Enable system audio on Windows and Mac
SideSense hears both sides of a call by capturing your microphone and your system audio. If onboarding on Windows said it could not find a loopback device, or you declined a permission prompt on a Mac, this guide gets you set up.
On Windows: what loopback means
Loopback is Windows letting an app listen to the sound your PC is playing. SideSense uses it to capture the other person on the call straight from your speakers or headphones, with no extra hardware and no virtual cable to install. Your microphone is captured separately, so both voices reach the transcript.
Get it working on Windows
SideSense shows a green indicator once it is hearing both your mic and your system audio. If only one side lights up, the section below covers the usual fixes.
If no loopback device is found on Windows
A few things block loopback on Windows. Switch your output away from any app holding the device in exclusive mode, avoid Bluetooth speakers that expose only a mono call profile, and restart SideSense after you change sound settings so it re-scans your devices. Still stuck? Tell us your Windows version and audio setup on the feedback page and we will help.
On a Mac: no driver needed
On a Mac with Apple Silicon, SideSense captures system audio natively through macOS Core Audio. There is no virtual audio driver like BlackHole to install and no output device to change. Your microphone is captured separately, so both voices reach the transcript.
macOS asks for both permissions the first time you start a session or an audio test. Audio is captured only while a session or test you started is running, and it is transcribed on your Mac, never uploaded. If you declined a prompt, open System Settings > Privacy & Security, turn on SideSense Pro under Microphone or System Audio Recording, then play the test sound again.
Questions, answered.
Why does SideSense need system audio?
To help during a real call, SideSense has to hear the other person, not just you. Your microphone captures your voice; system audio (loopback) captures what comes out of your speakers, which is the other side of the call.
Does this record the call?
Audio is processed on your machine to produce a live transcript. On the local lane nothing is uploaded. SideSense captures audio only while a session is running, and you start and stop that yourself.
Do I need BlackHole or another audio driver on a Mac?
No. On a Mac, SideSense captures system audio natively through macOS Core Audio, so there is no virtual audio driver to install and no output device to change. macOS asks for Microphone and System Audio Recording permission the first time you start a session or an audio test.
I still see no loopback device on Windows. What now?
Use headphones or a headset so the app can capture a clean system-audio stream, make sure your output device is not set to an exclusive-mode app, and restart SideSense after changing Windows sound settings. If it still fails, send us the details from the feedback page.
Hear both sides of every call.
Set up system audio once and SideSense follows the whole conversation.