Troubleshooting

macOS: "App is damaged" or blocked on first launch

The app is not signed with an Apple Developer ID. Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security and click Open Anyway.

Microphone not working

• macOS: Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Microphone and allow TalkLob.
• Windows: Go to Settings > Privacy > Microphone and allow desktop apps.
• Linux: Ensure PulseAudio/PipeWire is running and the app has microphone permissions.

Gateway connection fails

1. Verify OpenClaw is running: curl http://127.0.0.1:18789
2. Check that GATEWAY_TOKEN is set correctly in Settings
3. Use the Test button in the Gateway section to verify

STT returns no text

• ElevenLabs / OpenAI: Verify the API key is valid using the Test button
• whisper.cpp: Ensure the binary path is correct and the model exists at ~/.config/lobster/models/ggml-medium.bin
• Check the microphone volume — speak at a normal level

TTS produces no audio

• ElevenLabs: Verify the API key and check your ElevenLabs plan usage limits
• VOICEVOX: Ensure the VOICEVOX application is running at the configured URL
• Kokoro: Ensure the Kokoro server is running at the configured URL
• Piper: Verify both the binary path and model path are correct

VAD not detecting speech

• Try switching from Auto to Manual sensitivity in VAD Settings
• For manual mode, lower the sensitivity value to make it more sensitive
• Ensure no other application is using the microphone exclusively

AI responds to system audio (music, videos)

The speaker monitor should filter this out. If it doesn't:

• Ensure the app has screen recording permissions (macOS: System Settings > Privacy & Security > Screen Recording)
• The speaker monitor needs this permission to capture system audio levels

App stuck in "Thinking..." state

The LLM is not responding or the gateway connection dropped. Click STOP to cancel and try again. Check the gateway connection status indicator in the header.