superwhisper uses the wrong microphone, or system audio records silent: the fixes
By Ryleigh Newman · Published
Two audio problems come up again and again in superwhisper. It records from a microphone you did not intend, often right after a Bluetooth headset connects. Or a meeting recorded with system audio comes back silent. Both have short fixes in superwhisper's docs, and both are below.
I built YapToText, a dictation app for the Mac, so read what I say about superwhisper with that in mind. Every fact about superwhisper here comes from its own docs, 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.
It uses the wrong microphone
The active input device is shown at the top right of every settings pane. Click it to change it.
- Use system default. Follows whatever macOS or Windows has selected. That changes when a Bluetooth headset connects, which is why superwhisper seems to switch by itself.
- Star a microphone. Marks it as a priority device. superwhisper prefers starred devices.
- Exclude a device. Stops superwhisper offering it, for example a virtual microphone you never use.
AirPods and Bluetooth headsets sound worse
When a Bluetooth headset's microphone is active, audio quality often drops. superwhisper's docs call this a Bluetooth limitation, not a setting, and say it can reduce accuracy. Their fix: select the built-in microphone as the input and keep listening through the headset. The AirPods dictation page explains why this happens on a Mac.
System audio records empty or silent
- Grant the permission. Open System Settings, Privacy and Security, Screen and System Audio Recording, called Screen Recording on macOS 14, and enable superwhisper. Quit and reopen it if macOS asks.
- Turn it on in the mode. Edit the mode and enable Record from system audio. It records applications on your main display along with your microphone.
- Do not trust the waveform. It does not move during system audio capture. Check History to confirm the audio recorded.
- On an Enterprise license, check with your admin. An organization can disable system audio recording for everyone.
- Rule out the audio device. Retry with built-in speakers or wired headphones. If that works, the device was the cause.
If it still fails, the docs ask you to email [email protected] with the device model and your macOS version. The superwhisper meetings page covers the rest of meeting recording.
Notification sounds in your recording
System audio capture records everything the computer plays, notification sounds included. The docs suggest muting notifications during meetings you record, or using a microphone-only mode when you do not need the other side.
How YapToText picks a microphone
superwhisper from its docs, read October 11, 2026. YapToText from its own settings.
| superwhisper | YapToText | |
|---|---|---|
| Choose the input | Top right of any settings pane | Settings, General, Microphone, or the Input picker in the menu bar |
| Bluetooth connects | System default follows it. Star a microphone to prevent that | It records from the microphone you chose |
| Chosen microphone unplugged | Not described in this doc | Falls back to the system default |
| Weak signal | Not described in this doc | Warns when your signal drops below your normal, with an input boost and meter |
| System audio | Per mode, with permission | Not recorded. It is a dictation app |
superwhisper not working has the other common fixes.
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
- Wrong microphone. Click the device at the top right of settings.
- Keeps switching. Star the one you want.
- AirPods. Use the built-in microphone, listen through the AirPods.
- Silent system audio. Permission, then Record from system audio in the mode.
- Still waveform. Normal. Check History.
If superwhisper changes these settings, 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://superwhisper.com/docs/common-issues/microphone-and-system-audio (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
How do I change the microphone in superwhisper?
Click the active input device shown at the top right of any settings pane and pick another.
Why does superwhisper keep switching microphones?
With Use system default, it follows the system, which changes when a Bluetooth headset connects. Star the microphone you want as a priority device.
Why does superwhisper sound worse with AirPods?
A Bluetooth headset's microphone lowers audio quality. Select the built-in microphone as input and keep listening through the headset.
Why is superwhisper's system audio recording silent?
It needs Screen and System Audio Recording permission and Record from system audio enabled in the mode. The waveform does not move, so check History.
Does YapToText record system audio?
No. It records your microphone for dictation and transcribes files you give it.