STT-CLI is a speech-to-text tool designed for Windows users on corporate laptops where voice typing features are restricted by IT policies. It operates as a background system tray application, enabling hands-free text input through a global hotkey (double-tap Left Alt).
Key Features:
Global Hotkey Activation: Toggle recording with a quick double-tap of the Left Alt key.
Background Operation: Runs discreetly in the system tray without a visible window.
Balloon Notifications: Provides visual feedback for recording status updates.
Audience & Benefit:
Ideal for Windows users on restricted corporate laptops, STT-CLI offers hands-free text input in command-line interfaces like Windows Terminal and PowerShell, enhancing productivity without requiring admin rights or installation. It can be installed via winget, ensuring seamless integration into your workflow.
README
STT CLI
This project is a simple command-line interface (CLI) tool for Windows that provides speech-to-text functionality. It runs in the background, listens for a global hotkey, and transcribes your speech into the active command-line window.
🎯 Purpose and Motivation
I created this tool specifically for Windows users working on corporate laptops where Win+H is disabled by IT policies. After discovering that the built-in Windows voice typing was blocked on my work machine, I needed a solution that would:
Work without admin rights - No installation or system modifications required
Run portably - Just a single .exe file that runs from anywhere
Bypass corporate restrictions - Doesn't touch system settings or require permissions
Support CLI workflows - Specifically designed for command-line interfaces like Windows Terminal, PowerShell, and AI coding tools
I primarily use this with Claude Code and Gemini CLI, where voice input dramatically speeds up my workflow. Macs already have built-in speech-to-text features, and there are apps like SuperWhisper, Voicy, and Voice Mode that work nicely with these tools. But when I looked for a Windows alternative that worked around corporate restrictions, nothing existed. This tool fills that gap for Windows users who need voice control in the CLI but are blocked by enterprise policies.
The Problem: Win+H Disabled on Corporate Laptops
Many corporate and enterprise Windows laptops have the built-in voice typing feature (Win+H) disabled by IT policies and group restrictions. When you try to use it, you'll see this frustrating message:
"Voice typing is not available - Speech service are managed by your organization"
This leaves users without any voice-to-text capability for their command-line workflows, especially problematic when:
You can't install software requiring admin rights
Group policies prevent modifying system settings
You need hands-free typing for accessibility or efficiency
You're working with AI coding assistants like Claude Code or Gemini CLI
The Solution: STT-CLI Running in the Background
STT-CLI solves this by running quietly in the background without requiring admin rights or system modifications. Simply double-tap Left Alt to start speaking, and your words appear directly in your terminal:
Using STT-CLI with Claude Code (cc) - speaking "testing testing 1 2 3" types directly into the terminal
The application runs as a system tray icon, works with any CLI window, and bypasses corporate restrictions since it's just a portable executable that doesn't require installation.
Features
Global Hotkey: Press the Left Alt key twice in quick succession to start or stop recording.
Background Operation: The application runs in the background without a visible window.
System Tray Icon: A system tray icon indicates when the application is running and when it is actively listening.
CLI-Focused: The transcribed text is typed directly into the active command-line window (e.g. Windows Terminal, PowerShell, Claude Code).
Requirements
Operating System: Windows 10/11
Python: Python 3.x (if running from source)
No Admin Rights Required - Works perfectly on corporate laptops with restricted permissions. The application doesn't install anything, doesn't modify system settings, and runs entirely in user space. Just download and run - no installation, no admin prompt, no group policy conflicts.
Installation
🚀 Method 1: Windows Package Manager (Winget) - RECOMMENDED
The easiest way to install STT-CLI is through Windows Package Manager:
winget install Mantej-Singh.STT-CLI
Advantages:
✅ One-command installation
✅ Automatic updates via winget upgrade --all
✅ Trusted Microsoft repository
✅ Perfect for corporate IT deployment
✅ No manual download required
Check for updates:
winget upgrade Mantej-Singh.STT-CLI
Uninstall:
winget uninstall Mantej-Singh.STT-CLI
🚀 First Time Setup (After Winget Installation)
After installing via winget, you need to start the application manually the first time:
Step 1: Launch the Application
# Open Windows Terminal, PowerShell, or CMD and run:
speech-to-text-cli.exe
The system tray icon will appear, and you'll see a welcome notification confirming the app is running.
Step 2: Enable Auto-Start (Optional but Recommended)
To make STT-CLI start automatically when Windows boots:
Right-click the system tray icon
Click "Start on Windows Boot"
A checkmark (✓) will appear next to it
You'll see a confirmation notification
That's it! STT-CLI will now start automatically every time you log in to Windows.
Step 3: Start Using It
Open any CLI window (Windows Terminal, PowerShell, CMD)
Double-tap Left Alt to start recording
Speak into your microphone
Your words appear as text in the CLI!
