Fix Logitech MX Master (Logi Options+) mouse buttons not working as a Flow shortcut

Last updated: July 14, 2026

Available on: Mac, Windows

If your Logitech MX Master (or another Logi Options+ mouse) button won't trigger Flow dictation, or a keystroke you mapped in Logi Options+ isn't recording or firing in Flow — this guide gets your shortcut working again in a couple of minutes.

Quick checks

  • Is Flow up to date? Shortcut handling has improved in recent versions — update before troubleshooting further.

  • Is Logi Options+ running? If it's active in the background, it can intercept button presses before they reach Flow.

  • Does a standard keyboard shortcut work in Flow? Try triggering dictation with a keyboard shortcut like Ctrl+Opt. If that works, the issue is specific to the Logitech button mapping. If it doesn't, the problem is with Flow's shortcuts overall — not the mouse.

  • (Mac only) Is another app blocking keyboard input? Some apps — like Terminal, or any app with a focused password field — can silently block Flow's keyboard shortcuts. Hold-to-talk will still work, but shortcuts won't fire. If Flow shows a notification naming an app that's blocking shortcuts, see Secure Keyboard Entry blocking shortcuts below.

Why this happens

On Logitech MX Master mice managed by Logi Options+, the side buttons don't behave like normal mouse buttons — Logi Options+ handles them differently, and Flow can't detect when you press and release them. Because push-to-talk needs both a press and a release, the side buttons can't be used directly as a Flow shortcut. This is specific to Logi Options+ on MX-series mice — Logitech gaming mice (G-series) don't have this issue.

How to fix this

Reset the buttons and restart both apps in this order:

  1. Open the Logi Options+ app.

  2. Reset both action buttons. Select your mouse, click the button you assigned (for example a side or thumb button), and set its action to No action (in some versions labeled Off or None). Repeat for the second button so neither one has a Flow shortcut or keystroke assigned.

  3. Fully quit Logi Options+ so it is no longer running in the background.

    1. On Mac, right-click its menu bar icon and choose Quit.

    2. On Windows, right-click its system tray icon and choose Exit (or end it from Task Manager).

  4. Update Wispr Flow to the latest version and make sure the update has finished installing.

  5. Fully quit and reopen Wispr Flow. Try your Flow shortcut — if dictation starts when you press it and stops when you release, you're done.

Logitech MX.gif

Tip: To use a Logitech button for dictation, bind a standard keyboard shortcut in Flow and map that same keyboard shortcut to the button in Logi Options+. Binding the raw side button itself is not supported on these mice. Flow's built-in backup push-to-talk shortcut on Mac is Ctrl+Opt, so mapping that combination in Logi Options+ works out of the box. Shortcuts are managed in Settings → General → Shortcuts, and you can add up to 4 bindings per action.

Secure Keyboard Entry blocking shortcuts (Mac only)

On Mac, certain apps can enable Secure Keyboard Entry, which prevents other apps — including Wispr Flow — from reading keyboard input while that app is focused. When this happens, Flow's keyboard shortcuts stop working silently, though hold-to-talk continues to function normally.

Flow detects this automatically. If another app has been blocking shortcuts for more than a few seconds, Flow will show a notification identifying the app by name. To restore your shortcuts:

  1. Check the notification to see which app is blocking keyboard input.

  2. Switch away from that app or click into a different window. This is often enough to restore shortcuts immediately.

  3. Quit the blocking app if switching away doesn't help — especially if it's a terminal emulator with Secure Keyboard Entry enabled in its menu.

  4. Log out and back in to your Mac if the block persists after quitting the app.

The notification clears automatically once the block is released — no restart of Flow is needed.

Note: Any app with a focused password field also triggers this behavior, even if Secure Keyboard Entry isn't explicitly enabled. Clicking out of the password field is usually all it takes.

FAQs

Can I bind a Logitech side button directly as my Flow shortcut?

Not on MX-series mice managed by Logi Options+ (MX Master, MX Anywhere, MX Ergo, MX Vertical, Lift, Marathon). Logi Options+ handles those side buttons in a way that prevents Flow from detecting a proper press and release, so they can't be used for push-to-talk. The workaround is to map the button to a keyboard shortcut in Logi Options+, then bind that same shortcut in Flow.

Does this apply to all Logitech mice?

It applies specifically to MX-series mice (MX Master, MX Anywhere, MX Ergo, MX Vertical, Lift, Marathon, m705/m720/m750) managed through Logi Options+. Logitech G-series gaming mice work with Flow shortcuts directly.

My keyboard shortcuts stopped working but hold-to-talk still works — why?

On Mac, this is a strong sign that another app has enabled Secure Keyboard Entry, which blocks keyboard shortcuts system-wide for other apps while it's active. Hold-to-talk uses a different input path and isn't affected. Check whether Flow has shown a notification naming the blocking app, then follow the steps in the Secure Keyboard Entry section above.

Still stuck?

Reach out to support if:

  • Your Flow shortcut still doesn't fire after completing the steps above.

  • A standard keyboard shortcut (not a mouse button) fails to trigger dictation.

  • Flow shows a Secure Keyboard Entry notification but shortcuts don't restore after quitting the named app and logging out.

Include your platform (Mac or Windows), your mouse model, the shortcut you're trying to use, and the steps you've already tried. Visit wisprflow.ai/support to get in touch with our team — most shortcut issues are resolved in one reply.