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Is recording not working in Tiro? The cause and the fix depend on where you’re using it. Find the guide that matches your situation.

Check your environment

You can use Tiro in a web browser, in the desktop app (Windows/Mac), and in the mobile app (iOS/Android). The web version and the desktop app are different programs, so check which one you’re on.
  • Web: You open tiro.ooo in a browser (Chrome, Safari, etc.)
  • Desktop app: A dedicated program installed on your PC

Recording fails in the web browser

1) Recording started, but only part of it is captured

Symptom: Your own voice is recorded, but system sound / computer audio (video, music, etc.) is not. Cause: Browsers don’t support system sound recording, because of their own security policy. This is a browser limitation, not a Tiro one. Fix:
  • Install the desktop app to record system sound as well
  • On Windows, system sound is recorded right after install with no extra permission. On Mac, you grant the screen and system audio recording permission once
  • Download the Tiro desktop app
What is system sound? System sound is every sound your computer plays. Unlike your own voice coming in through the microphone, it’s the audio coming out of your computer speakers or earphones. Examples:
  • Video calls: The other person’s voice in Zoom, Google Meet, or Teams
  • Media playback: YouTube, videos, podcasts, audio files, and more

2) The record button was pressed, but the waveform isn’t moving

Symptom: Recording seems to have started, but no audio waveform appears. Cause: Microphone permission may not be granted, or a popup may be blocked. Fix:

2-1) Check microphone permission in Chrome

  • Select the three-dot menu at the top right of the browser > Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings
  • Under the Permissions section, select “Microphone”
(Or paste this link into the Chrome address bar to go there directly: chrome://settings/content/microphone)
  • On the microphone settings page, check whether tiro.ooo is under “Not allowed to use your microphone” or “Allowed to use your microphone”
For your voice to be recognized normally, Tiro needs to be under “Allowed,” as above. If tiro.ooo is under “Not allowed to use your microphone,” change the setting with the steps below.

2-2) Allow microphone permission in Chrome

If tiro.ooo is under “Not allowed,” how do I change the setting?
  • Click the delete button (trash icon) next to tiro.ooo to clear the blocked permission.
  • Create a new note in Tiro, and Chrome asks for microphone permission again
  • Click Allow and your voice is recognized normally
If you don’t want to be asked every time, choose Allow while visiting the site
  • After changing the setting, refresh the page (Ctrl+R or F5) and try again.

3) Recording won’t start

Contact support if you see the symptoms below. Symptom:
  • You press the record button, but it just keeps spinning
  • The record button is pressed and then snaps right back to its original state
Try this first:
  • Refresh the page (Ctrl+R or F5)
  • Quit the browser completely and open it again
If that doesn’t help, see How to contact support below.

Recording fails in the desktop app

Your voice works, but only computer audio (system sound) is missing

Symptom: Your microphone (your voice) records fine, but computer audio like video, music, or the other person’s voice isn’t captured. You may also see a “Can’t capture system sound” message. Good to know first: This symptom is usually not a permission problem. Even when the message says “check your permissions,” your permission is fine if the microphone is recording normally. What’s actually happening is that Tiro can’t pick up your computer’s output (speaker/earphone) device. Updating the app to the latest version may not make this symptom go away. It comes from the state of your computer’s audio device, not from the app version.

Windows

  • On the recording screen, first check that the [System Sound] gain isn’t at 0%.
  • In Settings > System > Sound, check that the default output (playback) device is set to a properly connected device. Switching to another device and back often makes it work again.
  • In that output device’s Properties > Advanced, clear the “Allow applications to take exclusive control of this device” checkbox.
  • Quit any other app that can take over the audio (virtual audio / voice changers, recording or broadcast apps, etc.).
  • If it still doesn’t work, pause and resume recording, or quit the app completely and relaunch it.

Mac

On Mac, system sound recording needs OS permission.
  • In System Settings > Privacy & Security > Screen & System Audio Recording, turn on the Tiro toggle.
  • After changing the permission, relaunch the app for it to take effect.
  • On the recording screen, check that the [System Sound] toggle is on and the gain isn’t at 0%.
If none of this works, contact support with the type of speaker/earphone you’re using and a screenshot of the recording screen, and we can help you more precisely.

The transcript includes things I didn’t say

Symptom: A video or lecture you weren’t even watching shows up in the transcript during recording. It looks like a transcription error. Cause: When the [System Audio] setting in the recording controls is on, video or music playing in the background is transcribed too. It’s not a transcription bug; your computer’s playback audio was recorded along with you. Fix:
  • To record only your voice, turn off the [System Audio] setting in the recording controls, or lower the [System Sound] input to 0%.
  • To keep the other person’s voice in a video call but leave out other playback audio, stop playing other videos or music while recording.

