NoteOwl system requirements
Last updated Checked against NoteOwl 1.0.0
NoteOwl runs on macOS 26 or later, on a Mac with Apple Silicon (M1 or newer). It needs 16 GB memory minimum, 24 GB recommended, and room for its on-device AI models, which it downloads once after you install it.
What does NoteOwl need to run?
A Mac with Apple Silicon running macOS 26 or later, at least 16 GB of memory, and free space for the one-time model download. NoteOwl Free and NoteOwl Pro have the same requirements, because they use the same on-device AI models.
| Requirement | NoteOwl 1.0.1 |
|---|---|
| macOS | macOS 26 or later |
| Mac | Apple Silicon (M1 or newer) |
| Memory | 16 GB memory minimum, 24 GB recommended |
| On-device AI models | about 8 GB, downloaded once after install (keep around 10 GB free) |
| Installer | NoteOwl-1.0.1.dmg, 20.0 MB |
| Internet | Needed for the one-time model download. Starting the trial, buying NoteOwl Pro and activating a Mac also need a connection |
To check your Mac, choose Apple menu → About This Mac. It shows your chip, your memory and your macOS version.
Does NoteOwl run on Intel Macs?
No. NoteOwl is built only for Apple Silicon, so it needs a Mac with an M1 chip or newer. It doesn't run on Intel-based Macs.
Does NoteOwl run on older versions of macOS?
No. NoteOwl 1.0.0 needs macOS 26 or later, and it won't open on earlier versions of macOS.
Why does NoteOwl need so much free space?
NoteOwl runs its speech recognition and AI on your Mac instead of in the cloud. The installer holds only the app, so NoteOwl downloads its on-device AI models once, after you install it, and keeps them on your Mac.
NoteOwl keyboard shortcuts
Every NoteOwl keyboard shortcut. fn dictates, ⌥Space records a meeting, ⌥X rewrites selected text, ⌥Z asks your memory, and ⌘K jumps to search.
Languages NoteOwl understands
NoteOwl understands 34 languages on your Mac. Dictation and meetings follow the Spoken language setting; imported recordings are detected automatically.