Supported & Unsupported Keyboard Hotkey Shortcuts

Last updated: September 15, 2026

Available on: Mac, Windows

Set a push-to-talk key, bind shortcuts to your favorite keys, or pick one that works on both your MacBook and an external keyboard. Learn which combinations are valid, how to assign them, how to free up ones you don't use, and which shortcuts your system reserves.

How it works in Flow

Overview

Flow binds keyboard shortcuts and select mouse buttons to every major action on one settings page, validating each binding against system reservations and your existing bindings before accepting it.

Key behaviors

  • Push to talk: Hold a key to dictate.

  • Hands-free mode: Double-tap your dictation shortcut, or press the hands-free shortcut, to start and stop dictation without holding.

  • Command Mode: Activated by shortcut. Requires an active paid subscription or trial, and must be enabled in Settings → Experimental.

  • Paste last transcript: Pastes your last dictated text. Defaults to Cmd+Ctrl+V (Mac), Shift+Alt+Z (Windows).

  • Copy last transcript: When you dictate without a focused text field, the shortcut or the notification's Copy button copies the transcript and dismisses the notification. Defaults to Cmd+Ctrl+C (Mac), Shift+Alt+X (Windows).

  • Open Scratchpad: Tap to open or close the Scratchpad, hold to push-to-talk dictate into it, or double-tap for hands-free dictation (only when the Scratchpad is already visible). On your first visit to the Scratchpad tab, Flow suggests Opt+S (Mac) or Win+Alt+S (Windows), which you can accept, change, or disable from the Notes page or Settings → General → Shortcuts.

  • Notetaker shortcut: Opens Notetaker to start a new meeting note. Defaults to Opt+M. Configurable in Settings → Notetaker.

  • Press Enter command: Say "press enter" at the end of dictation to simulate the Enter key; enable it in Settings → Experimental. The first detection shows a confirmation notification instead of pressing Enter. If you turn Press Enter off after that prompt, the phrase is no longer stripped and appears in your dictated text. It is disabled automatically in Command Mode.

  • Cancel: Dismisses dictation and notifications. Defaults to Escape and works even when other modifier keys are held.

  • Multiple shortcuts per binding: Each action supports up to 4 shortcuts; Cancel supports only one.

  • Mouse button shortcuts: Middle click and Mouse 4–10 work standalone or with keyboard modifiers (e.g., Ctrl+Mouse4); left and right click cannot be used. Press and release are tracked as a pair, so unbinding a mouse button mid-hold does not strand the app.

  • Dynamic shortcut labels: Notifications referencing the paste-last-text shortcut reflect your configured binding, and hovering the Flow Bar bubble shows your current push-to-talk shortcut.

How to configure shortcuts

  1. Click the Wispr Flow icon in your menu bar (Mac) or system tray (Windows), then click Settings.

  2. Open the General tab, then click Change next to Shortcuts.

  3. Click the binding you want to change and press your new shortcut. A Shortcut saved toast confirms it.

  4. Add a second shortcut by clicking + (Add another), then press your combination in the new Click to add a shortcut placeholder.

  5. Reset all shortcuts to platform defaults with Reset to default at the bottom of the page.

Warning: Reset to default replaces every custom shortcut with the platform defaults. There is no undo.

Note: While a shortcut is being recorded, Reset to default and Add another do nothing and show the toast "Please finish recording first."

Shortcut rules

A valid shortcut must meet these requirements:

  • 3 keys or fewer: Error: "Shortcut must contain 3 or fewer keys."

  • At least one modifier or valid mouse button: Ctrl, Cmd (Mac), Alt/Opt, Shift, Fn (Mac), or Win (Windows), with left and right variants recognized separately; middle click and Mouse 4–10 also satisfy this and can be used standalone. Error: "Shortcut must include a modifier key or a valid mouse button."

  • No left/right modifier mix: You cannot combine left and right versions of the same modifier (e.g., Left Ctrl + Right Ctrl). Error: "Shortcut cannot contain both left and right version of the same key."

  • No duplicates: A shortcut cannot duplicate another Flow binding. Error: "This shortcut is already in use."

  • No reserved shortcuts: Shortcuts your system reserves are blocked (listed below). Error: "This shortcut is not allowed: [key name]."

  • Cancel exception: Cancel allows Escape as a standalone key.

  • Caps Lock: Cannot be used in shortcuts.

  • Validation order: Reserved key → duplicate binding → modifier → key count → left/right modifier. A reserved shortcut always shows "not allowed," even if it is already assigned elsewhere.

Reserved shortcuts

Common reserved shortcuts; the exact list varies by version.

