Install Cluinn

Download the .dmg, drag Cluinn to Applications, sign in and walk through the short first-run setup.

Download and install

1. Get the .dmg from the download page. The app is free to download.
2. Open it and drag Cluinn into your Applications folder.
3. Open Cluinn from Applications or Spotlight.

Cluinn runs on macOS 12 (Monterey) or later on Apple silicon Macs (M1 or later). Intel Macs aren’t supported.

Sign in

The first time the app opens, create an account or sign in:

• Email and password: a new account confirms with a 6-digit code we email you.
• Continue with Google: use your Google account instead.

You need a plan to dictate or record calls: Basic for dictation, Pro for everything, including Calls. Without one you can look around, set up personas and change settings; the Plan sheet opens the first time you try to dictate or start a call. See Plans & trials.

First-run setup

A few short pages and you’re in:

1. “Protect your account”: turn on two-factor sign-in with any authenticator app, or choose Skip for now. See Security.
2. Permissions: Accessibility, Microphone and Screen capture, asked for one at a time. Granting the third moves you on. What each one is for: Permissions.
3. Backup: choose Device-only (selected to start with) or Encrypted backup. This page doesn’t appear during a free trial; Cluinn asks once your plan starts. See Sync & backup.
4. “Choose your language”: the language you’ll dictate in. Your Mac’s language is preselected, or Auto if your Mac is set to English. “Let’s get started” opens the app, and you can change the language later in Settings → Dictation (see Languages & translation).

You land on the Welcome page, with a Start a call card and a Start dictation card. Below them are Tips (short videos) and Show me around (guided walkthroughs), and both stay available: see Guided walkthroughs. For dictation, Your first dictation takes it from here.

The page steps aside once you have calls or dictations, but it isn’t gone: the ? button beside the account chip reopens it, tips and shortcuts included.

Updates are automatic

Cluinn downloads updates in the background, with no progress bar and nothing for you to do. When a new version is ready, an Update button appears at the bottom of the sidebar; click it to relaunch. If you quit Cluinn as usual instead, the update installs then, and you’re on the new version the next time you open it. General settings covers checking by hand and what happens if an update can’t finish.

What syncs, what stays local

Your snippets, personas, dictionary and most settings sync to your account, so they follow you to a new Mac. Your audio is never stored on our servers and never backed up. Where encrypted backup is switched on for your account, an encrypted copy of your calls, dictation transcripts, notes and folders is kept on our servers. See Sync & backup.