User Guide

Reference for every Cowinx feature — modes, control bar, hotkeys, settings, and FAQ. New here? Start with Quick Start.

1. Two ways to use Cowinx

Screenshot mode (no session)

Built for written tests and take-home coding problems. Screenshot the question with ⌥S, then click Solve or press ⌥⏎. No session needed, no timer, no minutes consumed.

Interview mode (live session)

Click Start Interview. Cowinx transcribes audio in real time, but answers are only generated when you manually click Solve or press ⌥⏎. You can also screenshot + solve at any point.

Cowinx mode comparison showing screenshot mode and interview mode

2. The Control Bar

The control bar is the only persistent surface in Cowinx. It floats above all other windows and changes shape based on whether a session is active. Hide it with ⌥H and nudge its position with ⌘⇧↑ / ⌘⇧↓ / ⌘⇧← / ⌘⇧→.

Idle and active states

Cowinx control bar annotated in idle no-session and active-session states

3. The Workspace

The workspace appears below the control bar during a live session. Toggle the two panels independently with ⌥[ (Transcript) and ⌥](Q&A); at least one stays visible.

Cowinx workspace annotated with transcript, question history, Q&A answer, and screenshot strip

4. Manual solving

Solve from transcript

Click Solve or press ⌥⏎ to answer the latest question from the live transcript. Cowinx does not auto-solve as the conversation changes.

Screenshot solve

For anything visual: take-homes, coding questions on the interviewer's screen share, system-design diagrams, written tests. Press ⌥S to queue screenshots, repeat as needed, then click Solve or press ⌥⏎ to solve the queued batch.

5. Settings

Cowinx settings panel with account, meeting, and shortcuts options

Account — email, plan badge, remaining minutes, upgrade or manage subscription.

Meeting — Meeting Language (7 supported), Code Language (preferred language for code in answers), Show Copy Button.

Shortcuts — read-only reference. Full list in section 6.

6. Hotkeys

Solve

Solve current transcript or queued screenshots⌥⏎
Capture screenshot to queue⌥S

Stealth

Hide / show the control bar⌥H
Panic quit⌥Esc
Move bar
⌘⇧+↑↓←→

Workspace

Toggle transcript panel⌥[
Toggle Q&A panel⌥]
Previous question⌥P
Next question⌥N

7. Stealth self-check (5 min before your interview)

Five minutes before the call, run this. Cheapest insurance you'll buy all week.

  1. Open the same conferencing app the interviewer will use (Zoom, Teams, Meet, Webex).
  2. Start a meeting with yourself (no other participants needed).
  3. Click Share Screen and pick Entire Screen.
  4. In the share preview, scan for any Cowinx UI. The control bar and workspace should both be invisible.
  5. Open Activity Monitorand search “Cowinx.” You should see “App Not Found.”

8. FAQ

What counts toward my time balance?
Only active session time. If you Pause, paused minutes don't consume your balance. Hitting Done ends and flushes the session.
How do I upgrade to Pro?
Open Settings in the app, click "Upgrade to Pro", and complete checkout. Your account updates automatically after payment.
How do I cancel my subscription?
Open Settings → "Manage Subscription" to open the billing portal. Cancel renewal or update payment there.
Is my audio stored?
No. Audio is streamed to the transcription provider for the live session only and is not retained by Cowinx after processing.
My mic / transcript isn't working — what should I check?
Confirm Microphone, Screen Recording, and Accessibility permissions are all enabled in System Settings → Privacy & Security, then restart Cowinx. Full steps in the Troubleshooting guide.
Will the interviewer hear Cowinx?
No — Cowinx never plays audio. Answers stream to your panel as text only.

9. Need more help?

Try the Troubleshooting guide first. Still stuck? Email cowinxlab@gmail.com with your macOS version, Cowinx version (Settings footer), and what you tried.