Help Center

Get started with Kaikou quickly, and find answers to common questions

This page covers the macOS edition. On Windows? See the Windows page and the Windows guide for downloads, installation, and every feature.

Quick Start

1

Install the app

Search "Kaikou" on the Mac App Store and click Get — the app installs into your Applications folder.

2

Grant microphone access

On first launch the system asks for microphone permission. Make sure to allow it — recognition can't work otherwise.

3

Pick a hotkey

Click the K icon in the menu bar, open Settings, and pick the hotkey mode that suits you (default: double-tap Command).

4

Start talking

Press the hotkey to start recording; release it (or press again) when done, and the text inserts at your cursor automatically.

Using the hotkey — one key and the text appears

1

Double-tap Command to start

In any app (WeChat, Mail, Notes, Feishu, DingTalk…), quickly double-tap the Command (⌘) key and Kaikou starts listening.

2

Speak naturally

No need to word it perfectly or build sentences in your head — just say what you mean. Pauses and filler words are fine; AI tidies it up.

3

Double-tap Command again to stop

Double-tap ⌘ again when you're done. Kaikou recognizes instantly and shows the candidate panel — original, AI-polished, terminology, and more.

4

Pick a candidate — text lands by itself

Choose with ↑↓ and press Enter. The text appears right at your cursor — no copying, no pasting, no other keys.

💡 That's really it

Double-tap ⌘ → speak → double-tap ⌘ → pick a candidate → done. No mouse, no switching input methods, no manual pasting — the text appears exactly where you want it.

Direct Input setup — truly hands-free

Kaikou's "Direct Input" feature types the recognized text straight into your cursor position — no manual pasting needed. It is an accessibility feature designed for people who cannot type.

1

Open the Accessibility settings

Menu-bar K icon → Settings → General → find the "Direct Input" card and click "Enable". The system will walk you to the Accessibility settings.

2

Grant the Accessibility permission

In System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility, find Kaikou and turn it on. This permission is what lets Kaikou type into your cursor for you.

3

Start using it

Once granted, recognized text appears at your cursor automatically — English characters type out key by key, Chinese inserts directly, all hands-free. If you'd rather not grant it, text is copied to the clipboard for manual pasting instead.

🔒 Privacy notes

The Accessibility permission is used solely to type recognized text at your cursor. Kaikou never reads your screen, logs your keystrokes, or collects data. Recognition runs entirely on-device — audio never leaves your Mac.

Tips

💡

Customize the hotkey

The default is double-tap ⌘. Under Settings → Hotkeys you can switch to single-tap ⌘, double-tap Option, hold-⌘-and-release, and more — whatever suits you.

💡

Mixed Chinese-English input

Kaikou handles mixed speech, e.g. "帮我发一封 email 给 John" — the engine switches between Chinese and English automatically.

💡

Translation mode

Turn on translation mode in Settings and speak Chinese — Kaikou outputs English (or one of 17 other target languages). Great for cross-language communication.

💡

Offline recognition

Choose SenseVoice under Settings → Recognition Model for fully offline recognition. Voice data never leaves the device — zero privacy exposure.

💡

Background recording

Switch apps or lock the screen mid-recording — capture continues. Perfect for dictating while looking things up.

FAQ

Can't find the app?
Kaikou is a menu-bar app with no Dock icon. Look for the green K icon at the top-right of your screen. If it's missing, other menu items may have pushed it out — click the double arrows at the right edge of the menu bar to expand.
The hotkey doesn't respond?
Check: (1) microphone permission granted (System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone); (2) hotkey configured correctly (menu bar → Settings → Hotkeys); (3) no other app is squatting on the same hotkey.
AI polishing isn't working?
AI polishing needs: (1) AI enabled in Settings; (2) a provider and API key configured under Settings → AI Polishing; (3) a working network connection. AI polishing is optional.
How do I switch recognition engines?
Menu-bar K icon → Recognition Model → choose Apple Speech (built in, free) or SenseVoice (offline model, 894MB download, optional).
How do I manage my account?
Manage your account inside the app, or write to support@17kaikou.com for help.
How do I manage or cancel my subscription?
Open System Settings → Apple ID → Media & Purchases → Subscriptions and find Kaikou to manage or cancel. After cancelling, Pro/Ultra features stay until the period ends, then it auto-downgrades to Basic (free). Inserted text and settings are unaffected. Apple handles billing — cancel anytime.
What's the difference between free and paid?
The free tier includes 100 AI credits per day (reset at midnight) and free-forever Direct Input. Pro unlocks unlimited AI credits, AI polishing, terminology-aware translation, and the 4-row candidate panel; Ultra adds multi-device sync and priority support. See the pricing page.
Which UI languages are supported?
Since v1.0.6 the UI ships in 10 languages: Simplified Chinese, English, Traditional Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, French, German, Brazilian Portuguese, and Russian. It follows your macOS system language automatically, or you can override it per app in System Settings.
How should a parent or family member with limited hand mobility start?
Install, allow the microphone, and they're set: open any text field → double-tap ⌘ → speak → pick one, and the text lands — no typing at any point. Direct Input is free for everyone. More care-scenario guidance in FAQ → Family & Care.
How does the candidate panel work?
Choose Pro or Ultra under Menu-bar K icon → Settings → Product Mode to enable the semantic candidate panel. When dictation finishes, the panel offers multiple interpretations to pick from: ↑↓ to choose, Enter to confirm, ESC to dismiss.

System Requirements

Contact Us

Didn't find what you needed? We're happy to help.

support@17kaikou.com

We reply within one business day. For urgent issues, mark the subject with [Urgent].