.
Safari
Otter's help center says Apple prevents recording any audio playback in the Safari browser, so meeting voices coming out of the speaker are not picked up. It calls this a limit set by Apple, and recommends Chrome or Firefox for manual recording. It also notes a known issue with a Chrome feature flag for echo cancellation, with a linked fix.
Noise cancellation and audio suppression
Noise cancellation on a computer, phone or headset can filter out a voice from the speakers, because it classes it as background noise. Otter names some places these settings live: Dell and HP computers, the Krisp application and Microsoft Teams. They go by names such as noise suppression, echo cancellation or reduced background noise. Turn them off while you record.
The setups that avoid all of this
- The desktop app. With its system audio permission, it records what the computer plays, so headphones are fine. The Otter Mac app page covers it.
- Otter Notetaker. It joins the meeting and records the meeting's own audio stream, which Otter says is generally more accurate than manual recording.
- The Chrome extension. It captures a browser tab's audio directly.
- Importing. If you have the file, upload it.
If Notetaker itself does not show up, adding Otter to a meeting covers the Zoom and Teams settings that block it.
A different kind of recording
These problems come from capturing other people's voices from a call. Dictation is simpler, because the only voice is yours and the microphone is pointed at you. YapToText, the free Mac app I built, types what you say into any app and turns files into text, on the Mac. It does not record meetings or system audio, so it is not a fix for this problem, only a different tool. Transcribing a meeting on a Mac compares the ways to capture a call.
This app is completely free. You don't have to make an account. There are no subscriptions, no difficult downloads, and nothing is locked. Made for Apple silicon Macs. Source on GitHub.
The short version
- Only your voice. Headphones. Take them off, or use the desktop app.
- Safari. It cannot record playback. Use Chrome or Firefox.
- Dropouts. Turn off noise cancellation.
- A video. Download and import it.
- Most reliable. Notetaker or the desktop app.
If Otter changes how it records, open an issue on GitHub and I will update this page. Every one gets read.
This app is completely free. You don't have to make an account. There are no subscriptions, no difficult downloads, and nothing is locked. Made for Apple silicon Macs. Source on GitHub.
Related
Sources
- https://help.otter.ai/hc/en-us/articles/18961710640151-My-audio-isn-t-being-recorded (checked 2026-10-11)
- https://help.otter.ai/hc/en-us/articles/360048322533-Speech-transcription-accuracy-FAQ (checked 2026-10-11)
- https://help.otter.ai/hc/en-us/articles/35973988280215-Otter-Desktop-App-Mac-Windows (checked 2026-10-11)
- https://github.com/ryleighnewman/YapToText (checked 2026-10-11)
- https://apps.apple.com/us/app/yaptotext/id6786382289 (checked 2026-10-11)
Questions
Why is Otter only recording my voice?
In a browser Otter listens through your microphone. With headphones on, the other person's voice never reaches it. Record without headphones or use the desktop app.
Why is Otter not recording in Safari?
Otter says Apple prevents recording audio playback in Safari. Use Chrome, Firefox or the Otter desktop app.
Can I wear headphones while using Otter?
Not when recording by hand in a browser. The desktop app, Notetaker and the Chrome extension capture the audio directly, so headphones are fine with those.
Why is Otter missing parts of the conversation?
Noise cancellation can filter out voices coming from the speakers. Turn it off while recording.