diff --git a/src/App.jsx b/src/App.jsx
index 7bc72af4..556b24db 100644
--- a/src/App.jsx
+++ b/src/App.jsx
@@ -114,6 +114,9 @@ export default function App() {
     });
 
     const unsubscribeAccessibility = window.electronAPI?.onAccessibilityMissing?.(() => {
+      if (localStorage.getItem("accessibilitySkipped") === "true") {
+        return;
+      }
       toast({
         title: t("app.toasts.accessibilityMissing.title"),
         description: t("app.toasts.accessibilityMissing.description"),
diff --git a/src/components/ControlPanel.tsx b/src/components/ControlPanel.tsx
index 7825b70c..c5d059eb 100644
--- a/src/components/ControlPanel.tsx
+++ b/src/components/ControlPanel.tsx
@@ -217,6 +217,9 @@ export default function ControlPanel() {
   // When accessibility is missing on macOS, open the permissions settings page
   useEffect(() => {
     const cleanup = window.electronAPI?.onAccessibilityMissing?.(() => {
+      if (localStorage.getItem("accessibilitySkipped") === "true") {
+        return;
+      }
       setSettingsSection("privacyData");
       setShowSettings(true);
       toast({
diff --git a/src/components/OnboardingFlow.tsx b/src/components/OnboardingFlow.tsx
index c250c003..d1931a81 100644
--- a/src/components/OnboardingFlow.tsx
+++ b/src/components/OnboardingFlow.tsx
@@ -71,6 +71,14 @@ export default function OnboardingFlow({ onComplete }: OnboardingFlowProps) {
       },
     }
   );
+  const [accessibilitySkipped, setAccessibilitySkipped] = useLocalStorage(
+    "accessibilitySkipped",
+    false,
+    {
+      serialize: String,
+      deserialize: (value) => value === "true",
+    }
+  );
 
   const {
     useLocalWhisper,
@@ -128,6 +136,16 @@ export default function OnboardingFlow({ onComplete }: OnboardingFlowProps) {
 
   const screenRecording = useScreenRecordingPermission();
 
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (permissionsHook.accessibilityPermissionGranted && accessibilitySkipped) {
+      setAccessibilitySkipped(false);
+    }
+  }, [
+    permissionsHook.accessibilityPermissionGranted,
+    accessibilitySkipped,
+    setAccessibilitySkipped,
+  ]);
+
   // For signed-in users, merge setup and permissions into one step
   const steps =
     isSignedIn && !skipAuth
@@ -296,6 +314,13 @@ export default function OnboardingFlow({ onComplete }: OnboardingFlowProps) {
       return;
     }
 
+    const isMacOS = getPlatform() === "darwin";
+    const isPermissionsStep =
+      isSignedIn && !skipAuth ? currentStep === 1 : currentStep === 2;
+    if (isMacOS && isPermissionsStep && !permissionsHook.accessibilityPermissionGranted) {
+      setAccessibilitySkipped(true);
+    }
+
     const newStep = currentStep + 1;
     setCurrentStep(newStep);
 
@@ -305,7 +330,16 @@ export default function OnboardingFlow({ onComplete }: OnboardingFlowProps) {
         window.electronAPI.showDictationPanel();
       }
     }
-  }, [currentStep, setCurrentStep, steps.length, activationStepIndex]);
+  }, [
+    currentStep,
+    setCurrentStep,
+    steps.length,
+    activationStepIndex,
+    isSignedIn,
+    skipAuth,
+    permissionsHook.accessibilityPermissionGranted,
+    setAccessibilitySkipped,
+  ]);
 
   const prevStep = useCallback(() => {
     if (currentStep > 0) {
@@ -409,9 +443,9 @@ export default function OnboardingFlow({ onComplete }: OnboardingFlowProps) {
                         description={t("onboarding.permissions.accessibilityDescription")}
                         granted={permissionsHook.accessibilityPermissionGranted}
                         onRequest={permissionsHook.testAccessibilityPermission}
-                        buttonText={t("onboarding.permissions.testAndGrant")}
+                        buttonText={t("onboarding.permissions.grant")}
                         onOpenSettings={permissionsHook.openAccessibilitySettings}
-                        openSettingsText={t("onboarding.permissions.openSystemSettings")}
+                        badge={t("onboarding.permissions.optional")}
                       />
                       <PermissionCard
                         icon={Monitor}
@@ -570,9 +604,9 @@ export default function OnboardingFlow({ onComplete }: OnboardingFlowProps) {
                     description={t("onboarding.permissions.accessibilityDescription")}
                     granted={permissionsHook.accessibilityPermissionGranted}
                     onRequest={permissionsHook.testAccessibilityPermission}
-                    buttonText={t("onboarding.permissions.testAndGrant")}
+                    buttonText={t("onboarding.permissions.grant")}
                     onOpenSettings={permissionsHook.openAccessibilitySettings}
-                    openSettingsText={t("onboarding.permissions.openSystemSettings")}
+                    badge={t("onboarding.permissions.optional")}
                   />
                   <PermissionCard
                     icon={Monitor}
@@ -705,10 +739,6 @@ export default function OnboardingFlow({ onComplete }: OnboardingFlowProps) {
           if (!permissionsHook.micPermissionGranted) {
             return false;
           }
-          const currentPlatform = permissionsHook.pasteToolsInfo?.platform;
-          if (currentPlatform === "darwin") {
-            return permissionsHook.accessibilityPermissionGranted;
-          }
           return true;
         }
 
