> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://gladia-95-feat-refacto-docs.mintlify.site/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# CLI

> Transcribe audio from your terminal with one install and one command.

The Gladia CLI wraps the [speech-to-text API](/chapters/pre-recorded-stt/quickstart) for terminals and shell scripts.

<Tip>
  Get your API key from the [Gladia dashboard](https://app.gladia.io/apikeys) before your first transcription.
</Tip>

## Why use the CLI ?

* **One command**: install, set your key, run `gladia transcribe audio.mp3`
* **Flexible output**: plain text, JSON, SRT, or VTT to stdout
* **Set up features**: diarization, languages, and model selection (`solaria-1`, `solaria-3`)
* **Files or URLs**: local recordings or remote links
* **Pipe-friendly**: machine-readable output for scripts and CI

## Install

```bash theme={"system"}
# macOS & Linux
curl -fsSL https://github.com/gladiaio/gladia-cli/releases/latest/download/install.sh | sh

# Windows (PowerShell)
powershell -c "irm https://github.com/gladiaio/gladia-cli/releases/latest/download/install.ps1 | iex"
```

Other platforms and binaries: [GitHub releases](https://github.com/gladiaio/gladia-cli/releases).

### API key setup

```bash theme={"system"}
export GLADIA_API_KEY=your_key              # 1. environment variable
gladia auth set your_key                    # 2. saved to ~/.gladia (mode 0600)
gladia transcribe meeting.wav --gladia-key your_key   # 3. per-command flag
```

## Quick start

```bash theme={"system"}
gladia transcribe meeting.wav               # transcript to stdout
gladia transcribe podcast.mp3 -o srt        # subtitles
gladia transcribe call.wav --diarize        # who spoke when
gladia languages                            # supported language codes
```

## Common workflows

```bash theme={"system"}
# Local file or remote URL
gladia transcribe meeting.wav
gladia transcribe https://example.com/audio.mp3 -o json

# Narrow language detection
gladia transcribe podcast.mp3 --language en,fr,de

# Mixed-language audio
gladia transcribe mixed.mp3 --code-switching --language en,fr

# Diarization as subtitles
gladia transcribe call.wav --diarize -o srt

# Pick a model
gladia transcribe podcast.mp3 --model solaria-3 --language en

# Pipe into a script
gladia transcribe interview.mp3 -o json | jq '.transcription'
```

## Commands

| Command                    | Description                                                 |
| -------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------- |
| `transcribe <file-or-url>` | Transcribe an audio file or URL                             |
| `auth set <key>`           | Save API key to `~/.gladia`                                 |
| `languages`                | List supported ISO 639-1 codes                              |
| `completion <shell>`       | Generate shell tab completion (bash, zsh, fish, powershell) |

## Output formats

Use `-o` or `--output`:

| Format      | Description                |
| ----------- | -------------------------- |
| `text`      | Plain transcript (default) |
| `json`      | Structured JSON transcript |
| `json-full` | Full API response as JSON  |
| `srt`       | SubRip subtitles           |
| `vtt`       | WebVTT subtitles           |

## Transcription options

| Flag                       | Default | Description                                                                                                             |
| -------------------------- | ------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `-o`, `--output`           | `text`  | `text`, `json`, `json-full`, `srt`, `vtt`                                                                               |
| `--language`               |         | Expected language(s), comma-separated (`en` or `en,fr,de`)                                                              |
| `--cs`, `--code-switching` | off     | Re-detect language per utterance (`solaria-1` only)                                                                     |
| `--diarize`                | off     | Identify speakers                                                                                                       |
| `--model`                  |         | `solaria-1` or `solaria-3`. Solaria-3 accepts one `--language` (`en`, `fr`, `de`, `es`, or `it`) and no code switching. |
| `-v`, `--verbose`          | off     | Show progress while polling                                                                                             |

**Global flag**: `--gladia-key` (if not set via env or `~/.gladia`).

### Language

| Goal                | Command                                          |
| ------------------- | ------------------------------------------------ |
| Auto-detect         | `gladia transcribe <file>`                       |
| Constrain detection | `--language en,fr,de`                            |
| Code switching      | `--code-switching` (optional `--language` hints) |

* **`--language`**: limits which languages Gladia considers (hint list, not per-utterance switching).
* **`--code-switching`**: detects language per utterance. Not available with `solaria-3`.

### Diarization

Use `--diarize` for who spoke when (e.g. `Speaker 0: …`).

```bash theme={"system"}
gladia transcribe meeting.wav --diarize
gladia transcribe panel.mp3 --diarize -o srt
```

## Shell completion

The installer can set up tab completion. To skip the prompt in CI, set `GLADIA_NO_COMPLETION_PROMPT=1`.

```bash theme={"system"}
# bash
source <(gladia completion bash)

# zsh
mkdir -p ~/.zsh/completions
gladia completion zsh > ~/.zsh/completions/_gladia

# fish
mkdir -p ~/.config/fish/completions
gladia completion fish > ~/.config/fish/completions/gladia.fish
```

See `gladia completion --help` for full instructions.

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={3}>
  <Card title="Get your API key" href="https://app.gladia.io/apikeys" icon="key">
    Create an API key on the Gladia dashboard
  </Card>

  <Card title="Gladia CLI on GitHub" icon="github" href="https://github.com/gladiaio/gladia-cli">
    Source code, issues, and releases
  </Card>

  <Card title="Pre-recorded STT quickstart" icon="book" href="/chapters/pre-recorded-stt/quickstart">
    Transcription features reference
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## What to use when

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="SDK" icon="code" href="/chapters/how-to-use-gladia/sdk">
    Build transcription into your product (JavaScript or Python)
  </Card>

  <Card title="Playground" icon="play" href="/chapters/how-to-use-gladia/playground">
    Try models and features in the browser before you integrate
  </Card>

  <Card title="GladiaFlow" icon="keyboard" href="/chapters/how-to-use-gladia/gladia-flow">
    Dictate into any desktop app with a hotkey
  </Card>

  <Card title="CLI" icon="terminal" href="/chapters/how-to-use-gladia/cli">
    Transcribe files or URLs from a terminal or CI
  </Card>
</CardGroup>