Support
Bellnote Support
Help with setup, API keys, transcription, and Obsidian sync — plus a direct line to a real person when you need one.
Contact us
Email hi@thesecondbell.com and a human will get back to you. Telling us your device and iOS or macOS version helps us answer faster.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need an API key to use Bellnote?+
No — not for the core app. Recording and transcription run on your device for free, with no key and no account. You only need to bring an API key if you want AI-enhanced notes (summaries, action items) or if you choose a cloud transcription service instead of the on-device one.
How do I add my own AI key?+
Open Settings and go to the AI section. Bellnote works with Anthropic (Claude), OpenAI, OpenRouter, or any OpenAI-compatible endpoint — including local models like Ollama or LM Studio. Paste your key (or set a base URL for a local model) and Bellnote uses it directly. Your key is stored in the device Keychain and is only ever sent to the provider you chose.
What is the one-time model download?+
On-device transcription uses a speech model that is downloaded once, the first time you record. It is a few hundred megabytes, so we recommend being on Wi-Fi. You can start it manually from onboarding or Settings with the “Download models” button, and it continues in the background. Once it is on disk, transcription works fully offline.
Does my audio or transcript leave my device?+
By default, no. With on-device transcription your audio never leaves the device, and recordings are deleted after the transcript is saved unless you turn on “Keep audio recordings.” Content only leaves your device if you enable a cloud provider with your own key — for AI notes or cloud transcription — in which case it goes straight to that provider. See the privacy policy for the full breakdown.
How do I save notes into my Obsidian vault?+
In Settings, choose your notes destination and point Bellnote at your Obsidian vault folder. Every note is written as plain Markdown, with each transcript saved as its own linked file, so meetings show up in your Obsidian graph automatically. You can also just keep notes in Bellnote’s local folder and open them in any Markdown editor.
What does Bellnote use my calendar for?+
Calendar access is optional and read-only. On the Mac it helps detect when you are in a meeting and titles your notes; on iPhone it powers reminders before upcoming meetings. You can limit which calendars Bellnote sees, and it never writes to or shares your calendar.
Which devices are supported?+
Bellnote runs on iPhone (iOS 17 or later) and Mac (macOS 14.2 or later). API keys sync across your own devices through iCloud Keychain, so you can set them up once.
How do I delete my data?+
Your notes are files: delete them in Bellnote or in your notes folder / Obsidian vault. Recordings you chose to keep live in a local folder you can clear at any time. Removing an API key in Settings deletes it from the Keychain. Because there is no account and no server, uninstalling the app removes everything it stored on the device.
Troubleshooting
The model download seems stuck.
Make sure you are on Wi-Fi with a stable connection and that the app stays in the foreground for the first part of the download. If it stalls, reopen Settings and tap “Download models” again — it resumes rather than starting over.
Recording is not picking up sound.
Check that Bellnote has microphone permission (iPhone: Settings › Bellnote; Mac: System Settings › Privacy & Security › Microphone). On Mac, capturing other participants’ audio also needs the system-audio permission Bellnote requests on first use.
AI enhancement is not working.
Confirm your API key is entered correctly in Settings › AI and that the account behind it has available credit. Notes still save without AI enhancement — the transcript and your typed notes are never blocked by a missing key.