Voice mode: 'no speech detected' despite working microphone

[cs-mason]

Bug Description

Voice mode consistently returns "no speech detected" after holding Space through the warmup phase, even though the microphone is fully functional in other applications.

Initially received "voice connection failed" error, which was resolved by running /login and toggling /voice. After that, voice connects successfully but never detects speech.

Environment

• Claude Code version: 2.1.83
• macOS version: Darwin 25.2.0 (macOS Tahoe / Sequoia)
• Terminal: Tested in both WebStorm integrated terminal and standalone Terminal.app
• Auth: Logged in via Claude.ai account (/login successful)

Steps to Reproduce

1. Run claude in Terminal.app (or WebStorm terminal)
2. Run /voice to enable voice mode
3. Hold Space through the warmup phase ("keep holding...")
4. Speak clearly into the microphone once waveform appears
5. Release Space

Result: "no speech detected"
Expected: Transcribed speech appears in the prompt

Troubleshooting Done

• ✅ Microphone input level meter moves in System Settings > Sound > Input
• ✅ Voice Memos records audio successfully
• ✅ Terminal.app listed and enabled in System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone
• ✅ WebStorm/JetBrains listed and enabled in microphone permissions
• ✅ Claude Code is up to date (2.1.83)
• ✅ Authenticated via /login
• ✅ Toggled /voice off and on
• ✅ Tested in both WebStorm terminal and standalone Terminal.app — same result in both

[github-actions]

Found 3 possible duplicate issues:

1. /voice mode: audio levels visible but no transcription returned #38827
2. [Bug] Voice mode recording completes but transcription returns no output #38832
3. Voice mode regression: transcription broken in 2.1.81-2.1.83 (works in 2.1.80) #38648

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🤖 Generated with Claude Code

[edipetres]

I have the exact same issue, closing it now as duplicate:
#40523

[dariusmi]

Same here.

Tested on:
2.1.85
2.1.87

I started getting ‘no speech detected’ a few days ago. Right now, it’s almost impossible to use voice input

[magiusdarrigo]

+1 @bcherny

[BHCC2025]

Also getting this same issue... I can see the microphone level indicator is working - but never processes the speech. running 2.1.87 - Mac OS latest Tahoe version.

[brcdev]

Same issue as above - microphone indicator working, not processing speech. Running 2.1.87 on macos.

[ericvegasdev-spec]

Saw your no speech detected thread on 2.1.83 with the full eight-step troubleshooting checklist. That is more diligence than 99% of users do, and the feature still does not work. I built a productized voice loop that skips Claude Code's beta voice mode entirely and uses iPhone Siri plus iMessage to drive Claude Code on your Mac. Want to see how it works? remote-claude.com