# TalkBar Documentation

> Official documentation for TalkBar, the private AI note taker for Windows and macOS: local transcription, meetings, voice notes, MCP and CLI.

Language: en. Each entry links to the canonical page and its Markdown version.

- [Complete documentation](https://docs.talkbar.app/llms-full.txt): Every page in one text file.

## MCP and CLI: start here

- [MCP learning index](https://docs.talkbar.app/mcp/llms.txt): Read the setup, permissions, tools, CLI, operation reference and examples in order.
- [Complete MCP and CLI reference](https://docs.talkbar.app/mcp/llms-full.txt): All MCP documentation in one text file, including operation arguments and code examples.

## Documentation

- [How TalkBar uses AI](https://docs.talkbar.app/ai/how-talkbar-uses-ai): Which TalkBar features use AI, how each feature is routed to a model, and what leaves your computer on each AI path. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/ai/how-talkbar-uses-ai.md)
- [Local models](https://docs.talkbar.app/ai/local-models): The AI, speech and helper models that run on your computer, how to pick one for your hardware, and how to download or remove them. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/ai/local-models.md)
- [Private AI Mode](https://docs.talkbar.app/ai/private-ai-mode): One switch that keeps all of TalkBar's AI on your own computer by blocking cloud providers and CLI tools. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/ai/private-ai-mode.md)
- [Providers and models](https://docs.talkbar.app/ai/providers-and-models): Connect Built-in AI, Ollama, a cloud provider with your own API key or a CLI tool, and choose which model powers each AI feature. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/ai/providers-and-models.md)
- [Ask TalkBar](https://docs.talkbar.app/chats-and-notes/ask-talkbar): Chat with TalkBar about one session, one document, a project or your whole workspace, with cited sources you can open. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/chats-and-notes/ask-talkbar.md)
- [Notes](https://docs.talkbar.app/chats-and-notes/notes): Write your own notes in TalkBar, start from 44 note templates, link notes to sessions, projects and topics, and add voice memos, dictation and AI help. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/chats-and-notes/notes.md)
- [Backup and restore](https://docs.talkbar.app/data/backup-and-restore): Find TalkBar's data folder, make a complete ZIP backup, restore it, move to another computer, and understand what each reset deletes. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/data/backup-and-restore.md)
- [Plans and license](https://docs.talkbar.app/data/plans-and-license): TalkBar plans and their limits, how to activate a license key, and what happens when you reach a limit or your updates end. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/data/plans-and-license.md)
- [Privacy and your data](https://docs.talkbar.app/data/privacy-and-your-data): Where TalkBar keeps your data, exactly what leaves your computer and when, how to turn off usage statistics, and how to delete what you no longer need. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/data/privacy-and-your-data.md)
- [First-run setup](https://docs.talkbar.app/getting-started/first-run-setup): What the TalkBar welcome window asks, which models it downloads, how to choose where AI runs, and how to run setup again later. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/getting-started/first-run-setup.md)
- [Your first session](https://docs.talkbar.app/getting-started/first-session): Set up, record and review your first TalkBar session from start to finish, or create one from an existing audio file. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/getting-started/first-session.md)
- [Getting around](https://docs.talkbar.app/getting-started/getting-around): The TalkBar layout, the sidebar, Home, universal search, Quick Actions, the session bar, guided tours, keyboard shortcuts and the interface language. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/getting-started/getting-around.md)
- [Install and update](https://docs.talkbar.app/getting-started/install-and-update): Download TalkBar, install it, keep it up to date automatically, choose beta updates, and uninstall it. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/getting-started/install-and-update.md)
- [Introduction](https://docs.talkbar.app/getting-started/introduction): TalkBar is a private AI note taker for Windows and macOS that records meetings and calls from your desktop and keeps your data on your computer. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/getting-started/introduction.md)
- [FAQ](https://docs.talkbar.app/help/faq): Short answers to common questions about TalkBar privacy, offline use, meeting apps, languages, consent, where your data lives, plans, Mac and MCP. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/help/faq.md)
- [Troubleshooting](https://docs.talkbar.app/help/troubleshooting): Fix common problems with recording, transcripts, AI providers, model downloads, imports, sharing and updates, and find out how to get help. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/help/troubleshooting.md)
- [TalkBar Documentation](https://docs.talkbar.app/): Docs for TalkBar, the private AI note taker for Windows and macOS: capture meetings without a bot, transcribe locally and search every conversation. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/index.md)
