# Start here

> A short diagnostic path that resolves most Cephable problems, and where to go when it does not.

Source: https://help.cephable.com/docs/troubleshooting/overview

---

Work through these in order. Most problems are solved by step three.

:::steps
:::step title="Open the Cephable Panel"
The Panel is the window you use to control Cephable. Press **Alt+P** on Windows or
**Option+P** on a Mac to show or hide it.

If nothing appears, use the Cephable icon: right-click it in the system tray at the bottom
right of the screen on Windows (it may be hidden under the **^** arrow), or click it in the
menu bar at the top right on a Mac. Choose **Toggle Panel**.

If you cannot find the Cephable icon at all, Cephable is not running. Open it from the Start
menu on Windows or the Applications folder on a Mac.
:::

:::step title="Check Cephable is listening"
Look under the Panel header. You should see a pause button, **Command** and **Dictation**,
and **Listening...** beside a sound wave. Say something — your words should replace
**Listening...**.

If you do not see that row, or your words never appear, go to
[Voice recognition problems](/docs/troubleshooting/voice-recognition).
:::

:::step title="Check Cephable can act"
Click into the app you want to control. Then, in the Panel, open the **Control** tab to see
the commands you can say, and say one of them.

If your words appear in the Panel but nothing happens on screen, or Cephable says it
**cannot control this app**, go to [Permissions and access](/docs/troubleshooting/permissions).
:::

:::step title="Check the right App Controls are active"
The name after **Uses:** in the Panel is the set of commands Cephable is using right now. If
it is not the one you expect, the command you are saying may not exist in it. Click the name
to choose another set. See [App Controls](/docs/using-cephable/app-controls).
:::

:::step title="Quit and reopen Cephable"
Follow [Quit and reopen Cephable](#quit-and-reopen-cephable) below. This fixes most cases
where things worked earlier in the day and then stopped.
:::
:::

## Quit and reopen Cephable

Closing the Workspace window does not quit Cephable. It only minimizes the window, and
Cephable keeps running. To quit it fully:

:::tabs labels="Windows, Mac"
:::tab
:::steps
:::step title="Find the Cephable icon"
Look in the system tray at the bottom right of the screen, near the clock. If you cannot
see it, click the **^** arrow to show hidden icons.
:::

:::step title="Quit"
Right-click the Cephable icon and choose **Quit Cephable**. The Panel closes.
:::

:::step title="Open it again"
Open the **Start** menu, type **Cephable**, and open it.
:::
:::
:::

:::tab
:::steps
:::step title="Find the Cephable icon"
Look in the menu bar at the top right of the screen.
:::

:::step title="Quit"
Click the Cephable icon and choose **Quit Cephable**. The Panel closes.
:::

:::step title="Open it again"
Open **Cephable** from your **Applications** folder, or press **Command+Space**, type
**Cephable**, and press **Return**.
:::
:::
:::
:::

You do not need to restart your computer. Try this first.

## Symptom index

| What you are seeing | Go to |
| --- | --- |
| Nothing happens when I speak | [Voice recognition problems](/docs/troubleshooting/voice-recognition) |
| It hears me but nothing happens | [Permissions and access](/docs/troubleshooting/permissions) |
| The camera will not start, or says "No Face Detected" | [Camera and tracking problems](/docs/troubleshooting/camera-tracking) |
| The wrong App Controls keep activating | [App Controls](/docs/using-cephable/app-controls) |
| A feature is grayed out | [Plans and licenses](/docs/get-started/plans-and-licenses) |
| Dictation types nothing | [Create](/docs/using-cephable/create) |
| Cephable will not sign in | [Sign-in problems](/docs/troubleshooting/signing-in) |

## Before you contact support

Have these ready. They solve most problems without a second round of questions:

- **Your operating system and version.** On Windows, open **Start → Settings → System →
  About**. On a Mac, open the **Apple menu → About This Mac**.
- **Which feature you were using**, such as voice commands, dictation, the camera, Create,
  or Automate.
- **Which App Controls were active**: the name after **Uses:** in the Panel.
- **A screenshot of the Panel** when it goes wrong, including any message it shows.
- **Whether Cephable showed a permission message**, and what it said.

:::callout type="tip" title="Turn on the Command Feed before you reproduce the problem"
The Command Feed shows each command Cephable runs, for a few seconds, in a corner of your
screen. That shows whether Cephable misheard you or heard you correctly and did the wrong
thing. It is off by default: in the Cephable Workspace, open **Settings → Appearance →
Command Feed** and turn it on.
:::

## Getting help

**[Discord](https://discord.com/invite/YSDpstxXb5)** is our main support channel — usually a
reply within 48 hours. For a bug or feature request that needs tracking, use the
[support form](https://forms.office.com/r/7L4mySZBbL).

If your Cephable comes through work or school, you also have a named support contact under
**Organization → Support** in the [Cephable Portal](https://portal.cephable.com).

All the channels are on [Help and community](/docs/community).