Troubleshooting Guide for 'No Model Available' Error

Last updated: June 5, 2026

Available on: Mac, Windows, iOS, Android

If Flow shows "No Model Available," "Flow is having trouble starting," "Something's not right," or stops responding when you try to dictate — this guide walks you through fixing it. Most issues resolve in under 2 minutes.

Quick checks

Try these first — they solve most cases in seconds:

  • Is your internet working? Open any website to confirm you're online. Flow requires an internet connection for transcription.

  • Is Flow up to date? Flow checks for updates automatically and applies them in the background when you're not dictating.

  • Does restarting Flow fix it? Quit Flow (Mac: menu bar → Wispr Flow → Quit, or Cmd+Q. Windows: right-click the Flow icon in the system tray → Quit), then reopen it and dictate a short phrase. If text appears, you're done. If not, continue below.

Common error messages

Find the message you're seeing for a quick explanation and the fastest action to take.

"Flow is having trouble loading"

A Flow helper failed to initialize. Click Restart Flow in the notification to retry, or click Contact us to reach support.

"Flow is having trouble starting"

This appears after Flow has retried several times without success. Click Restart Flow to retry, or click Contact us to reach support.

"Audio system failed to load"

Flow's audio system couldn't initialize. Click Restart Flow in the notification. If the issue persists, click Contact us.

"Is your microphone muted?"

Flow isn't detecting audio from your selected microphone. Click Select microphone to try a different mic, or click Troubleshoot for help.

"Something's not right"

Transcription failed. Click Retry to try again, or click Open History to recover the transcript.

"No audio received"

Flow didn't hear anything. Check your mic and permissions in the troubleshooting steps below. Click Contact us if the issue persists.

"Microphone is not working"

This appears after Flow detects continuous silence during dictation. Click Select microphone to try a different mic, or click Contact us if it persists.

"Your laptop lid is closed" (Mac only)

The built-in mic is unavailable when the lid is closed. Click Select microphone to choose an external mic.

"Microphone Permission Required"

Flow needs microphone access to work. Click Grant Permission to fix this:

  • Mac: On first use, this triggers a system permission prompt. If you previously denied access, it opens System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone instead.

  • Windows: This opens your system microphone privacy settings directly. If you see a separate "Microphone access is disabled" notification, system-level microphone privacy is turned off and needs to be enabled.

"Just a moment — Flow is getting ready..."

Flow's helper is initializing. Wait a few seconds and try again.

Troubleshooting steps

Follow the steps for your platform in order. After each step, dictate a short phrase — if text appears, you're done.

Mac

  1. Check microphone permissions.

    1. Open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone.

    2. Confirm Wispr Flow is listed and the toggle is on.

    3. If Flow shows "Microphone Permission Required," click Grant Permission.

  2. Check accessibility permissions.

    1. Open System Settings → Privacy & Security → Accessibility.

    2. Confirm Wispr Flow is listed and the toggle is on.

  3. Select a different microphone.

    1. Click the Wispr Flow icon in the menu bar → Microphone → choose a different mic.

    2. If your laptop lid is closed, the built-in mic is unavailable — use an external microphone.

    Tip: If you're using AirPods, try switching to the built-in mic or another external mic. AirPods can be slow to connect and may cause errors during dictation.

  4. Restart your Mac.

    1. Click the Apple menu → Restart.

    2. Open Flow after restarting and try dictating.

  5. Reset Flow data.

    Warning: Only use this step if directed by Wispr Flow support. This deletes Flow's local database, including history and cached data. Your notes and meetings will re-sync from the cloud after restart. Your dictionary, settings, preferences, and backups are preserved. Flow restarts automatically after you confirm.

    1. Open Flow → Settings → System → Data → Reset & restart.

Windows

  1. Check microphone permissions.

    1. Open Settings → Privacy & security → Microphone.

    2. Confirm "Let apps access your microphone" is on.

    Note: Flow doesn't require a separate per-app permission on Windows, but system-level microphone access must be enabled.

  2. Select a different microphone.

    1. Click the Wispr Flow icon in the system tray → Microphone → choose a different mic.

  3. Restart your computer.

    1. Click Start → Power → Restart.

    2. Open Flow after restarting and try dictating.

iOS

  1. Enable Full Access for the Flow keyboard.

    1. Open Settings → General → Keyboard → Keyboards → Flow.

    2. Turn on Allow Full Access.

  2. Force close and reopen Flow.

    1. Swipe up from the bottom of the screen and swipe the Flow app away.

    2. Reopen Flow and try dictating.

  3. Enable Low Data Mode for slow connections.

    1. Open the Wispr Flow app → Settings → General → turn on Low Data Mode.

    Note: This setting is inside the Wispr Flow app, not in iOS System Settings.

Note: If Flow shows an error on the keyboard, tap Retry. If microphone permission is denied, a separate modal appears with a Go to Settings button.

Android

  1. Check permissions.

    1. Open Settings → Apps → Wispr Flow → Permissions.

    2. Confirm Microphone, Overlay, and Accessibility permissions are granted.

  2. Force close and reopen Flow.

    1. Open Settings → Apps → Wispr Flow → Force stop.

    2. Reopen Flow and try dictating.

  3. Restart your phone.

    1. Hold the power button and tap Restart.

    2. Open Flow after restarting and try dictating.

Note: Flow on Android doesn't currently show a real-time offline indicator. If you lose internet, transcription fails — check your connection and tap Retry.

Note: If transcription fails, Flow shows "Failed to transcribe. Saved in the app." with a Retry button on the Flow Bubble. Your transcription is saved and can also be retried from the home screen. If pasting fails, the text is automatically copied to your clipboard and the Flow Bubble shows a Paste button to retry.

Common issues

Dictated numbers were missing or cut off in transcripts

A previous issue caused dictated numbers to be dropped or truncated during transcription. This has been fixed and number dictation now works correctly. No action is needed — the fix is applied automatically.

FAQs

What does "No Model Available" mean?

It means Flow couldn't load the transcription model. Restarting Flow and checking your internet connection resolves it in most cases.

Will I lose my transcriptions if Flow crashes?

No. Flow saves transcriptions locally. If a transcription fails, check your home screen history — you can retry from there.

Why does the error keep coming back after restarting?

Recurring errors usually point to a permissions issue or a mic that isn't working properly. Work through the full troubleshooting steps for your platform above.

Still need help?

If dictation still fails after completing all steps above, reach out to our support team. Most issues are resolved in one reply.

  • Mac/Windows: Click Help in the sidebar → Talk to support, then select the Report an issue tab.

  • iOS: Go to Menu → Talk to Support.

  • Android: Open the drawer → Report an issue.

  • Include in your message: your platform, device, the error you're seeing, and the steps you've already tried. A screenshot helps (PNG, JPEG, BMP, or WEBP, max 10MB, one file per submission).

Note: On Mac and Windows, diagnostic logs and your config are automatically attached. iOS and Android only send your message text and any attached image.