---
title: "Settings: your key, mic, languages, and words"
nav: Settings
description: Tony has four choices, where people really differ - the push-to-talk key, the microphone, the languages you speak, and your words - and a tuned default for everything else.
---

Tony works with zero setup.
Settings has four choices, the ones where people really differ: the key, the mic, the languages, and your words.
Everything else is a tuned default.

Open Settings from the gear in the [menu bar panel](/tony/docs/menu-bar.md), with ⌘, while the panel is open, or from Settings… when you right-click the menu bar icon.

## Hold to dictate

The key you hold to talk.
Pick fn, Right ⌥, Right ⌘, Right ⌃, Right ⇧, Left ⌥, or Left ⌃, or pick Other… and press any modifier.
A modifier on its own types nothing, so holding it never leaves a stray character behind.

- **Hold** to dictate, and let go to type it.
- **Double-tap** for hands-free: talk as long as you like, and tap again to finish.
- **Esc** cancels, and nothing is typed.

With fn as your key, Tony checks what macOS does when you press it.
If fn also opens Emoji & Symbols, changes the input source, or starts Apple Dictation, Settings says so, and Fix sets System Settings > Keyboard, "Press 🌐 key to", to Do Nothing.

## Microphone

Automatic, or any mic your Mac has.
Automatic follows your Mac's default input, with two exceptions:

- It prefers the built-in mic over a Bluetooth headset, since a headset sounds like a phone call while its mic is open, and opening it takes long enough to lose your first words.
- With the lid closed, when the built-in mic is off, it picks another mic that isn't Bluetooth, if you have one.

## Languages

Any language, or the ones you speak, as many as you like.
Until you pick, Tony starts with the languages your Mac is set up for.
See [Languages](/tony/docs/languages.md) for all 25 and why picking helps.

## Your words

Names, brands, and jargon Tony should write your way.
Press Return after each one.
See [Your words](/tony/docs/your-words.md).

## Open at login

On by default, so Tony is ready whenever your Mac is.

## Version and updates

Settings shows Tony's version, and Check for Updates looks for a new one now.
Tony also checks on its own at launch, every four hours, and when your Mac wakes.
See [Install and permissions](/tony/docs/install.md#updates).