Skip to main content

​
Prerequisites

You need:
  • An x86_64 (amd64) computer
  • Ubuntu 22.04 or newer, or Debian 12 or newer
  • A GNOME or KDE Plasma desktop for the verified desktop experience
  • Administrator access to install the package and optionally grant input-device access
The package requires glibc 2.35 or newer. Other Debian-based distributions may satisfy the dependencies, but they are not part of the release verification matrix.

​
Install the Debian package

Linux v1.0.0 passed the automated build, package, UI-smoke, and integration gates. The expanded physical GNOME, KDE, and GPU matrix is planned for v1.1.0.
Download hyperwhisper_VERSION_amd64.deb from the Linux releases, then run this command from the directory containing the file:
Replace VERSION with the version in the downloaded filename. Using apt installs the app and its desktop dependencies together. Launch HyperWhisper from your application menu or from a terminal:

​
Enable global shortcuts and automatic paste

HyperWhisper can read configured global shortcuts and paste text through /dev/input and /dev/uinput. Package installation creates a dedicated hyperwhisper-input group, but it does not add you automatically. To grant this access to your account:
Log out completely and log back in. Confirm the new session has the group:
Input-device access is sensitive. It can expose keyboard events to software running as your user. HyperWhisper filters events inside its input service and emits only configured action identifiers, but you should grant this group only to accounts that need global shortcuts or automatic paste.
Without the group, transcription still works. HyperWhisper keeps the result on the clipboard when automatic paste is unavailable.

​
Enable desktop integration

Wayland does not provide a standard active-window portal. HyperWhisper therefore ships optional desktop companions. Package installation never enables a companion or changes your home directory; run the matching command as your signed-in desktop user, without sudo.

​
GNOME Wayland

The companion supports GNOME Shell 42 through 50. Log out and back in if it does not become available immediately. If you do not install the companion, HyperWhisper continues in your default mode and active-application mode switching is unavailable. GNOME may also omit tray icons unless a StatusNotifier/AppIndicator extension is installed; the main window remains usable without a tray.

​
KDE Plasma Wayland

The companion supports Plasma 5 and 6. It installs a KWin script and a user session bridge. Log out and back in to complete activation. On GNOME Xorg, HyperWhisper uses X11 active-window detection and does not need a desktop companion. The companions return only the active process ID, application identifier, and window title. They do not accept document text or key events.

​
Self-host the APT repository

Linux releases include hyperwhisper-apt-VERSION.tar.gz, a static APT repository archive for organizations that want to host updates themselves. HyperWhisper does not currently operate a public APT endpoint. Extract the archive at the root of an HTTPS origin. Before configuring clients, confirm that the hosted repository contains signed metadata and its public key:
Do not distribute an unsigned repository. On each client, install the public key and source definition:
Replace packages.example.com/hyperwhisper with your HTTPS origin. The repository operator is responsible for preserving and rotating its signing key.

​
Remove HyperWhisper

Remove any enabled companion first:
Then remove the package:
If you configured a self-hosted repository, remove its source and key:
The package deliberately retains the hyperwhisper-input system group and does not delete your settings, history, recordings, or downloaded models. To inspect the user-data locations that remain, close HyperWhisper and run:
Review and back up those locations before deleting any of them manually.