Snippets turn a short trigger phrase into text you use often. Every snippet works in one of three modes:
- Command (the default for new snippets) — say the trigger on its own and the replacement is inserted. The trigger is ignored mid-sentence.
- Inline — the trigger is replaced wherever it appears in your dictation.
- Secure — like a command snippet, but the replacement is a secret (a password, a card number) encrypted in your Mac's keychain and released only after Touch ID.
Creating a Snippet
- Go to the Snippets tab in the sidebar.
- Click Add snippet.
- Enter a trigger phrase (what you say) and a replacement (what gets inserted).
- Leave Command only on to insert by saying the trigger on its own, or switch it off to expand the trigger inline mid-dictation.
- Click Save.
If the trigger clashes with another snippet, a voice command, or a macro, Tota warns you before saving — whichever runs first would win, so pick a unique phrase.
Secure Snippets
Turn on Secure (Touch ID to insert) when the replacement is something sensitive. The value is encrypted in your Mac's keychain the moment you save, and can't be viewed again — editing lets you enter a new value, never see the old one.
To use one, say its trigger on its own. Tota asks for Touch ID (your Apple Watch or login password also work), then pastes the secret into the field you were dictating into. Secure snippets never appear in History or clipboard history, and well-behaved clipboard managers ignore them.
- If you cancel the Touch ID prompt, nothing is inserted and nothing touches the clipboard.
- If Tota can't return focus to the app you were in (say you switched apps mid-prompt), the secret is placed on the clipboard instead and cleared automatically after 30 seconds.
- Secrets are stored on this Mac only — they don't sync via iCloud and can't be recovered on a new machine, so keep the original in your password manager.
How Matching Works
- Case-insensitive — "BRB" and "brb" both match.
- Punctuation-flexible — Triggers match even when Whisper inserts punctuation between words. For example, a trigger of "on my way" will match "on my way." or "on, my way" in the transcription.
- Command and secure snippets match only when the trigger is your entire utterance — say it on its own, not buried in a sentence.
Editing and Deleting
Hover over a snippet in the list to reveal its edit and delete buttons. Existing snippets can be switched between inline and command-only at any time. A plain snippet can be upgraded to secure, but a secure one can't be turned back — delete and recreate it instead.
Storage
Snippets are stored locally on your Mac and never leave your device. Secure snippet values live encrypted in the macOS keychain, gated by Touch ID on every use.