- [Action items](https://docs.talkbar.app/knowledge/action-items): Tasks, follow-ups, open questions and decisions from your sessions — where they come from, owners and due dates, and how they carry over to the next meeting. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/knowledge/action-items.md)
- [Documents](https://docs.talkbar.app/knowledge/documents): Import PDFs, Word files, Markdown and other documents so TalkBar can search them, use them as chat sources, and bring them into your sessions. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/knowledge/documents.md)
- [Knowledge cards](https://docs.talkbar.app/knowledge/knowledge-cards): Memory cards are the facts TalkBar keeps for you. Learn the card types, the status tabs, how to add and edit cards, and how cards light up during a call. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/knowledge/knowledge-cards.md)
- [People and companies](https://docs.talkbar.app/knowledge/people-and-companies): Keep track of the people you talk to and the companies they work for, link them to speakers and sessions, and archive the ones you no longer need. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/knowledge/people-and-companies.md)
- [Projects](https://docs.talkbar.app/knowledge/projects): Group the sessions, documents, memory cards, people and action items of one piece of work into a project, and see them together on one page. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/knowledge/projects.md)
- [Review and scans](https://docs.talkbar.app/knowledge/review-and-scans): How TalkBar scans sessions and documents for knowledge, and how you approve, edit or dismiss its suggestions in the Review inbox. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/knowledge/review-and-scans.md)
- [Topics and keywords](https://docs.talkbar.app/knowledge/topics-and-keywords): Tag sessions and notes with your own topics, use the keywords AI picks from each session, and turn useful keywords into topics. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/knowledge/topics-and-keywords.md)
- [Access and permissions](https://docs.talkbar.app/mcp/access-and-permissions): Choose which TalkBar operations an AI assistant may run, how deletes are confirmed, and how administrator rules and the CLI fit in. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/mcp/access-and-permissions.md)
- [talkbar-cli](https://docs.talkbar.app/mcp/cli): Run TalkBar operations from a terminal or script with talkbar-cli, the same program that serves MCP. Commands, options, input, output and exit codes. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/mcp/cli.md)
- [Errors and limits](https://docs.talkbar.app/mcp/errors-and-limits): Every error code TalkBar MCP and talkbar-cli return, what to do about each, plus plan limits, concurrency, argument rules and safe retries. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/mcp/errors-and-limits.md)
- [Examples](https://docs.talkbar.app/mcp/examples): Practical TalkBar MCP and CLI walkthroughs with real requests and responses, from asking about last week's sessions to bookmarking a live recording. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/mcp/examples.md)
- [TalkBar MCP & CLI](https://docs.talkbar.app/mcp): Connect AI assistants to TalkBar with the local MCP server or script it with talkbar-cli: setup, access switches, tools and the full operations reference. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/mcp.md)
- [Action items](https://docs.talkbar.app/mcp/operations/action-items): MCP and CLI operations to list, read, create, update, complete and remove action items, follow-ups, questions and decisions. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/mcp/operations/action-items.md)
- [Calendar and series](https://docs.talkbar.app/mcp/operations/calendar-and-series): MCP and CLI operations to list, schedule, prepare, move, snooze, skip and cancel planned meetings, and to manage session series and their schedules. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/mcp/operations/calendar-and-series.md)
- [Chats and documents](https://docs.talkbar.app/mcp/operations/chats-and-documents): MCP and CLI operations to list and read Ask TalkBar chats and documents, read document text, and rename, pin, file, trash and restore them. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/mcp/operations/chats-and-documents.md)
- [Exports](https://docs.talkbar.app/mcp/operations/exports): MCP and CLI operations to configure export destinations and automatic export rules, and to preview, queue, run, cancel, retry and resolve session exports. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/mcp/operations/exports.md)
- [Operations reference](https://docs.talkbar.app/mcp/operations): Every operation an assistant can run through TalkBar MCP or the TalkBar CLI, with arguments, defaults, permissions and results. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/mcp/operations.md)
- [Knowledge](https://docs.talkbar.app/mcp/operations/knowledge): MCP and CLI operations for knowledge cards and the suggestions knowledge scans propose, to list, read, create, update, pin, file, archive and review them. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/mcp/operations/knowledge.md)
