If you're experiencing transcription issues, poor audio quality, or your microphone isn't working as expected, this guide will walk you through how to:
Enable microphone permissions
Select the correct input device
Confirm audio is being picked up
Improve audio quality
1. Enable System Microphone Permissions
Heidi needs permission to access your microphone through your device settings and browser settings. Follow the steps based on where you're using Heidi.
📱 Mobile Devices (iOS & Android)
iPhone / iPad
Open Settings
Go to Privacy & Security > Microphone
Enable access for the Heidi app
Android
Open Settings
Go to Apps > Heidi > Permissions
Tap Microphone > Allow
💻 Computer Devices (Mac & Windows)
Mac (Desktop App)
Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone
Enable access for the Heidi app
Windows (Desktop App)
Go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone
Toggle on Microphone access and allow it for Heidi app
Confirm Heidi is listed and has permission
2. Enable Web Browser Microphone Permissions (If Applicable)
🖥️ Desktop Web Browser:
Make sure your browser is allowed to access the microphone.
When prompted when starting a session in Heidi, click “Allow” on the microphone access pop-up
You can also manage this in your browser settings:
Browser | How to Update Microphone Permissions |
Chrome | Settings > Privacy and Security > Site Settings > Microphone > Add Heidi to the list of allowed sites |
Edge | Settings > Cookies and site permissions > Microphone > Add Heidi to the list of allowed sites |
Safari (Mac) | When Heidi website is open > Safari Settings > Websites > Microphone > Select ‘Allow’ |
📱 Mobile Web Browser:
To enable microphone access in your mobile browser:
Open your device’s Settings
Tap Apps (or Apps & Notifications)
Select your browser app (e.g. Chrome, Safari)
Tap Permissions > Microphone
Make sure microphone access is enabled
3. Select the Correct Microphone Input
Before starting a session, make sure the correct microphone is selected—especially if you're using an external mic, headset, or Bluetooth device.
💻 Heidi Desktop App
Start a new session
Click the microphone tab at the top
Use the dropdown arrow to select your preferred input (e.g., system microphone, USB microphone, or headset/headphones)
🌐 Heidi in Web Browser
Start a new session in your browser
Click the microphone tab at the top right
Select your preferred microphone from the dropdown
Make sure you see green waveform bars indicating your mic is active
✅ Tip: The green waveform bars only appear in the web browser version of Heidi—not on the desktop app or mobile app.
4. Confirm Your Microphone is Active (Web Browser Only)
During your session, make sure Heidi is picking up your voice by watching the green waveform bars in the top right corner.
Green bars = audio is working
Red bars or red ring = no audio input detected
🔴 If you see red bars or ring around the microphone tab, check that:
The correct microphone input is selected (see above)
Your device/browser has granted microphone access
You're not connected to another Bluetooth audio device
5. General Troubleshooting & Audio Quality Tips
Transcription Issues?
Transcription errors often occur when audio is unclear or incomplete. Here’s how to fix it:
Make sure you’ve completed the earlier setup steps:
Microphone permissions are enabled
The correct input device is selected
The microphone is active and picking up sound
Use a high-quality microphone
Avoid speaking too softly—increase mic gain if needed:
Mac: System Settings > Sound > Input > Adjust Input Volume
Windows: Control Panel > Sound > Recording > Properties > Levels > Click OK
Keep the mic within a reasonable distance from all speakers to ensure voices are captured clearly
⚠️ Want to test your microphone before a session?
You can test your microphone here to confirm it’s working correctly.
🖥️ Recording Sessions When Desktop Doesn't Have a Working Microphone?
If your desktop device doesn't have a microphone (or audio input isn't working), you can still generate notes with Heidi by recording the session on your mobile Heidi app instead. Heidi will automatically generate a transcript and note once the session is complete.
Your data is synced across devices, so you can start a session on one device and review and/or copy the output on another.
🎧 Using Headphones or Headset?
Headphones or headsets should only be used with the Heidi Desktop App, which is specifically designed to capture full system audio.
🛜 Avoid Bluetooth Conflicts
Make sure you're not connected to another Bluetooth device (like headphones or speakers) if you’re not actively using them for your consult recording session.
👉 Windows user? If you're still experiencing issues with microphone access after following this guide, please refer to our Resolving Microphone and Audio Conflicts for Heidi on Windows guide for further step-by-step instructions.