> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.kombify.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Talk with the Voice Agent

> Turn on the Voice Agent, hold a spoken conversation and end it with a summary

The Voice Agent is a live spoken conversation. You can ask follow-up questions
and interrupt. It does not type into your apps. Use Dictation or Assist for
that. The Voice Agent is a Windows feature. On macOS it is not verified in the
current beta.

## Before you start

* SpeechKit is installed and Dictation works.
* The Voice Agent is off in a fresh install. You turn it on below.
* The Voice Agent needs a provider for live conversation, local or cloud.
  Choose it with the [privacy settings](/speechkit/privacy-settings) in mind.
  A cloud provider receives your voice.

## Steps

<Steps>
  <Step title="Turn the Voice Agent on">
    In **Settings > Overview**, switch on the Voice Agent in the **Modes** list.
    You can also open **Voice Agent Mode** and enable its hotkey there.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Check what needs attention">
    **Overview** lists missing provider keys under **Needs attention**. Add the
    key or choose another provider.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Start a conversation">
    The default hotkey is `Ctrl+Shift`. Hold it, speak, and release it. You can
    also start and stop the agent with the **Start voice agent** and
    **Stop voice agent** buttons in the Voice Agent window.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Ask a follow-up">
    The window shows the conversation. After the agent answers, ask a follow-up
    question. For example: "help me decide the next release slice". Then
    interrupt with a follow-up.
  </Step>

  <Step title="End the session">
    End the session to get a summary. After you release the hotkey the dialog
    stays resumable for a short time (the **Resume window**). The summary and
    the closing of the panel happen when that window runs out.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Settings you can change

Open **Settings > Voice Agent Mode**.

| Setting | What it does |
| - | - |
| Voice Agent hotkey | The combination that starts the conversation. |
| Agent profile | Picks the agent profile. |
| Personal refinement prompt | Adds your own preferences, for example short answers. |
| Resume window (seconds) | How long a dialog stays resumable. 0 ends the session at once. |
| Pause tolerance (ms) | Short pauses up to this length do not trigger an answer. 0 uses the provider default. |
| Session summary | Keeps a summary of the session. |
| Closing the window | Choose **Minimise and keep chat** or **End chat on close**. |

Past conversations appear in the **Library** under the voice tab.

## Start with your voice

**Hands-Free** can start a mode with a wake phrase instead of a hotkey. Turn it
on under **Settings > Hands-Free** with **Enable hands-free activation**, then
choose the phrase and the target (**Voice Agent conversation**, **Assist voice
companion** or **Dictation (UI-assisted)**). Microphone audio for wake
detection stays on the device. Hands-Free is not available on macOS.

## If something goes wrong

* **The agent does not start.** Check that the Voice Agent is switched on and
  that its provider has a key. See **Needs attention** in **Overview**.
* **It answers too early.** Raise **Pause tolerance (ms)**.
* **You cannot hear it.** Use the speaker output control in the Voice Agent
  window to pick another speaker.
* **Still stuck.** See [Fix common problems](/speechkit/fix-common-problems).


This documentation is built and hosted on [Mintlify](https://mintlify.com), a developer documentation platform.