Set up Pipsqueak

Five minutes to get the real-time coach running on your Mac.

Download & open the app

Download Pipsqueak.app, move it to your /Applications folder, then double-click to open. A small bird icon will appear in your menu bar.

Download Pipsqueak

Grant permissions (all three required)

Pipsqueak needs three macOS permissions. The first two are requested automatically when you click Start coaching — click Allow on each dialog.

Microphone — Hears your call audio.

Speech Recognition — Transcribes speech on-device.

Screen & System Audio Recording — Detects active calls (Meet, Zoom, Teams) and hides nudges while you screen share.

This one needs a manual step: open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Screen & System Audio Recording and enable Pipsqueak.

If you denied any permission, re-enable it in System Settings → Privacy & Security.

Open Pipsqueak → Settings → Account & Billing. Sign in and subscribe to unlock the cloud coach.

Open Pipsqueak Sign in on web

“Open Pipsqueak” launches the app directly if it's installed.

Start coaching

Click the bird icon → Listen → Start coaching (or press ⌘Space). Jump on a call — Pipsqueak nudges you when it spots something worth flagging.

🎙 The audio meter below the button proves the app is hearing audio. If it stays flat, check System Settings → Sound → Input.

Troubleshooting

The bird icon isn't in my menu bar

Make sure you opened the app from /Applications (not Downloads). macOS may quarantine it — right-click → Open the first time.

'Mic / Speech access is off' warning

Open System Settings → Privacy & Security and enable both Microphone and Speech Recognition for Pipsqueak, then click Start coaching again.

No nudges appear during calls

Check that you're subscribed (Settings → Account & Billing), server mode is selected, and you're the one speaking — the app coaches you, not the other person.

I want to try without subscribing

Switch to Local mode in Settings. It uses simple keyword rules with no server needed, but is less accurate than the cloud coach.

Still stuck? Email [email protected]