Supported & Unsupported Keyboard Hotkey Shortcuts

Last updated: June 5, 2026

Available on: Mac, Windows

Set a push-to-talk key, bind Transforms to your favorite keys, or pick a shortcut that works across your MacBook and an external keyboard. This guide covers which combinations are valid, how to assign them, and which shortcuts your system reserves.

How it works in Flow

Overview

All dictation shortcuts are configured from a single settings page. Flow validates each shortcut against system reservations and your other Flow bindings before accepting it, then reflects your choice in every notification and prompt.

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: Activate Command Mode with a shortcut. Requires an active paid subscription or trial, and the Command Mode toggle in Settings → Experimental.

  • Paste last transcript: Paste your last dictated text. Defaults to Cmd+Ctrl+V on Mac and Shift+Alt+Z on Windows.

  • Copy last transcript: When you dictate without a focused text field, Flow shows a notification with a Copy button. Pressing the copy shortcut does the same as clicking the button — the label flips to "Copied!" and the notification dismisses automatically. Defaults to Cmd+Ctrl+C on Mac and Shift+Alt+X on Windows.

  • Transform shortcuts: Run a Transform on selected text or your last dictation. Defaults: Opt+1 (Mac) / Win+Alt+1 (Windows) for Polish, Opt+2 / Win+Alt+2 for Prompt Engineer. Up to 8 custom Transform slots can be configured.

  • View Diff (Transforms): Open the diff viewer after a Transform runs. Defaults to Opt+O (Mac) and Win+Alt+O (Windows). Press again to close.

  • Open Scratchpad: Tap to open or close the Scratchpad. Hold to start push-to-talk dictation into it. Double-tap for hands-free dictation. This shortcut is fully opt-in with no default assignment — click Click to enable shortcut in the Shortcuts dialog to bind one.

  • Press Enter command: Say "press enter" at the end of dictation to simulate the Enter key. Enable in Settings → Experimental. The first time Flow detects "press enter," it shows a confirmation notification and does not press Enter on that first detection.

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

  • Multiple shortcuts per binding: Each binding type supports up to 4 shortcuts. Cancel allows only one.

  • Mouse button shortcuts: Middle click and Mouse 4–10 can be used as standalone triggers or combined with keyboard modifiers (e.g., Ctrl+Mouse4). Left and right click cannot be used. When bound, the mouse button is intercepted system-wide while Flow is running.

  • Dynamic notifications: Flow notifications reflect your configured shortcuts. For example, if you tap instead of hold your dictation shortcut, the reminder shows your actual shortcut (e.g., "Hold down Ctrl+Space").

  • Shortcut discovery from the Flow Bar: Hover any visible Flow Bar button to see a tooltip showing the label and your bound shortcut. If no shortcut is assigned, the tooltip shows only the label.

Note: While dictation is active, the Escape key is captured by Flow and does not pass through to other applications.

How to configure shortcuts

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

  2. Open Settings → General, then click Change next to Shortcuts.

  3. Click the binding you want to change and press your new shortcut. The field updates to show your new combination.

  4. Add another shortcut by clicking the Click to add a shortcut placeholder, then pressing your desired key combination. Recording starts immediately.

  5. Reset all shortcuts to platform defaults by clicking Reset to default at the bottom of the Keybind shortcuts page.

Note: Reset to default and Add another are blocked while a shortcut is being recorded. Clicking either shows the toast "Please finish recording first".

Shortcut rules

A valid shortcut must meet these requirements:

  • 3 keys or fewer: Combinations with more than 3 keys are not accepted.

  • At least one modifier key or valid mouse button: Ctrl, Cmd, Alt, Shift, or Fn. Mouse buttons (middle click, Mouse 4–10) also satisfy this requirement and can be used standalone. The validation error reads: "Shortcut must include a modifier key or a valid mouse button".

  • No left/right modifier mix: You cannot combine the left and right versions of the same modifier (e.g., Left Ctrl + Right Ctrl).

  • No duplicates: A shortcut cannot duplicate another Flow binding.