2) Recording started, but the microphone audio isn’t captured

Symptom: Recording started, but the microphone audio waveform isn’t moving. Cause: The microphone is muted at the system level, or microphone permission isn’t granted. Fix: Check your microphone settings for the operating system you’re on.

2-1) Check microphone settings on Windows 11

  • In Windows Settings > System > Sound > the [Input] section, select Microphone
  • In the [Input settings] section, check whether the microphone icon has a slash through it
A slash means it’s muted
  • Click the icon to unmute (remove the slash)
  • Press Test your microphone > Start test to check that the microphone works correctly

2-2) Check microphone settings on Windows 10

  • Right-click the speaker icon in the tray area at the bottom right of the screen > select Open Sound settings
  • Select the Recording tab > right-click Microphone > select Properties
  • On the Levels tab, check that the microphone volume is set appropriately
Hold on!
Some Windows laptops have a microphone mute shortcut key (for example, the F4 button on a Lenovo ThinkPad). Check that you didn’t press it by accident.

2-3) Check microphone permission on Mac

If the microphone isn’t recording on Mac, check microphone permission.
  • In System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone, turn on the Tiro toggle.
  • After changing the permission, relaunch the app.
If computer audio (system sound) isn’t recording, see the “Your voice works, but only computer audio is missing” section above.

3) Recording won’t start

Symptom:
  • You press the record button, but it just keeps spinning
  • The record button is pressed and then snaps right back to its original state
Try this first:
  • Refresh the app:
Ctrl + R (Windows) / Cmd + R (Mac), or click the refresh button at the top right of the app
  • Quit the app completely and relaunch it
If that doesn’t help, see How to contact support below.

4) Recording stops mid-session

Symptom: Recording started but stops automatically partway through. Possible causes:
  • Your network connection may be unstable
  • The app may be running in minimized mode
Fix:
  • Check your Wi-Fi or wired internet connection
  • Make sure the app isn’t minimized
Minimized mode: The app window shrunk down or minimized to the tray
  • Keep the app open while recording
  • If the problem continues, see How to contact support below
Note For stable recording, use Tiro where your network is good, and keep the app open while recording.

Recording fails in the mobile app

1) Offline recording (the record button on the home screen)

1-1) The audio waveform isn’t changing

  • Symptom: The audio waveform isn’t moving at all. In this case, Tiro isn’t picking up any sound.
  • Cause and fix:
(1) You’re trying to record system audio On mobile, you can’t directly record system sound (audio from other apps playing on the device). (2) You’re using a Bluetooth microphone
  • Bluetooth microphone recording isn’t supported right now.
  • Hold your phone’s built-in microphone close and try again.

2) Live recording

2-1) The audio waveform isn’t changing

  • Symptom: No waveform appears. Your phone isn’t picking up sound well.
  • Cause and fix:
(1) Audio interference is detected, such as a call or media playback When a call (phone or internet call) or media playback from another app is detected, recording pauses automatically for a moment.
  • Brief interference like notifications, alarms, or Siri resumes automatically when it ends.
  • For interference like a call or media playback, tap the resume prompt on the screen after it ends to start again.
  • You can turn this off with the Settings > [Audio interference detection] toggle, but if you turn it off, recording may cut out without any notice when interference occurs.
(2) Bluetooth microphone
  • Bluetooth microphone support is coming soon. For now, hold your phone’s built-in microphone close and try again.

2-2) The waveform changes, but it isn’t converted to text

  • Symptom: Audio is coming in, but no text is generated.
  • Cause and fix:
(1) The language setting doesn’t match Check that the actual spoken language matches the voice language you set. (2) The network connection is unstable
  • Live recording needs the internet.
  • If you run a live conversation with the screen off, recording may be lost partway through.
✔ In that case, we recommend using the offline recording feature. (3) If the problem keeps happening
  • Check whether your network changed, then reach out to support.

3) Other situations

  • Trying to record system sound → On mobile, system sound recording isn’t supported, because of OS policy.
  • Using an input device other than the phone → Right now, only the mobile built-in microphone is supported for recording.

If none of this works

Contact support. Be sure to include the following when you reach out:
  • The exact time the problem occurred
  • The environment you’re using
Web browser (Chrome, etc.)
  • Windows app
  • Mac app
  • Android app
  • iOS app
  • The creation time of the note where you had the problem
You can find it at the top of the note detail screen How to contact support:
  • Click the Contact support button in Settings at the top left of the Tiro app or website
  • Send the chatbot the information above
  • You’ll be connected to an agent in turn