Custom Prompts — Speakly

A custom prompt is a rule: when you dictate in an app the rule names, Speakly rewrites the transcription with your instruction and types the result in the language you picked. Each rule carries a name, the instruction, an output language and a list of apps — leave that list empty (Only when I pick it) and the rule never fires on its own; you choose it from the dot on the recording pill while you dictate. You can keep up to 10 — the counter next to the list heading reads 0 of 10. A custom prompt only ever runs on a fresh dictation — to rewrite text that is already on your screen, see Transforms.

How Speakly picks the rule

Only one rule runs per dictation: the first one whose apps match the app you are dictating into; otherwise none, and the text is typed exactly as transcribed. A rule with no app attached — the list shows it as Only when I pick it — never fires on its own; pick it from the dot on the pill while you dictate. A created rule is always on: there is no on/off toggle, so to stop a rule, edit or delete it. The prompt you pick by hand from the recording pill outranks the app-based rules, for the dictation being recorded and for that one only.

Choosing a prompt while you dictate

The rule Speakly picked is not the last word. While a dictation is running, the small dot at the left end of the recording pill opens a list that starts with Default — no post-processing, followed by your custom prompts. Choosing a prompt applies it to the dictation being recorded — post-processing is switched on for it — and to that one only: the next dictation starts clean, with the app-based rules deciding again. The dot is filled while a prompt is in effect; when you pick one yourself, its name also shows for a moment — above the Floating Pill, or inside the Dynamic Island — the way the microphone name does at recording start — a prompt applied by an app rule fills the dot silently.

Click an entry, or type the digit shown beside it — the numbers on the rows are exactly the keys that pick them: 0 is Default, 1–9 are the prompts in order.
↑ ↓ move through the list, ⏎ picks the highlighted entry, esc closes it and changes nothing.
Default — no post-processing, the first row, is the explicit way to switch post-processing off for this dictation, overriding the rule the app would have applied; it carries the checkmark while no prompt is applied. Picking the ticked prompt again still clears it too. Either way the choice never outlives the dictation: the next one starts clean.
Numbers and arrows need Speakly's native key listener — macOS with Accessibility granted. Without it the list reads Click to choose and the picker is mouse-only.

Translate while you dictate

The bar at the top of the page creates the most common rule in one click: pick the language you speak and the language Speakly should type, then click Create rule. It is created with no app attached, so it never fires on its own — pick it from the dot on the pill when you want that dictation translated. Typical use: dictate in Portuguese inside Teams and send the message in English.

Creating a rule

Open the main window and pick Custom Prompts in the sidebar.
Click New Rule, top right.
Fill in the Rule name.
Step 1 — Where should it apply? Keep Only when I pick it or pick apps via Choose apps… — a rule with no app never fires on its own; you choose it from the dot on the pill while you dictate.
Step 2 — What should the AI do with your text? Write it in your own words, or click the ingredient chips (Fix grammar & fillers, Translate only, Formal tone, Casual tone, Bullet points, Summarize, E-mail format) to build the instruction — they can be combined.
Optional: tick Read my screen for context to send the text visible in the active window along with the dictation — replies can then reference what you're looking at (great for answering e-mails).
Step 3 — Type in which language? Pick the output language, or Same as spoken to keep the language you dictated in.
Check the preview sentence at the bottom and click Save rule.

Limits

Up to 10 rules. At 10, New Rule is disabled.
Rules are stored on your device, in Speakly's local database.

Writing the instruction

Say what the output should look like, not what to think about.
Name what must survive untouched — proper nouns, technical terms, links.
State the tone you want, since a rule replaces the default formatting.
Keep it to the transformation: the instruction runs on the transcribed text only.