  • No reserved shortcuts: Shortcuts reserved by your system are blocked (listed below).

  • Cancel exception: The Cancel binding allows Escape as a standalone key without a modifier. All other bindings require at least one modifier or a valid mouse button.

  • Windows Ctrl exception: Standalone Ctrl or Right Ctrl cannot be used as a single-key hotkey because it conflicts with Ctrl+C, Ctrl+Z, and other standard shortcuts.

  • Caps Lock: Caps Lock cannot be used in shortcuts.

Reserved shortcuts

Mac reserved shortcuts

These shortcuts are 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

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

These shortcuts are blocked because Windows or common apps use them:

Standalone Ctrl keys:
Ctrl, Right Ctrl (multi-key Ctrl combinations like Ctrl+Win still work).

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

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

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

Windows key combos:
Win+E, Win+R, Win+L, Win+D, Win+Tab, Win+I, Win+S, Win+X, Win+P, Win+Q, Win+Up/Down

Examples

Recommended shortcuts for Mac

Try one of these:

  • Fn (built-in Mac keyboards only — the Apple Fn key is not present on most third-party keyboards)

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

  • Cmd-Right or Opt-Right (if left-side shortcuts are not accessible)

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

Default shortcuts (Mac):

  • 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

  • Polish (Transform): Opt+1

  • Prompt Engineer (Transform): Opt+2

  • View Diff: Opt+O

  • Open Scratchpad: No default — opt-in only

Recommended shortcuts for Windows

Try one of these:

  • Ctrl+Win or Ctrl+Alt

  • Ctrl-Right or Alt-Right (if left-side shortcuts are not accessible)

  • An unused key like Pg-Up

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

Default shortcuts (Windows):

  • 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

  • Polish (Transform): Win+Alt+1

  • Prompt Engineer (Transform): Win+Alt+2

  • View Diff: Win+Alt+O

  • Open Scratchpad: No default — opt-in only

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)

Common issues

Pressing the copy shortcut after dictation didn't update the Copy button

This was caused by a bug where pressing the copy-last-text shortcut copied the text silently but left the notification button stuck on "Copy", making it unclear whether the action worked. Fixed in the latest version — pressing the shortcut now updates the button to "Copied!" and dismisses the notification automatically, matching the behavior of clicking the button.

  1. Update Wispr Flow to the latest version.

  2. Restart Flow after updating.

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

The Apple Fn key is a hardware-level signal unique to Apple-built keyboards. Most third-party external keyboards don't expose a true Apple Fn key, so the Fn shortcut only fires from the built-in MacBook keyboard. Switch your push-to-talk shortcut to one that exists on both keyboards:

  1. Open Settings → General → Shortcuts.

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

  3. Test from both your built-in and external keyboards.

You can also bind up to 4 shortcuts per action — keep Fn alongside Ctrl+Opt so both work depending on which keyboard you're using.

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) include OEM software or HID drivers that intercept keyboard events before Flow can register them. To fix this:

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

  2. Disable the keyboard's HID device if the issue persists. In Device Manager, expand "Human Interface Devices," find the entry for your wireless keyboard's extra functions, and disable it. You may lose dedicated media keys, but standard input continues to work.

Bugs fixed in recent updates

The following issues were resolved in recent versions. Update to the latest version and restart Flow to pick up the fixes.

  • Adding a new shortcut required two clicks: Clicking an empty shortcut slot opened the selector but didn't start recording. Clicking the slot now immediately starts recording.

  • Keyboard shortcuts delayed or dropped during typing: A stall in keyboard event processing could delay or drop shortcuts, including dictation activation and paste last text. On Mac, stalls could last over 14 seconds.

  • "Press enter" inserted a stray punctuation character: Saying only "press enter" with no other dictated text previously inserted a stray period before simulating Enter. Flow now simulates Enter cleanly.

  • MacBook Fn key detection on first run: If your MacBook defaulted to Ctrl+Opt instead of Fn, an external keyboard may have been connected when Flow first detected the keyboard. Go to Settings → General → Shortcuts and reset to Fn.