Mac reserved shortcuts

Blocked because macOS or common apps use them:

Common Cmd-based:
Cmd+C, Cmd+V, Cmd+X, Cmd+Z, Cmd+Shift+Z, Cmd+A, Cmd+Q, Cmd+W, Cmd+R, Cmd+T, Cmd+P, Cmd+N, Cmd+O, Cmd+S, Cmd+M, Cmd+H, Cmd+F, Cmd+G, Cmd+Shift+G, Cmd+Comma, Cmd+Tab, Cmd+Shift+R

Navigation & control:
Cmd+Arrow Keys, Cmd+Shift+Arrow Keys, Cmd+Ctrl+F, Cmd+Space, Cmd+Alt+Space, Cmd+Shift+3/4/5, Cmd+Alt+Esc, Cmd+Alt+D, Cmd+Alt+P, Cmd+Delete, Cmd+Shift+Delete, Cmd+Shift+Q, Cmd+Alt+Left, Cmd+Alt+Right

Browser & editor:
Cmd+B, Cmd+I, Cmd+U, Cmd+Shift+T, Cmd+=, Cmd+-, Cmd+Alt+F, Cmd+Shift+F

Ctrl-based:
Ctrl+Up, Ctrl+Down, Ctrl+Left, Ctrl+Right, Ctrl+A, Ctrl+E, Ctrl+K

Function keys:
Fn+F11, Fn+F12

Delete:
Alt+Backspace, Alt+Delete

Windows reserved shortcuts

Blocked because Windows or common apps use them:

Ctrl-based:
Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V, Ctrl+X, Ctrl+Z, Ctrl+Y, Ctrl+R, Ctrl+A, Ctrl+B, Ctrl+I, Ctrl+U, Ctrl+F, Ctrl+G, Ctrl+O, Ctrl+S, Ctrl+P, Ctrl+N, Ctrl+T, Ctrl+W, Ctrl+K, Ctrl+Home, Ctrl+End, Ctrl+Alt+Del, Ctrl+Shift+Esc, Ctrl+Backspace, Ctrl+Delete, Ctrl+Shift+T, Ctrl+=, Ctrl+-, Ctrl+Shift+Home, Ctrl+Shift+End, Ctrl+Shift+R

Alt-based:
Alt+Tab, Alt+F4, Alt+Left/Right, Alt+Print Screen

Function & navigation:
F5, F11, Ctrl+F5, Home, End, Print Screen, Shift+F3, Shift+Home, Shift+End

Clearing vs. rebinding a shortcut

To give a key combination back to another app, either remove Flow's shortcut or rebind it to a combination you will never press.

  • Core dictation actions keep at least one shortcut: Push to talk, Hands-free mode, Command Mode, Paste last transcript, Copy last transcript, and Cancel cannot be left unassigned.

  • Optional rows can be emptied: Any row that can display a Click to add a shortcut placeholder can be left empty, such as Open Scratchpad.

  • Extra shortcuts can always be removed: When an action has more than one shortcut, you can delete the extras from any row, including core actions. Only the final remaining shortcut is protected.

Remove a shortcut

Use this for optional rows, or to delete an extra shortcut from an action that has more than one.

  1. Open Settings → General → Shortcuts.

  2. Click the shortcut you want to remove. The field shows Press a key or mouse button.

  3. Click the X icon at the right edge of the field. The field empties, confirming removal.

Note: The X appears only after you click into a field, and only on removable shortcuts. No X means it is the last shortcut for a core action — rebind it instead.

Free up a key you cannot remove

For core actions you do not use, rebind the row to a combination you will never press.

  1. Open Settings → General → Shortcuts.

  2. Click the shortcut for the action you do not use.

  3. Press an awkward combination with at least one modifier — Mac: Ctrl+Opt+9 / Windows: Ctrl+Alt+9.

  4. Confirm the Shortcut saved message. Your original combination is now available to other apps.

Note: Every binding must be unique, so give each row its own throwaway combination (Ctrl+Opt+7, Ctrl+Opt+8, Ctrl+Opt+9). Reusing one is rejected with "This shortcut is already in use."

A field stays on "Press a key or mouse button"

A recording field stays open until it receives a combination it can accept. Escape will not close it, because Escape is bindable here as the Cancel default, and clicking elsewhere in the dialog will not dismiss it.

  1. Press any valid combination, for example Ctrl+Opt+9, to set a new shortcut.

  2. Close and reopen the dialog from Settings → General → Shortcuts to cancel instead. The row returns to its previous shortcut.

