---
title: "Microphone, automation and the permissions ToolPiper asks for"
description: "Why is ToolPiper asking for microphone or automation access, and what happens if I say no?"
date: 2026-09-01
author: "ModelPiper"
tags: ["Permissions", "Microphone", "Privacy", "macOS"]
type: "faq"
canonical: "https://modelpiper.com/help/microphone-and-permissions"
---

# Microphone, automation and the permissions ToolPiper asks for

> Why is ToolPiper asking for microphone or automation access, and what happens if I say no?

ToolPiper asks for a permission only when you click a grant in its Home pane, never at launch and never from inside a running task, and every permission it asks for is optional. Declining one disables the feature that needed it and leaves everything else working.

## Microphone

Granted from the Home pane, where the dictation trial asks for it as part of your first dictation. A feature that needs the microphone and does not have it points you there instead of prompting mid-task. Audio is processed on this Mac by a local speech model and is not uploaded anywhere.

If you declined it and want it back, open \*\*System Settings > Privacy & Security

> Microphone\*\* and enable ToolPiper. macOS only shows an app in that list after the app has asked once, so if ToolPiper is not listed, trigger a recording first.

## Automation

Granted from the Home pane, one application at a time. macOS shows each request as "ToolPiper wants access to control _AppName_". The grant is per application, so you approve the apps you actually want automated and nothing else.

Reset an individual grant under **System Settings > Privacy & Security > Automation**.

## Accessibility and screen recording

Some tools read the on-screen accessibility tree or capture the screen. Both are switches in **System Settings > Privacy & Security**, in the Accessibility and Screen Recording sections. The Home pane sends you to the right switch and notices when it flips.

Accessibility takes effect as soon as it is granted; the hotkeys re-arm on the spot. Screen Recording needs a quit and relaunch before macOS lets the app use it. If a switch is on in System Settings and the Home pane still shows the permission as denied, the row offers a reset that clears the stale entry.

## What none of this sends anywhere

Nothing. Permissions widen what ToolPiper can do on your machine; they do not open a network path. Audio, screen contents and accessibility data are read locally, used locally, and not transmitted.