---
title: "Read a call without recording it"
description: "Live Transcript Only shows a call as text in a floating window, and records and keeps nothing."
updated: "2026-10-09"
canonical: https://docs.recordstead.app/recording/live-transcript-only
---

# Read a call without recording it

To follow a call as text and keep nothing, use **Live Transcript Only**. It
does not need the [Live Transcript](https://docs.recordstead.app/recording/live-transcript) switch.

1. Open Recordstead in the menu bar and click **Record App…**.
2. Choose **Live Transcript Only**, select the app the call is in, and click
   **Start Live Transcript**.
3. If Recordstead asks to download the speech model of about 664 MB, click
   **Download**. It is a one-time download and stays on this Mac.

**Your result:** the Live Transcript window opens with a gray dot and
**Not saved**. Nothing is recorded and nothing is kept: the text is gone when
you click **Stop** or close the window, so use **Copy All** first if you need
it.

It asks for the same agreement and permissions as a recording. While it runs,
Call Detection records no call, and the app you followed stays unrecorded until
its call ends. Starting a recording ends Live Transcript Only first.

If the speech model cannot load, the window shows the error and Call Detection
can record calls again. Stop controls in the menu bar then stop the recording.