Help: microphone troubleshooting.

docs/help-feature-microphone.md

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+# Enabling Microphone Access for Speech Recognition
+
+This guide explains how to enable microphone access for speech recognition in various browsers and mobile devices.
+Ensuring microphone access is essential for using voice features in applications like big-AGI.
+
+## Desktop Browsers
+
+### Google Chrome (All Platforms, recommended)
+
+1. Open the website (e.g., big-AGI) in Chrome.
+2. Click the **lock icon** in the address bar.
+3. In the dropdown, find **"Microphone"**.
+   - Set it to **"Allow"**.
+4. If "Microphone" isn't listed:
+   - Click on **"Site settings"**.
+   - Find **"Microphone"** in the permissions list.
+   - Change the setting to **"Allow"**.
+5. **Refresh** the page.
+
+### Safari (macOS)
+
+1. Open the website in Safari.
+2. Click **"Safari"** in the top menu bar.
+3. Select **"Preferences"** or **"Settings**" (depending on your version).
+4. Go to the **"Websites"** tab.
+5. Select **"Microphone"** from the sidebar.
+6. Find the website in the list and set it to **"Allow"**.
+7. Close the Preferences window.
+8. **Refresh** the page.
+
+### Microsoft Edge (Windows)
+
+1. Open the website in Edge.
+2. Click the **lock icon** in the address bar.
+3. Click **"Permissions for this site"**.
+4. Find **"Microphone"**.
+   - Set it to **"Allow"**.
+5. **Refresh** the page.
+
+### Firefox (All Platforms)
+
+> **Note:** The Speech Recognition API is **not supported** in Firefox. If you're using Firefox, please switch to a supported browser to use speech recognition
+> features.
+
+## Mobile Devices
+
+### Android (Chrome)
+
+1. Open the website in Chrome.
+2. Tap the **lock icon** in the address bar.
+3. Tap **"Permissions"**.
+4. Find **"Microphone"**.
+   - Set it to **"Allow"**.
+5. **Refresh** the page.
+
+### iOS (Safari)
+
+1. Open the **Settings** app on your device.
+2. Scroll down and tap **"Safari"**.
+3. Tap **"Microphone"**.
+4. Ensure **"Ask"** or **"Allow"** is selected.
+5. Return to Safari and open the website.
+6. If prompted, allow microphone access.
+7. **Refresh** the page.
+
+### iOS (Chrome)
+
+> **Note:** Chrome on iOS uses Safari's engine due to system limitations. Microphone permissions are managed through iOS settings.
+
+1. Open the **Settings** app.
+2. Scroll down and tap **"Chrome"**.
+3. Ensure **"Microphone"** is toggled **on**.
+4. Open Chrome and navigate to the website.
+5. If prompted, allow microphone access.
+6. **Refresh** the page.
+
+## Troubleshooting
+
+If you're still experiencing issues after enabling microphone access:
+
+**Check System Permissions (macOS):**
+
+- Open **System Settings**.
+- Go to **"Privacy & Security"**.
+- Select the **"Privacy"** tab.
+- Click **"Microphone"** in the sidebar.
+- Ensure your browser (e.g., Chrome, Safari) is checked.
+- You may need to unlock the settings by clicking the lock icon at the bottom.
+
+**Check Microphone Access (Windows):**
+
+- Open **Settings**.
+- Go to **"Privacy"** > **"Microphone"**.
+- Ensure **"Allow apps to access your microphone"** is **on**.
+- Scroll down and make sure your browser is allowed.
+
+**Close Other Applications:**
+
+- Close any applications that might be using the microphone.
+
+**Restart the Browser:**
+
+- Close all browser windows and reopen.
+
+**Update Your Browser:**
+
+- Ensure you're using the latest version.
+
+**Check for Browser Extensions:**
+
+- Disable extensions that might block access to the microphone.
+
+For persistent issues, consult your browser's official support resources or contact big-AGI support.
+
+## Technical Details
+
+Big-AGI uses the [Web Speech API (SpeechRecognition)](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/SpeechRecognition)
+to transcribe spoken words into text. This API provides real-time transcription with live previews and works on most
+modern mobile and desktop browsers.
+
+**Note on Browser Support:**
+
+| Browser        | Support Level   | Notes                                                                  |
+|----------------|-----------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------|
+| Google Chrome  | ✅ Recommended   | Fully supported on desktop and Android. Preferred for best experience. |
+| Safari         | ✅ Supported     | Requires macOS/iOS 14 or later.                                        |
+| Microsoft Edge | ✅ Supported     | Fully supported on desktop.                                            |
+| Firefox        | ❌ Not Supported | SpeechRecognition API not available.                                   |
+
+**Recommendation:**
+For the best experience with speech recognition features, we strongly recommend using Google Chrome. 
+Ensure your browser is up to date to benefit from the latest features and security updates.