Customize the Sonavi keyboard shortcut

Change the shortcut

Sonavi saves the new shortcut as soon as it is accepted.

Open Sonavi.
Open Settings.
Find the Keyboard shortcut section.
Choose Change.
Hold at least one modifier key: Control, Alt, Shift, or Windows.
Press one regular key while holding the modifier key or keys.
Wait for Sonavi to show that the shortcut was set.
Test the shortcut with a short dictation.

Cancel shortcut capture

If you start changing the shortcut by mistake, press Escape to leave capture mode without saving a new shortcut.

Sonavi keeps the current shortcut until a new combination is accepted and registered.

Allowed shortcuts

Use at least one modifier key together with one regular key.

Control, Alt, Shift, or Windows with one regular key.
Space, a letter, number, function key, or punctuation as the regular key.
Examples: Control + Shift + K, Alt + Space, Control + Alt + Space.

Shortcuts Sonavi blocks

If Sonavi says the shortcut is reserved, choose a different combination.

Shortcuts with no modifier key.
Modifier-only shortcuts, such as Control by itself.
Escape as the main shortcut key.
Windows keys used by themselves as the main shortcut key.
System, IME, sleep, apps/menu, and processed dead-character keys.
Control + Alt + Delete.
Alt + Tab, Alt + F4, and Alt + Escape.
Control + Escape.
Windows + L, Windows + Space, Windows + Tab, Windows + D, Windows + E, Windows + R, Windows + I, Windows + X, Windows + A, Windows + M, Windows + S, Windows + U, Windows + P, and Windows + H.
Any shortcut that Windows or another app has already registered.

If the shortcut cannot be registered

A shortcut can pass Sonavi validation but still fail if Windows or another app already owns it.

Sonavi keeps your previous shortcut when the new one cannot be registered. Choose another combination or close the app that is using the shortcut, then try again.

Reset the shortcut

Reset returns the dictation shortcut to Control + Space.

Examples

Choose a shortcut that is harder to press accidentally

Sonavi does: Sonavi saves Control + Shift + K and shows that the shortcut was set.

This is valid because it combines modifier keys with a regular key.

Press only a modifier key

Sonavi does: Sonavi keeps listening for another key and asks you to press Space, a letter, number, function key, or punctuation while holding the modifier.

Modifier-only shortcuts are not accepted.

Choose a Windows-reserved shortcut

Sonavi does: Sonavi rejects Alt + F4 and keeps the previous shortcut.

Choose another combination when a shortcut is reserved.

FAQ

What is the default Sonavi shortcut?

The default dictation shortcut is Control + Space.

Can I use a shortcut without Control, Alt, Shift, or Windows?

No. Sonavi requires at least one modifier key so ordinary typing does not accidentally start dictation.

Can I use only Control, Alt, Shift, or Windows?

No. Hold one or more modifier keys, then press one regular key such as Space, a letter, number, function key, or punctuation.

Why was my shortcut rejected?

The shortcut may be missing a modifier, use an unsupported key, be reserved by Windows or Sonavi, or already be registered by another app.

What happens if my new shortcut cannot be registered?

Sonavi keeps your previous shortcut and asks you to choose a different combination.

How do I go back to the default shortcut?

Use Reset in the Keyboard shortcut section. Sonavi restores Control + Space.

Avoid accidental triggers

Choose a shortcut with two modifiers if you often trigger shortcuts accidentally.

Avoid reserved system shortcuts

Do not use shortcuts that Windows already reserves for system actions.