Enabling Microphone Access for Speech Recognition

This guide explains how to enable microphone access for speech recognition in various browsers and mobile devices. Ensuring microphone access is essential for using voice features in applications like big-AGI.

Desktop Browsers

Google Chrome (All Platforms, recommended)

1. Open the website (e.g., big-AGI) in Chrome.
2. Click the lock icon in the address bar.
3. In the dropdown, find "Microphone".
   • Set it to "Allow".
4. If "Microphone" isn't listed:
   • Click on "Site settings".
   • Find "Microphone" in the permissions list.
   • Change the setting to "Allow".
5. Refresh the page.

Safari (macOS)

Watch the video tutorial: How to enable Speech Recognition in Safari

If you're seeing a "Speech Recognition permission denied" error, follow these steps:

1. Open System Settings.
   • Go to Privacy & Security > Speech Recognition.
   • Enable Safari in the list of allowed applications.
   • Quit & Open Safari.
2. Click Safari in the top menu bar.
   • Select Settings.
   • Go to the Websites tab.
   • Select Microphone from the sidebar.
   • Find big-AGI (or localhost for developers) in the list and set it to Allow.
   • Close the Settings window.
3. Refresh the page.

This quick and simple fix should get essential voice input working in big-AGI on your Mac.

Microsoft Edge (Windows)

1. Open the website in Edge.
2. Click the lock icon in the address bar.
3. Click "Permissions for this site".
4. Find "Microphone".
   • Set it to "Allow".
5. Refresh the page.

Firefox (All Platforms)

Note: The Speech Recognition API is not supported in Firefox. If you're using Firefox, please switch to a supported browser to use speech recognition features.

Mobile Devices

Android (Chrome)

1. Open the website in Chrome.
2. Tap the lock icon in the address bar.
3. Tap "Permissions".
4. Find "Microphone".
   • Set it to "Allow".
5. Refresh the page.

iOS (Safari)

1. Open the Settings app on your device.
2. Scroll down and tap "Safari".
3. Tap "Microphone".
4. Ensure "Ask" or "Allow" is selected.
5. Return to Safari and open the website.
6. If prompted, allow microphone access.
7. Refresh the page.

iOS (Chrome)

Note: Chrome on iOS uses Safari's engine due to system limitations. Microphone permissions are managed through iOS settings.

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Scroll down and tap "Chrome".
3. Ensure "Microphone" is toggled on.
4. Open Chrome and navigate to the website.
5. If prompted, allow microphone access.
6. Refresh the page.

Troubleshooting

If you're still experiencing issues after enabling microphone access:

Check System Permissions (macOS):

• Open System Settings.
• Go to "Privacy & Security".
• Select the "Privacy" tab.
• Click "Microphone" in the sidebar.
• Ensure your browser (e.g., Chrome, Safari) is checked.
• You may need to unlock the settings by clicking the lock icon at the bottom.

Check Microphone Access (Windows):

• Open Settings.
• Go to "Privacy" > "Microphone".
• Ensure "Allow apps to access your microphone" is on.
• Scroll down and make sure your browser is allowed.

Close Other Applications:

• Close any applications that might be using the microphone.

Restart the Browser:

• Close all browser windows and reopen.

Update Your Browser:

• Ensure you're using the latest version.

Check for Browser Extensions:

• Disable extensions that might block access to the microphone.

For persistent issues, consult your browser's official support resources or contact big-AGI support.

Technical Details

Big-AGI uses the Web Speech API (SpeechRecognition) to transcribe spoken words into text. This API provides real-time transcription with live previews and works on most modern mobile and desktop browsers.

Note on Browser Support:

Browser	Support Level	Notes
Google Chrome	✅ Recommended	Fully supported on desktop and Android. Preferred for best experience.
Safari	✅ Supported	Requires macOS/iOS 14 or later.
Microsoft Edge	✅ Supported	Fully supported on desktop.
Firefox	❌ Not Supported	SpeechRecognition API not available.

Recommendation: For the best experience with speech recognition features, we strongly recommend using Google Chrome. Ensure your browser is up to date to benefit from the latest features and security updates.