OctaflowOctaflow needs two permissions to work at all: the microphone, and Accessibility. Two more are only for asking Octaflow to do things: Screen Recording, and Automation for the apps it controls. It never asks for Full Disk Access.
Microphone
Needed for: dictation and spoken requests. When: during setup, with macOS’s own popup.
Octaflow listens only while you hold or tap your key, and speech is turned into text on your Mac. The audio is never uploaded. If you choose “Don’t Allow”, macOS won’t ask again; turn it on in System Settings › Privacy & Security › Microphone.
Accessibility
Needed for: your shortcut keys, pasting dictation where your cursor is, and reading and using app controls. When: during setup.
This is the same permission screen readers and keyboard tools use. It lets Octaflow notice Right ⌘ and Right ⌥ on their own, paste text, and find buttons and fields by name, the way a screen reader does. macOS only lets you grant it with a switch in System Settings › Privacy & Security › Accessibility, so Octaflow opens that page for you.
Screen Recording
Needed for: asking Octaflow to do things. Not needed for dictation. When: during setup if you use the “do things” side.
Some steps need a look at the app you’re working in. Octaflow then takes a picture of that one window, never your whole screen, and never password managers, Keychain, banking apps or banking sites. Pictures are sent only while the task runs and aren’t saved. After you turn it on, macOS offers to quit and reopen Octaflow. Find it in System Settings › Privacy & Security › Screen Recording (called Screen & System Audio Recording on newer macOS).
Automation, per app
Needed for: controlling specific apps, like Spotify, Music, Chrome, Safari, Notes, Reminders, Messages and System Events (for settings like Dark Mode). When: the first time Octaflow controls that app.
macOS asks once per app, so you’ll only see a prompt for the apps you actually use with Octaflow. See what works in each app. Manage them in System Settings › Privacy & Security › Automation.
What Octaflow never asks for
- Full Disk Access. Octaflow finds files with Spotlight, the same search your Mac already uses, and reads apps on screen. It doesn’t need to open protected folders.
- Input Monitoring. Your shortcut keys work through Accessibility, so Octaflow doesn’t record what you type.
Only want dictation?
Turn off “Ask Octaflow to do things” in Octaflow’s settings. Dictation keeps working with just the microphone and Accessibility, and Octaflow won’t ask for Screen Recording or Automation.
Turning permissions off
Open System Settings › Privacy & Security, choose the permission, and switch Octaflow off. Octaflow’s Permissions page shows what’s on and gives a button to fix anything that’s missing. What happens to your data is in the privacy policy.
Questions
Why does Octaflow need Accessibility?
To notice your shortcut keys, paste dictation where your cursor is, and read and use app controls by name, the way a screen reader does. macOS only grants it through a switch in System Settings.
Does Octaflow record my screen?
No. When a step needs it, it takes a picture of one app window, never your whole screen. Pictures are sent only while the task runs and aren’t saved. Dictation never needs Screen Recording.
Does Octaflow need Full Disk Access?
No. It never asks for Full Disk Access.
Does Octaflow see what I type?
No. It doesn’t ask for Input Monitoring. Your shortcut keys work through Accessibility.
Which permissions does dictation need?
Only the microphone and Accessibility.