Install TawkType
Check your PC, download the Windows installer and prepare for local voice typing.
On this page
What you need#
TawkType is a desktop application for 64-bit Windows 10 or Windows 11. You need a working microphone and enough disk space for at least one speech model. It is not a browser extension and does not run on macOS or a phone.
| Resource | Minimum in the project guide | More comfortable |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | 2 CPU cores | 4 or more cores |
| Memory | 4 GB RAM | 8 GB RAM |
| Free disk | About 1 GB for the Parakeet setup | About 3 GB if you keep both default models |
| Graphics | A GPU is optional | Roughly 2 GB free VRAM for the default Whisper model |
| Runtime | .NET 8 Desktop Runtime | The installer offers to fetch it if missing |
These are starting points, not performance guarantees. Other running apps, the microphone and the selected model affect your experience. You do not need Python, Rust or the CUDA Toolkit to use the installer.
Download and install#
- Open the latest TawkType release.
- Download TawkTypeApp-win-Setup.exe from the release assets.
- Run the installer. It installs for your Windows user; administrator rights are not required.
- Accept the .NET Desktop Runtime installation if the installer reports it is missing.
- Start TawkType and follow guided setup.
The App suffix belongs to the installer package. The application is still called TawkType. The installer is approximately 37 MB; speech models are separate downloads and are only fetched when you request them.
What opens on first launch#
A new installation opens a seven-step walkthrough. It verifies microphone input, downloads and loads the chosen model, records your shortcut and finishes with a real practice dictation. The floating status bar and system-tray controls provide access to TawkType while you work in other applications.
An update to an already configured installation may not open setup again. Use Set up TawkType… from the tray menu whenever you want to repeat it. If you previously chose Skip setup, it will also remain available there.
When you need an internet connection#
You need internet access to download the installer, an optional runtime and your speech model. Installed copies also check GitHub for updates. Once the required model is on disk, recognition and local cleanup work offline.
Claude rewriting is optional, disabled by default and requires an internet connection plus your own Anthropic API key. Turning it off does not disable local spellings, snippets or modes.
Where installation and data are stored#
The application and your data deliberately live in separate folders:
| Folder | Purpose |
|---|---|
%LOCALAPPDATA%\TawkTypeApp\ | Installed application and updater files. |
%LOCALAPPDATA%\TawkType\ | Settings, downloaded models, optional history and logs. |
This separation keeps application updates from replacing your settings and model downloads. Open Settings → General → Open data folder to find the data for your current Windows account.
Uninstalling keeps that data by default. See Uninstall & delete data if you want to remove it with the app or clear it separately.