What is Flow?

Last updated: August 21, 2026

Available on: Mac, Windows, iOS, Android (Beta)

Flow lets you dictate anywhere you can type — about 4x faster than typing. Press your hotkey, speak naturally, and Flow types what you said and learns your vocabulary over time.

When to use it

Use Flow when you want to:

  • Draft emails, messages, or documents faster than you can type

  • Capture quick notes hands-free on your phone

  • Dictate technical terms, names, or jargon that other dictation tools mistranscribe

How it works

Overview

On Mac and Windows, hold the hotkey to dictate and release to stop and paste; double-press for hands-free mode. On iOS, tap the mic button on the Flow keyboard (hands-free mode is not available). On Android, tap or hold the floating bubble.

Key behaviors

  • Fast transcription: Releasing the hotkey pastes the transcribed text into your active app.

  • Vocabulary adaptation: Flow learns your words, names, and technical terms over time for more accurate transcription.

Platform-specific features

Desktop (Mac & Windows)

  • Dictation stats: A card on the Hub home page tracks words dictated, words per minute, and your streak, comparing word counts to reference points like thank-you notes, news articles, and short film scripts.

  • Setup gate: The Dictation, Insights, Style, Dictionary, Snippets, and Transforms pages stay locked until you finish initial setup (mic, permissions, shortcut) — tap Get started to complete it.

iOS

  • Notes: Dictate and save notes in the Flow app, grouped by day. Swipe a note for Copy, Share, and Delete, or long-press for a Markdown preview. Each note includes a one-tap AI summary.

  • Quick access: Open Notes from a lock screen widget, Control Center button, or Siri shortcut; Notes are also searchable via Spotlight. Siri shortcuts include "Create note with Flow," "Save Flow note," "Dictate a Flow note," "Quick dictate with Flow," "Turn on/off Flow," and "Open Flow notes."

  • Widgets: A Live Activity widget, a Control Center widget that toggles Flow recording, a Notes lock screen widget, and a Notes Control Center widget that opens Flow Notes.

Android (Beta)

  • Flow Bubble appearance: Set size (70%, 85%, 100%, 115%; default 100%) and opacity (20%, 40%, 60%, 80%, 100%; default 80%) in Settings, or tap Reset to restore the default.

  • Flow Bubble permissions: The bubble requires the "Display over other apps" (overlay) permission plus the Accessibility Service, and does not appear until onboarding is complete for the signed-in account. Switching accounts requires re-onboarding.

  • Snooze: Drag the bubble to the snooze target to hide it for 10 minutes; shake the phone to bring it back. Snooze is unavailable while the Accessibility Service needs re-granting.

  • Hardware keyboards: With a hardware or external keyboard and no on-screen keyboard, the bubble does not show.

Getting started

Download and install

Mac

Download Flow from wisprflow.ai/downloads.

System requirements:

  • Apple Silicon or Intel Mac, macOS 12.0 (Monterey) or newer

  • 500 MB free storage

  • Built-in or external microphone

  • Internet connection

Windows

Download Flow from wisprflow.ai/downloads.

System requirements:

  • Windows 10 (64-bit) or later

  • Intel Core i3 / AMD Ryzen 3 or better

  • 4 GB RAM (8 GB recommended)

  • 500 MB free storage

  • Built-in or external microphone

  • Internet connection

iPhone

Download Flow from the App Store, scan the QR code in the Wispr Flow Hub, or request a download link texted to your phone. Requires iOS 18.3 or later.

Android

Download Flow from the Google Play Store, scan the QR code in the Wispr Flow Hub, or request a download link texted to your phone.

Create an account

Sign in with Google, Apple, or Microsoft, with enterprise SSO, or with an email and password. Options vary by platform:

  • Desktop (Mac & Windows): Click Sign in via browser to open the Wispr Flow login page, then choose a provider.

  • iOS: Google and Apple buttons appear by default; tap More Options for Microsoft, SSO, and Email.

  • Android: Google, Apple, Microsoft, SSO, and Email each have their own button.

To create an email-and-password account on mobile:

  1. Enter your email address, full name, and a password of at least 6 characters. On Android, the form adds a Confirm Password field, passwords must be 6–72 characters, and your password cannot match your full name.

  2. Complete the CAPTCHA verification if prompted (iOS only).

  3. Click the verification link sent to your inbox; check Spam or Trash if you don't see it. On iOS, the app signs you in automatically once you click the link.

