Voice mode in Claude Code (VS Code, macOS)

Claude Code's voice mode in VS Code on macOS requires the `sox` audio tool and microphone permission for Visual Studio Code. A common failure occurs when VS Code is not granted mic access before launch, resulting in silent recordings. Developers must install `sox` via Homebrew, enable VS Code in System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone, and restart VS Code to fix the issue.

Claude Code has a built-in voice mode: hold space, talk, it transcribes into your prompt. Here's how to get it running in the VS Code integrated terminal on macOS — including the one step that breaks it for everyone. Voice mode records via sox . No sox, no audio. brew install sox sox --version sanity check In the Claude Code prompt: /voice Hold space to record, release to stop. Claude Code runs inside VS Code, so macOS attributes the mic request to Visual Studio Code . Open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone . If VS Code isn't listed, it never requested access yet — and there's no "+" to add it manually. Force the prompt: macOS only re-reads mic permissions at app launch. A VS Code instance that was already running when you flipped the toggle keeps getting fed silence until you restart it. The nasty failure: recording "works" but is pure silence permission denied → all zeros . rec -q /tmp/mictest.wav trim 0 2 records 2s — say something sox /tmp/mictest.wav -n stat 2 &1 | grep "Maximum amplitude" 0.000000 → still silent. Recheck the toggle, restart VS Code. 0.17 → working. RMS around 0.01 is a normal talking level.| Symptom | Fix | |---|---| | "No audio detected" | brew install sox + grant mic permission | Amplitude 0.000000 | Enable VS Code in Microphone settings, then ⌘Q + reopen | Toggle off with /voice . Change dictation language with /config .