- [People and companies](https://docs.talkbar.app/mcp/operations/people-and-companies): MCP and CLI operations to list, read, create, update and archive people and companies, and to find the sessions a person spoke in. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/mcp/operations/people-and-companies.md)
- [Projects and notes](https://docs.talkbar.app/mcp/operations/projects-and-notes): MCP and CLI operations to list, read, create, update, file, pin, trash and restore projects and notes. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/mcp/operations/projects-and-notes.md)
- [Scheduler](https://docs.talkbar.app/mcp/operations/scheduler): MCP and CLI operations to inspect TalkBar's scheduled jobs and to cancel or retry one. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/mcp/operations/scheduler.md)
- [Sessions](https://docs.talkbar.app/mcp/operations/sessions): MCP and CLI operations to list, read, file, pin, trash and restore sessions, read transcripts and timelines, name speakers and manage session cards. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/mcp/operations/sessions.md)
- [Topics and markers](https://docs.talkbar.app/mcp/operations/topics-and-markers): MCP and CLI operations for topics that label sessions and notes, session keywords, and markers on moments in a session. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/mcp/operations/topics-and-markers.md)
- [Workspace and profile](https://docs.talkbar.app/mcp/operations/workspace-and-profile): MCP and CLI operations for workspaces, workspace search and statistics, your profile and your plan. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/mcp/operations/workspace-and-profile.md)
- [MCP and CLI overview](https://docs.talkbar.app/mcp/overview): What TalkBar's MCP server and talkbar-cli let an AI assistant do with your sessions, notes and knowledge, and what always stays in the app. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/mcp/overview.md)
- [Set up MCP](https://docs.talkbar.app/mcp/setup): Turn on MCP in TalkBar and connect Claude Desktop, ChatGPT, Claude Code, Codex, agy, Grok, OpenCode or any other MCP client. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/mcp/setup.md)
- [The five MCP tools](https://docs.talkbar.app/mcp/tools): How talkbar_find, talkbar_read, talkbar_change, talkbar_delete and talkbar_tools work, with their arguments, batches, annotations, paging and wire format. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/mcp/tools.md)
- [Importing recordings](https://docs.talkbar.app/sessions/importing-recordings): Create a session from an existing audio or video file. TalkBar transcribes it on your computer, separates speakers and writes the summary. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/sessions/importing-recordings.md)
- [Sessions overview](https://docs.talkbar.app/sessions/overview): What a TalkBar session is, how the Sessions list works, what each session status means, and how many sessions your plan can keep. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/sessions/overview.md)
- [Recording a session](https://docs.talkbar.app/sessions/recording): The live recording screen and its panels, pausing and stopping, what happens after you stop, and how TalkBar recovers an interrupted recording. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/sessions/recording.md)
- [Scheduling and preparing](https://docs.talkbar.app/sessions/scheduling-and-preparing): Schedule sessions ahead of time with reminders, auto-start and repeats, and prepare notes, documents, knowledge cards and open action items before they start. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/sessions/scheduling-and-preparing.md)
- [Session series](https://docs.talkbar.app/sessions/series): Group recurring meetings and related sessions into a series, with a shared schedule, default setup, open action items and history. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/sessions/series.md)
- [Session details](https://docs.talkbar.app/sessions/session-details): The page of a finished session: summary, action items, transcript, notes and knowledge, plus how to edit speakers, redo the summary and manage audio. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/sessions/session-details.md)
- [Starting a session](https://docs.talkbar.app/sessions/starting-a-session): Open the New session window and choose the template, audio, speakers, AI model, project, context, summary language and privacy for a recording. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/sessions/starting-a-session.md)
- [Templates and skills](https://docs.talkbar.app/sessions/templates-and-skills): Session templates decide how TalkBar captures and summarizes each kind of session; skills are reusable AI chat prompts. Use the built-ins or make your own. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/sessions/templates-and-skills.md)
- [Account and workspaces](https://docs.talkbar.app/settings/account-and-workspaces): Manage your profiles and workspaces in Settings → Account, including switching, renaming, deleting and restoring workspaces. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/settings/account-and-workspaces.md)
- [AI Providers](https://docs.talkbar.app/settings/ai-providers): Every control under Settings → AI Providers, including default and per-feature models, providers, model limits, and advanced request settings. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/settings/ai-providers.md)