Double-tap Left Alt again to stop recording
Tip: The system tray icon changes when you're recording to give you visual feedback.
Method 2: Direct Download
Alternatively, download the pre-compiled executable (.exe) from the GitHub Releases. Simply download the file and run it.
System Tray Icon
Running from Source
If you prefer to run the application from the source code, you will need to have Python 3.x installed.
Clone the repository:
git clone https://github.com/Mantej-Singh/stt-cli.git
cd stt-cli
Install the dependencies:
pip install -r requirements.txt
Run the application:
python main.pyw
Usage
Run the application (either the .exe or main.pyw).
A system tray icon will appear to indicate that the application is running.
Open your preferred command-line interface (e.g., Windows Terminal).
Press the Left Alt key twice to start recording. The tray icon will change to indicate that it is listening.
Speak into your microphone. The transcribed text will be typed into the CLI window.
Press the Left Alt key twice again to stop recording.
To quit the application, right-click on the system tray icon and select "Quit".
Command-Line Options
Note: The executable is built as a GUI application (no console window) for clean system tray operation. Command-line flags work when running from Python source, but not in the compiled .exe. This is by design for Windows GUI apps.
From Python source:
python main.pyw --version # Show version information
python main.pyw --help # Show usage help
To check the version of the installed executable, see the GitHub release notes or the Windows Apps & Features list after Winget installation.
Logs and Troubleshooting
If you encounter issues, check the log file located at:
If you want to build the executable yourself, you can use PyInstaller:
# First, make sure all dependencies are installed
pip install -r requirements.txt
# Then build the executable
python -m PyInstaller --onefile --name "speech-to-text-cli" --icon "stt-cli2.ico" --noconsole --add-data "stt-cli2.ico;." --add-data "stt-cli2.png;." --clean main.pyw
Note: The --clean flag ensures a fresh build. The resulting executable will be in the dist folder (approximately 77MB).
📝 Future Development
This is an initial release. Future updates will include:
Configurable hotkeys.
More visual indicators for recording status.
Speech-to-Text Library
This project uses the SpeechRecognition library, which in turn uses the Google Web Speech API for transcription.
🎉 Changelog
v1.4.0 (November 21, 2025) - Auto-Start & Enhanced User Experience
🎯 Major New Features:
✨ Auto-Start on Windows Boot - Right-click system tray icon to enable/disable automatic startup
🎈 First-Run Welcome Notification - Friendly greeting when you launch STT-CLI for the first time
✅ Checkable Menu Items - Visual feedback in tray menu shows auto-start status
💾 Settings Persistence - Your preferences are remembered across sessions
🔧 Technical Improvements:
Settings stored in %APPDATA%\stt-cli\settings.json for better persistence
Windows Startup shortcut management using pywin32 COM interface
Enhanced error handling for permission issues
Better first-run experience with guided setup
Screenshots
Why This Matters:
No more manually starting the app every time you boot Windows! Set it once, forget it forever. Perfect for power users who want STT-CLI ready the moment they log in. Plus, the welcome notification helps new users get started faster.
Upgrade Note: If you installed via winget, run: winget upgrade Mantej-Singh.STT-CLI
v1.3.1 (October 30, 2025) - Winget Readiness
Enhancements for Package Manager Distribution:
✅ Added --version flag to display version information
✅ Added --help flag to show usage instructions
✅ Added programmatic __version__ variable for better version management
📖 Documented log file location in README (%TEMP%\stt-cli\app.log)
🎯 Prepared for Windows Package Manager (Winget) submission
Why This Matters:
This release makes STT-CLI ready for distribution via Winget (Windows Package Manager). Users will soon be able to install with a simple winget install Mantej-Singh.STT-CLI command!
v1.3 (October 29, 2025) - Balloon Notifications
New Feature: Visual Feedback
Windows balloon notification when recording starts
Windows balloon notification when recording stops
STT-CLI now shows Windows balloon notifications when you start or stop recording! You no longer need to watch the system tray icon - you'll get clear visual confirmation that your hotkey press was detected.
What's New:
🔔 Balloon notifications appear when recording starts/stops
✅ Start message reminds you how to stop recording ("Double-tap Left Alt to stop recording")
✅ Stop message confirms recording has ended
🎨 Professional Windows notification system integration
⚙️ Configurable - can be disabled in code if needed
Bug Fixes:
Fixed multi-toggle issue where rapid Alt key presses would cause recording to flash on/off
Added 800ms cooldown period after toggle to prevent accidental multi-toggles
Added exception handling to keyboard callbacks to prevent listener crashes
Recording now reliably stops when you want it to!
Under the Hood:
Improved thread safety with proper event synchronization
Better error handling and logging
Resource optimization (icons cached at startup)
Type hints for better code maintainability
Version: 1.0 → 1.3
Built Together with Gemini CLI, Enhanced Further with Claude Code