  • Mouse button shortcuts causing stuck clicks on Windows: Assigning a mouse button shortcut (middle click, Mouse4, Mouse5) previously caused system-wide stuck mouse clicks in other apps in rare cases. Updating and restarting Flow recovers any stuck state without a reboot.

FAQs

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

Ctrl+Opt is the recommended cross-keyboard shortcut and is what Flow auto-assigns when it detects you're not on an Apple-built keyboard. Opt+Cmd is a solid alternative. Both keys exist on every Mac-compatible keyboard, so the same shortcut works whether you're on the built-in MacBook keyboard or a docked Bluetooth/USB keyboard. You can also bind up to 4 shortcuts per action — keep Fn for built-in use and add Ctrl+Opt as a second shortcut for when you're docked.

Why can't I use standalone Ctrl on Windows?

Standalone Ctrl or Right Ctrl would intercept every Ctrl-based shortcut (Ctrl+C, Ctrl+Z, etc.), breaking standard copy/paste/undo functions. Multi-key combinations like Ctrl+Win or Ctrl+Alt+F12 work because they don't conflict.

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

It's likely already assigned to another action in Flow. Each shortcut can only be used for one action. Open Settings → General → Shortcuts to see all current assignments.

Can I use function keys as shortcuts?

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

Can I use mouse buttons as dictation triggers?

Yes. Middle click and Mouse 4 through Mouse 10 can be assigned as standalone triggers or combined with keyboard modifiers (e.g., Ctrl+Mouse4). Left and right click are intentionally excluded. When a mouse button is bound, Flow intercepts it system-wide while running. Apple Magic Mouse, built-in trackpads, and devices reporting as trackpad or touchpad are not compatible.

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

Open Settings → General → Shortcuts and find the Open Scratchpad row. Click the Click to enable shortcut pill, then press your desired key combination. The Scratchpad shortcut is fully opt-in with no default. You can also open the Scratchpad without a shortcut by clicking the notebook icon on the Flow status indicator. Once bound, the shortcut appears in the Flow Bar Scratchpad button tooltip on hover.

Can I change the Escape dismiss shortcut?

Yes. Go to Settings → General → Shortcuts and assign a different combination to the Cancel row. Notifications automatically update to show your new Cancel shortcut.

What does Flow do when I assign a conflicting shortcut?

Conflict warnings appear only when the Hands-free mode shortcut is a subset of the Push-to-talk shortcut (for example, Hands-free set to Fn while Push-to-talk is Fn+Space). Flow shows: "Your Hands-free mode shortcut is a part of a Push-to-talk shortcut. This may lead to conflicts." The check is one-way — the reverse case (Push-to-talk being a subset of Hands-free) does not trigger a warning, and the warning only re-shows when your shortcuts have changed since it was last displayed.

Why doesn't my Command Mode shortcut work?

Command Mode requires an active paid subscription or trial. Also ensure Command Mode is toggled on in Settings → Experimental — the shortcut shows a "Command mode is toggled off" notification if the toggle is off.

Why aren't my Transform shortcuts working?

Transform shortcuts (Opt+1, Opt+2, View Diff, custom slots) are not registered globally by default. They activate only after you visit the Transforms tab, click Try it out, or toggle Transforms on in Settings. If you've turned Transforms off, the shortcuts are disabled and reset — re-enable Transforms in Hub → Transforms to restore them.

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 automatically stops after 20 minutes. A warning notification appears at 19 minutes.

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

  • The Open Scratchpad shortcut has no default — it must be enabled manually.

  • Transform shortcuts only activate after you first interact with the Transforms tab. Turning off Transforms in Settings disables and resets them.

  • Mouse shortcuts are desktop only. Apple Magic Mouse, built-in trackpads, and devices identified as trackpad or touchpad are not compatible.

Still stuck?

Reach out to support if:

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

  • Shortcuts still fail after trying the steps in Common issues.

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 with our team.