wayaknow
Support
Updated August 19, 2026
wayaknow is a macOS, iOS, and iPadOS app that transcribes speech in 10 languages, translates sentence by sentence, and offers five summary formats. Full Access can automatically identify either of your two selected languages for each utterance. On a paired Apple Watch, you can view the latest transcript or translation processed by the iPhone app.
System requirements
Mac
- Mac with Apple silicon
- macOS 26.4 or later
iPhone and iPad
- iOS or iPadOS 26.4 or later
Apple Watch
- watchOS 26.4 or later
- A paired iPhone with the iPhone version of wayaknow
High Quality mode and summaries depend on Apple Intelligence availability and model readiness. The speech-recognition model or translation languages may need to be downloaded on first use.
The app interface automatically follows the first supported language in your device’s preferred language list.
Getting started
- Choose the transcription and translation languages. Japanese, English, Korean, Simplified and Traditional Chinese, Spanish, French, German, Brazilian Portuguese, and Italian are supported.
- To use automatic language detection with Full Access, choose Auto Detect under the input-language control. Detection is limited to your selected transcription and translation languages.
- On Mac, choose a microphone or Mac System Audio with Full Access.
- Select Start and approve microphone and speech-recognition access when prompted.
- Transcription and translation appear sentence by sentence. You can change languages while running and switch between Low Latency and High Quality as needed.
- Under Summary, choose a language and one of five formats: Standard, Meeting Notes, Lecture Notes, Research Presentation, or Guidance & Procedures.
- Select Save to export the transcript, translation, and any generated summary as UTF-8 text.
Frequently asked questions
Speech is not being recognized
- In manual mode, confirm that the input language matches the language being spoken.
- With Auto Detect, confirm that the spoken language is one of the selected transcription and translation languages.
- Confirm that the correct microphone is selected.
- Allow microphone and speech-recognition access for wayaknow in system settings.
- Wait for the language model to finish preparing on first use.
- If the issue continues, stop transcription and restart wayaknow.
How do I use automatic language detection?
Activate Full Access, select the transcription and translation languages, then choose Auto Detect under the input-language control. Short pauses separate utterances, and each utterance is identified as one of those two languages. A third language is not considered. Very short speech or background noise can be difficult to identify, so verify important content against the language label and original audio.
Translation is falling behind
Select Low Latency. High Quality favors natural phrasing and may take longer depending on the device and amount of speech.
Summaries are unavailable
Summaries use Apple Intelligence. Confirm that Apple Intelligence is enabled on a supported device and that its models are ready. In any of the five formats—Standard, Meeting Notes, Lecture Notes, Research Presentation, and Guidance & Procedures—longer transcripts are processed in sections and may take more time.
What happens after the free five minutes?
Transcription continues, while translation, summaries, and saving pause for one minute. When the wait ends, select Resume Translation to start the next five-minute period. Full Access removes this limit.
Can I use my purchase on another device?
On a Mac, iPhone, or iPad signed in to the same Apple Account, select Restore Purchases. Full Access is a one-time purchase, not a subscription. After restoration, it removes the wait for translation, summaries, and saving, and enables automatic language detection by utterance plus Mac System Audio.
How do I show text on Apple Watch?
- Pair Apple Watch with your iPhone and install wayaknow on both devices.
- Choose the input and target languages in wayaknow on iPhone, then start listening.
- Open wayaknow on Apple Watch and use the controls at the top to choose Transcript or Translation.
Speech recognition and translation run on iPhone. Apple Watch cannot independently record, start, or stop a session and does not sync directly with the Mac app. Keep the iPhone and Watch nearby with Bluetooth and Wi-Fi enabled.
Mac system audio is unavailable
- Choose Mac System Audio under Audio Input.
- Read the confirmation and continue only when you have the necessary rights, permission, and participant consent.
- Open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Screen & System Audio Recording and allow wayaknow.
- Quit and reopen wayaknow.
wayaknow does not save screen video or original audio and does not bypass DRM or copy protection. A third-party service may not permit transcription or translation. Process only audio you have the right or permission to use.
Can iPhone or iPad capture audio from another app directly?
No. The current iPhone and iPad app supports microphone input. It does not capture another app’s system audio directly.
Where is saved text stored?
It is saved as a UTF-8 text file in the location you choose. Find it in Finder on Mac or the Files app on iPhone and iPad.
Can I turn off sleep prevention?
On Mac, open Settings. On iPhone and iPad, open Info. Turn off Prevent Sleep While Running. Sleep prevention applies only between Start and Stop.
Is audio or text sent to the developer?
No. Audio processing, transcription, translation, and summaries run on the device. wayaknow has no user account, advertising, or analytics. Required models may need to be prepared on first use.
How do I revoke permissions?
On Mac, open System Settings → Privacy & Security. On iPhone and iPad, open Settings → Privacy & Security. You can change wayaknow’s microphone, speech recognition, and screen or system audio permissions there.
Contact
When reporting a problem, do not include personal information or confidential conversation content. Please include the wayaknow version and build; Mac, iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch model and OS; input and target languages; quality setting; steps leading to the issue; and any error message shown.