Ranked microphone preferences and automatic mic switching

Last updated: August 6, 2026

Available on: Mac, Windows

Set a priority order for your microphones, and Flow always uses your top-ranked connected mic. One ranked list keeps your preference consistent everywhere you pick a mic in Flow.

What it is

Flow maintains a ranked list of every mic you've used instead of a single preferred microphone. Build and reorder the list from anywhere you change your mic: the menu bar tray, the Dictation menu (Mac only), the Flow Bar right-click menu, Settings → Microphone, the "new mic detected" notification, and the notepad header "⋯" menu in Notetaker.

On first launch after upgrading, your previously selected mic is placed at position 1, followed by the built-in mic, Auto-detect, and any other connected devices.

When to use it

Ranked mic preferences are useful when you:

  • Switch between a headset, a built-in mic, and a desk mic depending on where you're working

  • Use a Bluetooth headset that occasionally drops and want a clear next step when it disconnects

  • Work in clamshell mode with an external mic and want the built-in mic hidden when the lid is closed

  • Want one mic preference that stays consistent across the tray, menu, and Settings

How it works in Flow

Key behaviors

  • Mid-dictation disconnect: If your active mic disconnects mid-dictation, Flow shows a "Microphone disconnected" notification with an Insert button to paste the text captured up to the disconnect. Recording does not continue on a fallback mic during an active session.

  • Auto-switch to a higher-ranked mic: If a mic that outranks your current one connects while the microphone settings dialog is open (mic test running), Flow switches recording to it automatically. Outside the dialog you get a notification instead, deferred until your current recording ends if you're mid-dictation.

  • Notetaker mid-meeting mic switch: Changing your Mac's default input device during a meeting — or unplugging a USB mic — makes the notetaker re-acquire the new microphone within a fraction of a second, leaving only a brief audio gap. Unrelated device changes, such as docking stations or Bluetooth audio output devices, don't trigger a switch.

  • New mic detection and auto-append: Connecting a mic Flow hasn't seen shows a notification titled "[Mic name] detected" with the message "Would you like to use this mic for Flow?" and Switch and Don't Switch buttons. Switch promotes it above all currently-connected mics. Every new mic is appended to the bottom of the ranked list as a fallback even if you dismiss the notification.

  • Sorted display: In Settings → Microphone, connected mics appear in ranked order, and selecting one promotes it above all other currently-connected mics. Higher-ranked devices that aren't connected keep their position above it.

  • Clamshell mode (Mac): With the laptop lid closed, the built-in mic is greyed out in Settings → Microphone with a "Laptop lid is closed" tooltip and can't be selected. If you dictate with the built-in mic while the lid is closed and no audio is captured, Flow notifies you that the built-in mic can't be used and offers to open the mic picker.

  • Live device list: Plugging in or unplugging a mic updates the device list in Settings → Microphone instantly — no restart needed. Reordering ranked mics while the mic test is running switches recording to the new top device immediately.

  • Reconnection stability: Flow recognizes existing mics by name across connect and disconnect events and preserves their original ranking slots, so duplicate entries don't appear in Settings → Microphone.

  • Notetaker notepad "⋯" menu: The header "⋯" menu has a Microphone submenu showing the mic in use (Auto-detect or the device name). On Mac, "Change system microphone…" opens System Settings → Sound → Input. The submenu also appears in the hub's note "⋯" menu, but is hidden for shared notes.

Notifications you may see

  • Microphone disconnected: Your active mic dropped mid-session; includes an Insert button.

  • Using [mic name]: Confirmation toast when Flow switches to a different mic.

  • AirPods warning: Audio quality considerations when using AirPods.

  • Your laptop lid is closed: Shown after a completed dictation with zero audio in clamshell mode with the built-in mic.

Note: If you're dictating when a new mic is detected, the notification is held until your dictation session ends.

How to set up your mic ranking

  1. Open Wispr Flow and connect the microphones you want to rank.

  2. Go to Settings → General → Microphone → Change. Your connected mics appear in ranked order.

  3. Select the mic you want as your top preference. It is promoted above all other currently-connected mics.

  4. Repeat for additional mics to set their fallback order.

Note: You can also change your active mic — and update the ranking — from the menu bar tray, the Dictation menu (Mac only), the Flow Bar right-click menu, the "new mic detected" notification, or the "⋯" menu in the Notetaker notepad header.

Reorder or remove mics

  1. Go to Settings → General → Microphone → Change.

  2. Click Edit Ranking.

  3. Drag mics up or down to rearrange their priority order.

  4. Remove a mic with the trash icon next to it. Disconnected mics appear dimmed and can be cleaned up the same way.

  5. Exit edit mode. Your new ranking takes effect immediately.

Note: Edit Ranking appears only after onboarding is complete. You won't see the button during initial setup.

Examples

Plugging in a new headset mid-day

You do: Plug in a USB headset you've never used with Flow.