- [Data & Backup](https://docs.talkbar.app/settings/data-and-backup): Reference for Settings → Data & Backup — your data folder, complete backups, restore, transfer files, the recovery code and reset options. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/settings/data-and-backup.md)
- [Export & Share](https://docs.talkbar.app/settings/export-and-share): Every setting under Settings → Export & Share — export destinations and rules, sharing defaults and history, and custom branding. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/settings/export-and-share.md)
- [General](https://docs.talkbar.app/settings/general): Settings → General: appearance, session defaults and detection, cleanup, knowledge scans, language, updates, startup, time, calendar and logs. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/settings/general.md)
- [Help & Tours and Doctor](https://docs.talkbar.app/settings/help-and-doctor): Reference for Settings → Help & Tours (guided tours and onboarding replay) and Settings → Doctor (checks your TalkBar setup and points to fixes). [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/settings/help-and-doctor.md)
- [License](https://docs.talkbar.app/settings/license): Reference for Settings → License — your current plan and usage, activating and managing a license key, upgrades and the custom branding add-on. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/settings/license.md)
- [MCP Access](https://docs.talkbar.app/settings/mcp-access): Every setting under Settings → MCP Access — the MCP server switch, client setup, permissions, and server settings. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/settings/mcp-access.md)
- [Notifications](https://docs.talkbar.app/settings/notifications): Every setting under Settings → Notifications — delivery channels for email, Telegram, Slack, Microsoft Teams and webhooks, and desktop notifications. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/settings/notifications.md)
- [Settings overview](https://docs.talkbar.app/settings/overview): How TalkBar Settings is organized, how to find any setting with search, and what highlighted, flagged and locked settings mean. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/settings/overview.md)
- [Private Local AI](https://docs.talkbar.app/settings/private-local-ai): Every control under Settings → Private Local AI, where you turn on Private AI Mode and download or delete the AI models that run on your computer. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/settings/private-local-ai.md)
- [Projects, topics and keywords](https://docs.talkbar.app/settings/projects-and-topics): Reference for Settings → Projects and Settings → Topics & Keywords, including project Trash, keywords cleanup and Action item labels. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/settings/projects-and-topics.md)
- [Quick Actions](https://docs.talkbar.app/settings/quick-actions): Reference for Settings → Quick Actions, where you turn the floating Quick Actions button on or off and choose its shortcuts. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/settings/quick-actions.md)
- [Templates & Skills](https://docs.talkbar.app/settings/templates-and-skills): Reference for Settings → Templates & Skills — session templates, summary sections, note templates, skills and knowledge skills, and what you can do with each. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/settings/templates-and-skills.md)
- [Voice](https://docs.talkbar.app/settings/voice): Every control in Settings → Voice — recording, transcription, dictation, speaker labels and translation — with its default value. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/settings/voice.md)
- [Exports](https://docs.talkbar.app/sharing/exports): Export sessions to Markdown, plain text, HTML, JSON, subtitles or ZIP, to an Obsidian vault or a Notion page, by hand or automatically. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/sharing/exports.md)
- [Notifications](https://docs.talkbar.app/sharing/notifications): Get desktop notifications and reminders, and send TalkBar notices to email, Telegram, Slack, Microsoft Teams or your own webhook. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/sharing/notifications.md)
- [Share links](https://docs.talkbar.app/sharing/share-links): Publish a read-only page of a session, note, chat or answer on talkbar.link, or send the content by email, Telegram, Slack, Teams or webhook. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/sharing/share-links.md)
- [Dictation](https://docs.talkbar.app/voice/dictation): Hold a shortcut and speak to type in any app or straight into a TalkBar note, with optional AI cleanup. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/voice/dictation.md)
- [Live translation](https://docs.talkbar.app/voice/live-translation): Translate the transcript and timeline while you record, with a translation model that runs on this computer. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/voice/live-translation.md)
- [Recording and transcription](https://docs.talkbar.app/voice/recording-and-transcription): Choose what TalkBar records, pick the speech model that writes your transcript on this computer, and decide how long audio is kept. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/voice/recording-and-transcription.md)
- [Speakers](https://docs.talkbar.app/voice/speakers): How TalkBar tells voices apart, how to name speakers and link them to people, and how to keep one speaker out of AI. [Markdown](https://docs.talkbar.app/voice/speakers.md)