@@ -741,10 +771,6 @@ export default function OnboardingFlow({ onComplete }: OnboardingFlowProps) {
         if (!permissionsHook.micPermissionGranted) {
           return false;
         }
-        const currentPlatform = permissionsHook.pasteToolsInfo?.platform;
-        if (currentPlatform === "darwin") {
-          return permissionsHook.accessibilityPermissionGranted;
-        }
         return true;
       }
       case 3:
diff --git a/src/helpers/clipboard.js b/src/helpers/clipboard.js
index 624a924f..7a6d826e 100644
--- a/src/helpers/clipboard.js
+++ b/src/helpers/clipboard.js
@@ -459,6 +459,7 @@ class ClipboardManager {
     const platform = process.platform;
     let method = "unknown";
     const webContents = options.webContents;
+    const allowClipboardFallback = options.allowClipboardFallback === true;
 
     try {
       const shouldRestore = options.restoreClipboard !== false;
@@ -480,10 +481,14 @@ class ClipboardManager {
       if (platform === "darwin") {
         method = this.resolveFastPasteBinary() ? "cgevent" : "applescript";
         this.safeLog("🔍 Checking accessibility permissions for paste operation...");
-        const hasPermissions = await this.checkAccessibilityPermissions();
+        const hasPermissions = await this.checkAccessibilityPermissions(allowClipboardFallback);
 
         if (!hasPermissions) {
           this.safeLog("⚠️ No accessibility permissions - text copied to clipboard only");
+          if (allowClipboardFallback) {
+            this.safeLog("✅ Clipboard fallback used (manual paste required)");
+            return;
+          }
           const errorMsg =
             "Accessibility permissions required for automatic pasting. Text has been copied to clipboard - please paste manually with Cmd+V.";
           throw new Error(errorMsg);
@@ -1584,7 +1589,7 @@ Would you like to open System Settings now?`;
       return;
     }
     if (process.platform !== "darwin") return;
-    this.checkAccessibilityPermissions().catch(() => {});
+    this.checkAccessibilityPermissions(true).catch(() => {});
     this.resolveFastPasteBinary();
   }
 
diff --git a/src/hooks/useAudioRecording.js b/src/hooks/useAudioRecording.js
index 774589b1..7334f1a4 100644
--- a/src/hooks/useAudioRecording.js
+++ b/src/hooks/useAudioRecording.js
@@ -113,10 +113,14 @@ export const useAudioRecording = (toast, options = {}) => {
 
           const isStreaming = result.source?.includes("streaming");
           const { keepTranscriptionInClipboard } = getSettings();
+          const accessibilitySkipped =
+            typeof window !== "undefined" &&
+            window.localStorage.getItem("accessibilitySkipped") === "true";
           const pasteStart = performance.now();
           await audioManagerRef.current.safePaste(result.text, {
             ...(isStreaming ? { fromStreaming: true } : {}),
             restoreClipboard: !keepTranscriptionInClipboard,
+            allowClipboardFallback: accessibilitySkipped,
           });
           logger.info(
             "Paste timing",
diff --git a/src/locales/en/translation.json b/src/locales/en/translation.json
index 9cfa4475..5e2b9bd2 100644
--- a/src/locales/en/translation.json
+++ b/src/locales/en/translation.json
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@
       "accessibilityTitle": "Accessibility",
       "accessibilityDescription": "Enable in System Settings by toggling it on",
       "testAndGrant": "Test & Grant",
-      "requiredForApp": "Required for OpenWhispr to work",
+      "requiredForApp": "Microphone required. Accessibility enables auto-paste.",
       "microphoneRequired": "Microphone access required",
       "openSystemSettings": "Open System Settings",
       "screenRecordingTitle": "System Audio",
diff --git a/src/main.jsx b/src/main.jsx
index 777fa35d..340d0b45 100644
--- a/src/main.jsx
+++ b/src/main.jsx
@@ -314,6 +314,7 @@ function MainApp() {
     const authSkipped =
       localStorage.getItem("authenticationSkipped") === "true" ||
       localStorage.getItem("skipAuth") === "true";
+    const accessibilitySkipped = localStorage.getItem("accessibilitySkipped") === "true";
 
     // Valid session proves prior onboarding — restore flag if localStorage was wiped
     const isReturningUser = !onboardingCompleted && isSignedIn;
@@ -332,7 +333,7 @@ function MainApp() {
 
       // Returning users who skipped onboarding may lack accessibility permissions.
       // Trigger an immediate check so the main process sends accessibility-missing.
-      if (isReturningUser) {
+      if (isReturningUser && !accessibilitySkipped) {
         window.electronAPI?.checkAccessibilityTrusted?.();
       }
     }
diff --git a/src/types/electron.ts b/src/types/electron.ts
index 4acdfd90..e5e01529 100644
--- a/src/types/electron.ts
+++ b/src/types/electron.ts
@@ -275,7 +275,14 @@ declare global {
   interface Window {
     electronAPI: {
       // Basic window operations
-      pasteText: (text: string, options?: { fromStreaming?: boolean }) => Promise<void>;
+      pasteText: (
+        text: string,
+        options?: {
+          fromStreaming?: boolean;
+          restoreClipboard?: boolean;
+          allowClipboardFallback?: boolean;
+        }
+      ) => Promise<void>;
       hideWindow: () => Promise<void>;
       showDictationPanel: () => Promise<void>;
       onToggleDictation: (callback: () => void) => () => void;