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Scout uses hotkeys to start dictation, activate Magic Edit, and toggle hands-free mode. All hotkeys are customizable in Settings → Hotkeys.

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Default hotkeys

ActionDefault hotkey
Dictation (push-to-talk)Ctrl+Shift
Magic EditCtrl+Win+Alt+Enter
Hands-Free ModeCtrl+Alt+Space
Paste Last ResultCtrl+Alt+V

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How each hotkey works

Dictation — Hold to record, release to inject text. Audio streams in real time while the key is held, and the final text is injected when you release. Magic Edit — Select text first, then hold the Magic Edit hotkey and speak an instruction (e.g., “make this more formal”). Release to submit. Scout sends the selected text and your instruction to AI, which rewrites the text in place. See Magic Edit. Hands-Free Mode — Press once to start continuous dictation, press again to stop. No need to hold the key. Sessions have a 15-minute maximum and auto-stop after 90 seconds of silence. See Dictation. Paste Last Result — Pastes the most recent dictation or Magic Edit result again. Useful if you want to paste the same text in another location.

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Changing hotkeys

  1. Open Settings → Hotkeys
  2. Click the hotkey field you want to change
  3. Press your desired key combination
  4. The new hotkey is saved automatically

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Modifier-only bindings

Scout supports modifier-only hotkeys like Ctrl+Shift on Windows. This means you can start dictating by holding just modifier keys — no letter or function key required.

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Conflict handling

If your chosen hotkey conflicts with another app’s shortcut, the behavior depends on your platform. On Windows, Scout’s low-level hook typically intercepts the key first. On macOS, conflicts may prevent the hotkey from registering. Choose a combination that doesn’t interfere with your most-used apps.
If you change hotkeys and want to restore the defaults, you can find the original bindings in the table above.