Privacy Mode Recording lets you record and transcribe with Notta Desktop while keeping transcription data on your device.
When Privacy Mode is enabled, Notta uses an offline speech recognition model installed on your computer. New recordings, imported files, transcripts, and related Privacy Mode files are saved locally instead of being uploaded or synced to the cloud.
Privacy Mode is designed for conversations that require stricter data handling, such as confidential meetings, internal interviews, legal or compliance discussions, and other sensitive recordings.
How does Privacy Mode Recording work?
Privacy Mode runs in a local transcription workspace inside Notta Desktop.
Before you enter Privacy Mode, you choose a local storage folder and install an offline speech recognition model. After setup is complete, Notta Desktop can process supported recordings locally on your device.
In Privacy Mode:
- Audio transcription is processed locally.
- Recordings and transcripts are saved in the local folder you choose.
- You can use local transcription after the offline model has been installed.
- Cloud transcription, cloud AI summaries, cross-device cloud sync, and team collaboration are paused or limited.
Privacy Mode limits how Notta handles transcription data, but it does not block all network activity on your device or in Notta Desktop. You may still need an internet connection to sign in, verify eligibility, update Notta Desktop, or download the offline speech recognition model.
The only network dependency during offline use is license validation, which happens periodically, roughly once a month. Once your license has been validated, you can use Privacy Mode offline for at least one month with no outbound traffic during offline recording and transcription.
If license validation cannot be completed after the offline period expires, you may need to reconnect to the internet before continuing to use Privacy Mode.
What can I do in Privacy Mode?
You can use Privacy Mode to:
- Start a local real-time recording and transcription.
- Import supported audio or video files from your computer and transcribe them locally.
- View and manage Privacy Mode records on the same device.
- Export transcripts or files from Privacy Mode when needed.
Records created in Privacy Mode remain on the device where they were created. They are not automatically available on other devices or in the Notta cloud workspace.
Files stored in your selected local folder may still be affected by your device settings, backups, file-sharing tools, or organization-managed policies.
System and plan requirements
To use Privacy Mode Recording, make sure you have:
- The latest version of Notta Desktop.
- An eligible Notta plan. Privacy Mode is available for Pro, Business, and Enterprise plans. Availability may vary by billing method.
- A device that meets the requirements for the local transcription engine you choose.
- Enough free disk space for the offline speech model and local recordings.
- Internet access during initial setup, sign-in, eligibility checks, offline model download, and periodic license validation.
Notta Desktop offers two local transcription engines designed for different device environments and language needs:
| Local transcription engine | Device requirements | Supported languages |
|---|---|---|
| Offline Transcription Model | 1.0 GB storage, 4 GB RAM, and 2 CPU cores | Simplified Chinese, Cantonese, English, and Japanese |
| Apple Speech Analyzer | macOS 26 or later only; 27.3 MB storage, 1 GB RAM, and 2 CPU cores | 11 languages on macOS 26 and later: Simplified Chinese, English, Japanese, Korean, German, French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Cantonese, and Traditional Chinese |
If your device does not meet the recommended requirements for a selected local transcription engine, Notta may warn you before downloading or using that engine.
How to set up Privacy Mode Recording
- Open Notta Desktop.
- Go to Desktop Settings.
- Find Privacy Mode.
- Choose a local storage folder. This is where Privacy Mode recordings, transcripts, and related files will be saved.
- Install an offline speech recognition model.
- Select Enter Privacy Mode.
After you enter Privacy Mode, Notta Desktop opens the local transcription workspace. A banner will indicate that you are in Privacy Mode.
How to start a Privacy Mode recording
- Enter Privacy Mode from Desktop Settings.
- In the Privacy Mode workspace, start a real-time recording or import an audio/video file.
- Keep Notta Desktop open while the recording or transcription is in progress.
- Review the transcript after transcription is complete.
- Export the transcript or file if you need to share it outside Privacy Mode.
If you exit Privacy Mode, new recordings will return to the normal cloud-based workflow. Existing Privacy Mode records remain on your device and can only be viewed in Privacy Mode.
What happens to cloud features in Privacy Mode?
Privacy Mode focuses on local recording and transcription. Some cloud-based Notta features are paused or limited, including:
- Cloud transcription
- AI summaries that require cloud processing
- Sync across devices
- Team sharing and collaboration
To use these cloud features again, exit Privacy Mode and continue recording in the normal Notta Desktop workflow.
Recording consent
Notta Desktop supports Bot-Free Recording in Privacy Mode, so you can record and transcribe meetings without adding a Notta Bot.
Before recording, you are still responsible for following applicable recording laws, workplace policies, and meeting consent requirements. Make sure all participants are informed and have given consent when required.
Troubleshooting
Check that:
- You are signed in to Notta Desktop.
- Your plan supports Privacy Mode.
- You have selected a local storage folder.
- An offline speech recognition model has been installed.
- You are using the latest version of Notta Desktop.
Check your internet connection and available disk space, then try again. If the model files are incomplete, delete the model and download it again.
If your license has not been validated recently, reconnect to the internet and open Notta Desktop to complete license validation. After validation, Privacy Mode can be used offline again for at least one month.
Offline transcription performance depends on your device. If your computer has limited memory or CPU resources, transcription may take longer. Close unnecessary apps or try a lighter supported model if one is available.
Privacy Mode records are stored locally and are not synced to the cloud. Open Notta Desktop on the same device and enter Privacy Mode to view them.