Examples

Recommended and default shortcuts for Mac

Recommended:

  • Fn (built-in Mac keyboards only — the Apple Fn key is absent on most third-party keyboards)

  • Ctrl+Opt or Opt+Cmd (works on every Mac-compatible keyboard, including external)

  • Mouse4, Mouse5, or Middle Click (compatible third-party mice only)

Defaults:

  • Push to talk: Fn (or Ctrl+Opt if no Apple Fn key is detected at first run)

  • Hands-free mode: Fn+Space

  • Command Mode: Fn+Ctrl

  • Cancel: Esc

  • Paste last transcript: Cmd+Ctrl+V

  • Copy last transcript: Cmd+Ctrl+C

  • Open Scratchpad: Opt+S

  • Notetaker: Opt+M

Recommended and default shortcuts for Windows

Recommended:

  • Ctrl+Win or Ctrl+Alt

  • An unused key like Pg-Up

  • Mouse4, Mouse5, or Middle Click (compatible mice only)

Defaults:

  • Push to talk: Ctrl+Win

  • Hands-free mode: Ctrl+Win+Space

  • Command Mode: Ctrl+Win+Alt

  • Cancel: Esc

  • Paste last transcript: Shift+Alt+Z

  • Copy last transcript: Shift+Alt+X

  • Open Scratchpad: Win+Alt+S

Shortcuts that work

  • Ctrl+Shift+K, Alt+F7, Cmd+Shift+9 (if not reserved)

  • Ctrl+Space, Ctrl+Alt+M, Shift+F9

  • Ctrl+Win (Windows), Ctrl+Alt+F12 (Windows)

  • Mouse4, Middle Click, Ctrl+Mouse4

Shortcuts that won't work

  • A+B+C (no modifier key)

  • Cmd+Shift+Alt+K (more than 3 keys)

  • Left Ctrl + Right Ctrl (left/right modifier mix)

  • Left or right mouse click (intentionally excluded)

  • Cmd+Shift+R (Mac) / Ctrl+Shift+R, Ctrl+F5 (Windows) — reserved by the system

Troubleshooting

My hands-free shortcut is unbound

  1. Open Settings → General → Shortcuts.

  2. Click the Click to add a shortcut selector on the Hands-free mode row and press your preferred combination (e.g., Ctrl+Win+Space on Windows or Fn+Space on Mac).

  3. Confirm the Shortcut saved toast. Your hands-free shortcut is now active.

My keyboard shortcuts stopped working on Mac, but hold-to-talk still works

Another app has enabled macOS Secure Keyboard Entry, which blocks Flow's keyboard shortcuts system-wide. Common culprits: Slack, Terminal, or any app with a focused password field.

  1. Quit the likely culprit app, or switch away from the focused password field.

  2. Test your shortcut by dictating a short phrase — text should appear in your focused field.

  3. Sign out and back in to your Mac if shortcuts still don't recover. Secure Keyboard Entry can get stuck until you log out.

My Fn shortcut works on my MacBook but not on my external keyboard

The Apple Fn key only fires from the built-in MacBook keyboard. Switch push-to-talk to a shortcut that exists on both:

  1. Open Settings → General → Shortcuts.

  2. Click the Push to talk binding and press Ctrl+Opt (or Opt+Cmd).

  3. Test from both keyboards by dictating a short phrase — text should appear in your focused field.

My shortcuts don't work on a gaming laptop or wireless multi-function keyboard

Some gaming laptops (e.g., Lenovo Legion) and wireless multi-function keyboards (e.g., Dell KB7120WC) run manufacturer software that intercepts keyboard events before Flow sees them.

  1. Open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc), end manufacturer keyboard processes such as Lenovo Vantage, Lenovo Hotkeys, or Dell Peripheral Manager, then test your shortcut.

  2. Disable the keyboard's extended-function device if the issue persists: in Device Manager, expand "Human Interface Devices," find your wireless keyboard's extra-functions entry, and disable it. You may lose dedicated media keys; standard input continues to work.

FAQs

What's the best hotkey for a MacBook used with an external keyboard?

Ctrl+Opt is the recommended cross-keyboard shortcut, and Flow auto-assigns it when it doesn't detect an Apple-built keyboard. Opt+Cmd is a solid alternative. You can also keep Fn and add Ctrl+Opt as a second shortcut for when you're docked.

Why can't I clear my Push to talk shortcut?

Core dictation actions keep at least one shortcut. Rebind the row to an unused combination instead — see Clearing vs. rebinding a shortcut.

How do I know whether a row can be left empty?

Click into the field. If an X icon appears at the right edge, that shortcut can be removed; if not, the row requires a shortcut.

Why is my shortcut rejected even though it's not in the reserved list?