  4. Start using Flow once verified.

Important: If your organization uses SSO, you must sign in through SSO — email/password sign-in is not available. If your organization uses directory sync, contact your IT admin for access; directory-managed organizations cannot self-signup.

Note: Reset a forgotten password via email. On iOS and Android, an email already linked to a Google, Apple, or Microsoft account prompts you to sign in with that provider instead.

Examples

Dictating a message in any text field

You do: Place your cursor in a Slack message, press the hotkey, and say "Hey team, the design review is moved to 3pm tomorrow."

Flow types: Hey team, the design review is moved to 3pm tomorrow.

FAQs

What's the default hotkey to start dictating?

On Mac, press fn; on Windows, press Ctrl + Win together. Hold to dictate, release to stop; double-tap the same keys for hands-free mode. All shortcuts are customizable in Settings.

Does Flow show my words on screen while I'm talking?

No. Flow captures audio while you hold the hotkey, then transcribes and pastes the finished text on release. That full-context approach lets Flow clean up filler words, punctuation, and self-corrections.

Can I use Flow offline?

No. Flow requires an internet connection for voice transcription.

Is enterprise SSO supported?

Yes. Enter your work email address during sign-in and Flow identifies your organization's identity provider automatically.

What do I get when I sign up for the first time?

New desktop sign-ups get a 2-week free trial with unlimited words (no credit card required). Referred users get a 1-month free trial, students get 3 months, and team or org invitees get a 2-week free Pro trial. Promo-code users see a "Promotional Offer" with unlimited words whose extended trial begins on upgrade.

What are the referral terms?

The person you refer gets a free month of Pro on signup. You receive your free month only after they dictate 2,000 words (2 months during promotional periods).

How do I access Notes on iPhone?

Open Notes in the Flow app, tap the lock screen or Control Center widget, or use a Siri shortcut such as "Create note with Flow." Notes are also searchable from the iOS search screen.

Why doesn't the Flow Bubble appear when I tap a text field on Android?

The bubble appears when the on-screen keyboard is open. With an external keyboard or a collapsed software keyboard, bring up the on-screen keyboard first. See Limitations and notes for the fields where the bubble stays hidden.

Can I change how the Flow Bubble looks on Android?

Yes — see Platform-specific features for size and opacity options. The Bubble Size screen also has "Shrink the bubble when not in use," "Shrink to a dot," and "Shrink the bubble in search fields"; the last two are disabled unless the first is on.

When does my streak reset?

Streak counts are calculated on Wispr Flow's servers and may briefly appear unchanged on desktop until your device syncs. On iOS, during your first week, your streak advances when you dictate on any 5 of your first 7 days — days need not be consecutive.

Limitations and notes

  • Mac: Apple Silicon and Intel supported; macOS 12.0 (Monterey) or newer required.

  • Windows: Windows 10 (64-bit) or later required. After browser sign-in, the Flow window raises to the front, but keyboard focus may remain with the browser.

  • iPhone: iOS 18.3 or later required. WPM, days used, and total words unlock after 500 total dictated words.

  • Android (Beta): Some features have limited functionality compared to desktop and iOS. The Flow Bubble appears only when the on-screen keyboard is open, with exceptions for browser URL bars and system notification inline reply boxes; it is hidden in password fields, numeric/phone inputs, and a range of banking and financial apps.

  • Word limits: Desktop Basic is capped weekly (the cap is shown in Settings → Plans; resets Sunday 12 a.m. PT). iOS Basic has a 1,000-word/week soft limit and a 1,500-word/week hard cap, with upsell modals at each threshold. Pro, Student, Trial, Team, and Enterprise plans have unlimited words.

  • Transcription history: Transcripts are stored locally on each device and do not sync across devices on any platform. Desktop keeps a full transcript history on the Hub home page.

  • Transcription history (iOS): Cloud Sync (on by default) and Privacy Mode are separate toggles. To keep data on-device only, turn off Cloud Sync; Privacy Mode alone does not stop server sync. Auto-delete transcripts removes older transcripts on each app launch but does not prevent uploads.

  • Privacy Mode: On iOS, Privacy Mode governs AI training and data use, while Cloud Sync governs server storage and cross-device sync. For HIPAA-BAA-signed users, Privacy Mode is permanently locked ON and Cloud Sync is locked OFF; enterprise organizations can also admin-lock Privacy Mode on.

  • Coming soon: Apple Watch, iPad, and Linux. To prioritize your device, email support@wisprflow.ai and tell us what you're most excited to do with Flow.