Dictation session time limits on Android

Last updated: July 15, 2026

Available on: Mac, Windows, iOS, Android

If Flow submitted your transcription mid-sentence — or you felt a quick vibration just before it did — you hit the session time limit. Here's what's happening and how to plan around it.

What it is

Every dictation session in Wispr Flow has a hard time limit: 5 minutes on Android and iOS, 20 minutes on Mac and Windows. Flow warns you before the limit is reached on most platforms, then automatically submits your transcription when time is up. Your text is preserved exactly as if you had ended the session manually.

How it works in Flow

Overview

Flow tracks the length of each dictation session. As you approach the limit, Flow shows a warning (on Android, Mac, and Windows). When the limit is reached, Flow ends the session and submits your transcription automatically.

Key behaviors

Android (5-minute limit)

  • Warning at 4 minutes: A toast notification ("1 minute left before you reach the 5-minute limit.") appears with haptic feedback.

  • Auto-submit at 5 minutes: Flow submits your transcription automatically — you don't need to do anything.

  • At the limit: A toast ("Session ended, 5-minute limit reached") and a system notification ("Session ended — Flow supports up to 5 minutes per session.") confirm the session has ended.

iOS (5-minute limit)

  • No advance warning: iOS does not show a warning before the limit.

  • Auto-submit at 5 minutes: Flow submits your transcription automatically when time is up. The normal stop sound (if you have interaction sounds enabled) plays when the limit triggers.

  • If you've switched away from the Flow Keyboard: iOS sends a notification titled "Your dictation reached the time limit" with the body "Tap to view your transcript". Tapping opens your dictation history at that transcript. If you happened to tap stop at the same moment the limit was reached, the notification is not sent.

Mac and Windows (20-minute limit)

  • Warning at 19 minutes: A notification appears ("You have <1 minute left before you reach the 20 minute limit!").

  • Auto-submit at 20 minutes: Flow submits your transcription automatically.

  • At the limit: A notification titled "Transcription session ended." with the body "Flow supports up to 20 minutes per session." appears, along with a Recover text button you can click to re-insert your transcript if the original paste didn't work.

Best practices

  • Break long dictations into multiple sessions. Finish a thought, let it submit, then start a new session.

  • Start wrapping up when you receive the warning so auto-submit lands at a natural stopping point. On iOS, plan ahead — there is no advance warning.

FAQs

Why did Flow submit my transcription before I finished speaking?

Your session reached its time limit — 5 minutes on Android and iOS, or 20 minutes on Mac and Windows. Flow submits the transcription automatically at that point. You receive a warning shortly before, except on iOS.

Is my transcription saved after auto-submit?

Yes. The transcription is submitted just as if you had ended the session manually.

Can I start a new session immediately after one ends?

Yes. On desktop, there may be a brief delay while your transcription is processed and pasted. On Android, after a session is force-ended at the 5-minute limit, there is a short reset window before a new session can start. A notification appears if you try to start too soon.

Why is there a session time limit?

The session limit keeps dictation reliable and ensures transcriptions are processed correctly. Very long sessions can affect transcription quality.

I didn't feel the haptic warning on Android. Why?

Flow triggers the vibration directly, so the haptic fires even in silent mode and regardless of your system haptic-feedback setting. The only case it will not fire is if your device has no vibration motor. The on-screen toast still appears at the 4-minute mark either way.

Limitations and notes

  • The session limit is 5 minutes on Android and iOS, and 20 minutes on Mac and Windows. It cannot be changed or disabled.

  • The warning notification does not interrupt your dictation — you can keep speaking until the time limit is reached.

  • There is no visible countdown timer during a session. The advance warning is the only notice before auto-submit, and iOS does not show one.