---
title: Why does my Mac's keyboard freeze or lag while Codus is open?
question: Mac keyboard freezes, every key takes seconds, mouse stalls, only a restart fixes it, Codus Whisper
area: troubleshooting
surface: desktop
audience: beginner
keywords: [keyboard frozen, keys lag, typing delay, mouse stalls, restart fixes it, Codus Whisper, § key, dictation hotkey, section key, update, 0.2.212, 0.2.213]
related: [set-up-codus-whisper, clicks-take-several-seconds, mac-permissions]
updated: 2026-10-25
visibility: public
---

# Why does my Mac's keyboard freeze or lag while Codus is open?

Codus 0.2.213 fixes a cause of the whole Mac's keyboard freezing, with every key taking seconds to arrive and the mouse stalling, until a restart. It happened with **Codus Whisper** on and the **§** key as its hotkey. In 0.2.212 and earlier, the small helper that listens for **§** looked at every key you pressed. It could also stay behind after Codus quit or updated, so after a few updates several copies were slowing every keystroke at once.

From 0.2.213, the helper only ever receives the **§** key itself, leaves every other key alone, and closes when Codus closes. The first launch of 0.2.213 also clears any helpers left behind by older versions.

## Before you start

You need Codus open and permission to install updates. Nothing else is needed: the § hotkey no longer asks for Accessibility permission.

## Steps

1. Open **Settings → Updates** and install Codus 0.2.213 or newer. Save your work first; Codus restarts to finish the update.
2. If the keyboard is frozen right now and you cannot reach the update, turn dictation off in **Settings → Codus Whisper** (**Dictation → Off**). That stops the helper straight away.
3. After updating, you can turn dictation back on. Your hotkey stays the same.

If Codus cannot register **§** as a hotkey on your Mac, Codus Whisper falls back to **Alt+Space**. **Settings → Codus Whisper** shows the hotkey that is actually in use.

## How do I know it worked?

Type in another app with Codus open: keys appear immediately. Press **§** and the Whisper recording pill opens, without a § character appearing where you were typing. If typing still lags on 0.2.213, note the time it happened and send it to support; this fix does not cover every possible cause.