It's likely already assigned to another Flow action, and each shortcut can only serve one. Open Settings → General → Shortcuts to see all current assignments.

Can I use function keys as shortcuts?

Yes, when combined with modifiers (e.g., Alt+F7, Shift+F9). Some standalone function keys like F5 and F11 are reserved by the system.

How do I set up a keyboard shortcut for the Scratchpad?

Open Settings → General → Shortcuts, click the Open Scratchpad row's Click to add a shortcut selector, then press your combination. Re-opening the rebind modal later restores your previously used shortcut. You can also open the Scratchpad by clicking the notebook icon on the Flow status indicator.

Can I change the Escape dismiss shortcut?

Yes. Go to Settings → General → Shortcuts and assign a different combination to the Cancel row.

What does Flow do when I assign a conflicting shortcut?

Flow shows a warning toast when your Hands-free shortcut is a subset of your push-to-talk shortcut (for example, Hands-free set to Fn while push-to-talk is Fn+Space). The reverse case does not trigger a warning.

Why doesn't my Command Mode shortcut work?

Command Mode requires an active paid subscription or trial and must be toggled on in Settings → Experimental. With the toggle off, the shortcut shows a "Command mode is toggled off" notification.

Will using Ctrl+Win as my shortcut affect the Windows Start menu?

No. When Ctrl+Win is assigned to Flow, Flow suppresses the Start menu and Search that would otherwise open when the Win key is released mid-combo. Pressing Win by itself still opens the Start menu normally. Holding Ctrl+Win past the double-press window works as standard push-to-talk.

Will Mouse 4, Mouse 5, or middle click trigger browser Back/Forward navigation or other app actions?

No. When a mouse button is bound to any Flow action, Flow swallows the click so other apps — such as browsers or File Explorer — do not see it. This applies to all mouse-button-bound actions (push-to-talk, hands-free, Press Enter, Dismiss, Paste Last Text, Copy Last Text, Scratchpad, and others) on both Mac and Windows. Two exceptions: if you have two mouse buttons bound to different Flow actions, release one before pressing the other; and a combo like Ctrl+Mouse4 also suppresses a bare Mouse4 click.

Why is there a notification badge on Settings or the Shortcuts row?

An eligible mouse (such as a Logitech MX-series model or any mouse with more than 3 buttons) is connected, so Mouse Flow is available.

Limitations and notes

  • Custom keybind shortcuts are stored per-device in your local preferences.

  • Command Mode shortcuts require an active paid subscription or trial.

  • Dictation stops automatically after 20 minutes, with a warning notification at 19 minutes.

  • If your shortcut includes two non-modifier keys (e.g., Ctrl+A+B), other apps' shortcuts that are a subset of yours (e.g., Ctrl+A) may be blocked while Flow is running.

  • Mouse shortcuts are desktop only. Eligible mice have a confirmed 4+ buttons or are known Logitech MX-series models; ineligible devices include the Apple Magic Mouse, built-in trackpads, mice with 3 or fewer buttons, and mice where Flow cannot determine the button count.

  • Logitech MX Master side buttons (Mouse 4/5) do not work with push-to-talk when Logi Options+ maps them to trackpad swipe gestures.

  • Keyboard (non-mouse) shortcuts are never suppressed and still pass through to other apps.

  • Some Logitech auxiliary buttons are not affected by click suppression.

  • On Mac, Flow's keyboard shortcuts are blocked system-wide while another app holds Secure Keyboard Entry. Hold-to-talk continues to work.

  • The Notetaker shortcut is available on Mac and Windows.

  • Cmd+Shift+R (Mac) and Ctrl+Shift+R / Ctrl+F5 (Windows) cannot be assigned to any Flow action.

  • If your organization has disabled Scratchpad, the Open Scratchpad shortcut is removed. It is restored automatically when Scratchpad is re-enabled, unless the key was rebound in the meantime.

  • On Windows, when Ctrl+Win is your Flow shortcut, Flow suppresses the Start menu and Search triggered by the Win key during the combo. Pressing Win alone still opens the Start menu.

  • If Flow quits while you are physically holding a mouse shortcut button (Mouse 4, Mouse 5, or middle click), the button's physical release after quitting may trigger the underlying action in the app currently in the foreground.

Still stuck?

Reach out to support if:

  • Your shortcut is rejected and isn't reserved or assigned to another binding.

  • A shortcut field is still waiting for input after closing and reopening the Shortcuts dialog.

  • Shortcuts still fail after the Troubleshooting steps above.

Include your platform (Mac or Windows), keyboard model, and the exact shortcut you're trying to assign. Most shortcut issues are resolved in one reply. Visit wisprflow.ai/support to get in touch.