How to Configure Transform Shortcuts and Custom Prompts

Last updated: September 4, 2026

Available on: Mac, Windows

Highlight any text and rewrite it instantly with a custom AI rule — fix grammar, shift tone, translate, or reformat with a single keystroke. Setting up your first Transform shortcut takes under 2 minutes.

How to set up a Transform shortcut

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

  2. Go to the Transforms page in the Hub sidebar.

  3. Click Create New, or the Create your own card.

  4. Name the shortcut — for example, "Fix Grammar" or "Make Formal."

  5. Write a rule in the Customize prompt field describing how Flow should rewrite selected text. See How to write effective rules below.

  6. Assign a keyboard shortcut: click the shortcut field and press your key combination. Keyboard shortcuts save on key release; mouse-button shortcuts save on click.

  7. Verify it works: highlight text in any text field and press your shortcut. The text is replaced with the transformed version. If nothing happens, see Still stuck? below.

Note: Name and prompt changes auto-save shortly after you stop typing; shortcut changes save immediately. The shortcut becomes active once name, prompt, and keyboard shortcut are all set.

How to write effective rules

  • Be specific: "Rewrite this in a professional tone for a client email" works better than "Make it better."

  • State the output format: name the structure you want — bullet points, a single paragraph, or another format.

  • Include constraints: add limits like "Keep it under 50 words" or "Don't change technical terms."

  • Use one rule per task: create separate shortcuts for grammar fixes, tone changes, and translations.

Default and custom rules

The base Transform configuration includes five independently toggleable default rules — Make more concise, Reword for clarity, Reorder for readability, Add structure for readability, and Maintain your tone — plus two Pro rules, Clarify main point and Refine phrasing for impact, which are off by default.

Add up to 5 custom rules in the base Transform configuration modal, 50 words each maximum; duplicates show an error. The modal's Reset button resets only the base rule toggles — not shortcuts or other transform slots.

How to manage your transforms

  • Edit a transform: click its card on the Transforms page to update the name, prompt, or shortcut. Changes save automatically.

  • Reset to defaults: click Reset to defaults on the Transforms page and confirm to restore built-in transforms. Resetting a single custom transform clears that slot only.

  • Turn off transforms: toggle Opt in off to disable the feature, hide the Transform wand button from the Flow Bar, and remove Transform keyboard shortcuts from your system. Saved transforms and prompts are preserved, but re-enabling restores default shortcuts, so custom bindings must be re-set.

  • Rebind the diff shortcut: click the "to view changes" shortcut pill on the Transforms page to open the See changes in diff modal.

Warning: Resetting to defaults permanently removes all custom transforms and their writing samples, and cannot be undone. Turning Opt in off does not delete custom transforms.

FAQs

How many Transform shortcuts can I create?

The Transforms page has a base Polish action plus nine numbered custom prompt slots. The first slot is named Prompt Engineer by default.

Does Transform work in every app?

Transform works in most text fields where Flow can detect selected text. Some apps with custom text editors are not supported.

Will Transform change the links in my text?

Transform converts plain-text URLs into clickable links. Markdown link syntax [text](url) and HTML anchor tags are not always preserved.

How do I review or undo a transform?

Click See changes in the Flow Bar to open the diff viewer, which offers Copy, Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down, Retry, and a right-side action button (Accept edits / Configure Polish / Undo depending on state).

Retry re-runs the transform on your original text. The re-transform presets — Prompt Engineer, Turn to list, Translate to English, and Empathize — operate on the already-transformed result.

Limitations and notes

  • Transform is available on Mac and Windows only.

  • Selections must be between 1 and 1,000 words. Longer selections show a notification and are not transformed.

  • The Transform wand button is not shown on the Flow Bar for all users. Transform is always available via keyboard shortcut or the right-click context menu.

Still stuck?

Reach out to support if:

  • Your shortcut saves but does nothing when pressed, even with text selected.

  • Transform output consistently ignores your custom rule.

  • An app you rely on isn't recognizing selected text.

Include your platform (Mac or Windows), the app you're using Transform in, and your rule text. Most issues are resolved in one reply.