Flow does: Shows "[Headset name] detected" with the message "Would you like to use this mic for Flow?" and Switch and Don't Switch buttons, and appends the headset to the bottom of your ranking.

Bluetooth headset disconnects mid-sentence

You do: Walk out of Bluetooth range while dictating with your wireless headset.

Flow does: Shows a "Microphone disconnected" notification with an Insert button to paste the text captured up to the disconnect.

Unplugging a USB mic during a meeting

You do: Unplug your USB mic while the notetaker is recording a meeting.

Flow does: Switches the notetaker to the new default mic within a fraction of a second. Recording continues after a brief audio gap, with no manual action needed.

Checking which mic Notetaker is using from the notepad

You do: Click the "⋯" menu in the Notetaker notepad header and open the Microphone submenu.

Flow does: Shows the mic in use — for example "Auto-detect" or your device name. On Mac, "Change system microphone…" opens System Settings → Sound → Input.

Closing the laptop lid in clamshell mode

You do: Close your laptop lid with an external USB mic connected and ranked.

Flow does: Greys out the built-in mic in Settings → Microphone with a "Laptop lid is closed" tooltip so it can't be selected.

Common issues

The notetaker recorded silence after changing the input device or unplugging a mic during a meeting

Changing your Mac's input device mid-meeting — including with "Change system microphone…" — had no effect on an in-progress notetaker recording, which kept capturing from the absent device and recorded silence. Fixed in the latest version of Wispr Flow. To resolve:

  1. Update Wispr Flow to the latest version.

  2. Restart Flow after updating.

The Mac microphone indicator (orange dot) flickered when connecting or disconnecting a Bluetooth mic

The orange mic indicator could briefly flicker when plugging in or unplugging a microphone — especially Bluetooth mics — even when you weren't dictating. Fixed in the latest version of Wispr Flow. To resolve:

  1. Update Wispr Flow to the latest version.

  2. Restart Flow after updating.

Duplicate mic entries appeared in Settings → Microphone (for example, two "Built-in mic" rows)

Duplicates could appear after connecting or disconnecting a Bluetooth device, or switching audio output on Mac. Fixed in the latest version of Wispr Flow. To resolve:

  1. Update Wispr Flow to the latest version.

  2. Restart Flow after updating.

  3. Go to Settings → General, open the mic selection dialog, click Edit Ranking, and remove any remaining duplicates with the trash icon.

FAQs

What happens if all my ranked mics are disconnected?

Flow can't record until a mic is available. Reconnect any mic to resume dictation.

Will Flow interrupt my dictation to switch mics?

No. New-mic prompts are deferred until your current dictation session ends, and a mid-dictation disconnect shows a notification rather than switching mics.

Does the notetaker automatically switch mics mid-meeting if I change my system input device?

Yes, within a fraction of a second, with a brief audio gap. A mic that is physically connected but not capturing audio — such as a wireless receiver out of range — is not detected as a disconnection.

Does selecting a mic in the tray or menu also update my ranking?

Yes. The tray, Dictation menu (Mac only), Flow Bar right-click menu, Settings → Microphone dialog, the "new mic detected" notification, and the Notetaker notepad "⋯" menu all update the same ranked list.

I connected a new mic but didn't get a notification. Is it still added to my list?

Yes — every connected mic is appended to the bottom of your ranked list. Confirm it in Settings → Microphone.

Why is my built-in mic greyed out in settings?

On Mac, your laptop lid is closed. Hover over the entry to see the "Laptop lid is closed" tooltip; it becomes selectable again when you reopen the lid.

What does "From computer settings" mean for auto-detect?

Auto-detect uses whichever microphone is set as the default in your system's sound settings. Choose it to manage your mic preference at the OS level instead of inside Flow.

Where can I see which mic Notetaker is currently using?

In the Microphone submenu of the notepad header "⋯" menu, also available from the hub's note "⋯" menu (not for shared notes).

Limitations and notes

  • Mic ranking is available on Mac and Windows, not yet on iOS or Android.

  • Edit Ranking is accessible only from the mic selection dialog in Settings → General, and only after onboarding is complete.

  • Auto-switching to a newly connected higher-ranked mic happens only while the microphone settings dialog is open (mic test running); otherwise you get a notification to switch.

  • During a meeting, the notetaker follows OS input device changes. A mic that is connected but not capturing audio (such as a wireless receiver with the capsule out of range) is not detected as a disconnection.

  • The Microphone submenu in the Notetaker notepad "⋯" menu is hidden for shared notes. "Change system microphone…" is Mac only; on Windows, use the tray, Flow Bar right-click menu, or Settings.

  • Clamshell (lid-closed) behavior is Mac only; Windows has no clamshell/lid state.

  • On Mac, the microphone submenu is available from the tray, the Dictation menu bar, the Flow Bar right-click menu, Settings → Microphone, and the Notetaker notepad "⋯" menu. Windows has no Dictation app menu — use the tray, Flow Bar right-click menu, Settings, or the Notetaker notepad "⋯" menu.