Ranked microphone preferences and automatic mic switching
Last updated: June 25, 2026
Available on: Mac, Windows
Set a priority order for your microphones, and Flow will always use your top-ranked available mic. If it disconnects mid-dictation, Flow switches to the next mic in your list and keeps recording — no manual switching required.
What it is
Instead of remembering a single preferred microphone, Flow maintains a ranked list of every mic you've used. The highest-ranked mic that's currently connected is always the one in use. You can build and reorder this list from anywhere you change your mic — the menu bar tray, the app menu, the right-click context menu, Settings → Microphone.
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 Flow to fall back automatically
Work in clamshell mode with an external mic and need Flow to handle lid open/close transitions cleanly
Want one mic preference that stays consistent across the tray, menu, and Settings
How it works in Flow
Overview
Flow keeps a single ranked list of your mics that's shared across every surface where you can pick a mic. Whichever mic sits highest in the ranking and is currently connected is the one Flow uses.
Key behaviors
Automatic fallback: If your active mic disconnects — even while you're speaking — Flow immediately switches to the next available mic in your ranking and restarts recording.
Auto-switch to a higher-ranked mic: If a higher-ranked mic connects while the microphone settings dialog is open, Flow switches to it automatically.
Clamshell mode: When you close your laptop lid with an external mic ranked and connected, Flow automatically switches to your highest-ranked available external mic. Reopening the lid switches back to your built-in mic. If no external mic is connected when the lid closes, a notification lets you know the built-in mic is unavailable.
New mic detection: When you connect a mic Flow hasn't seen before, a notification appears: "[Mic name] detected — Switch?" Clicking Switch moves it to the top of your ranking.
Auto-append: Every new mic you connect is added to the bottom of your ranked list, so it's available as a fallback even if you dismiss the notification.
Sorted display: In Settings → Microphone, connected mics appear in your ranked order. Selecting a mic animates it to the top.
Greyed-out built-in mic: When your laptop lid is closed, the built-in mic appears greyed out in Settings → Microphone with a "Laptop lid is closed" tooltip.
Live device list: Plugging in or unplugging a mic updates the device list in Settings → Microphone instantly — no restart needed.
Live re-rank during mic test: Reordering your ranked mics while the mic test is running immediately switches recording to the new top device.
Reconnection stability: Flow recognizes your existing mics by name across connect/disconnect events and preserves their original ranking slots, so duplicate entries don't appear in Settings → Microphone.
Note: If you're mid-dictation when a new mic is detected, the "Switch?" prompt waits until you stop speaking so you're never interrupted.
How to set up your mic ranking
You can view and change your mic ranking from several places in Flow. Selecting a mic from any of them updates its position in your ranked list.
Open Wispr Flow and connect the microphones you want to rank.
Go to Settings → General → Microphone → Change. Your connected mics appear in ranked order.
Select the mic you want as your top preference. It animates to the top of the ranking.
Repeat for any 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 app menu, or the right-click context menu. Any selection you make there is remembered in the ranked list.
How to reorder or remove mics
Use Edit Ranking to drag mics into your preferred order or remove devices you no longer use.
Go to Settings → General → Microphone → Change
Click Edit Ranking.
Drag mics up or down to rearrange their priority order.
Remove a mic by tapping the trash icon next to it. Disconnected mics appear dimmed and can be cleaned up the same way.
Exit edit mode when you're done. Your new ranking takes effect immediately.
Note: Edit Ranking is only available after you've finished onboarding. 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 a "[Headset name] detected — Switch?" notification and appends the headset to the bottom of your ranking. Clicking Switch promotes it to the top.
Bluetooth headset disconnects mid-sentence
You do: Walk out of Bluetooth range while dictating with your wireless headset.
Flow does: Detects the disconnect, switches to your next-ranked mic (e.g., your built-in mic), and restarts recording automatically.
Closing the laptop lid in clamshell mode
You do: Close your laptop lid with an external USB mic connected and ranked.
Flow does: Switches to your highest-ranked available external mic. The built-in mic appears greyed out in Settings until you reopen the lid.
Common issues
The macOS 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 actively dictating. This is fixed in the latest version of Wispr Flow. To resolve:
Update Wispr Flow to the latest version.
Restart Flow after updating.
Duplicate mic entries appeared in Settings → Microphone (e.g., two "Built-in mic" rows)
Duplicates could appear after events like connecting or disconnecting a Bluetooth device, or switching audio output on Mac. This is fixed in the latest version of Wispr Flow. To resolve:
Update Wispr Flow to the latest version.
Restart Flow after updating.
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 and you can resume dictation normally.
Will Flow interrupt my dictation to switch mics?
Only if your active mic disconnects — Flow restarts recording on the next available mic automatically. New-mic prompts wait until you finish dictating, so you're never interrupted mid-sentence.
Does selecting a mic in the tray or menu also update my ranking?
Yes. The menu bar tray, app menu, context menu, Settings, and the mic quiz all update the same ranked list — there's one unified ranking across every surface.
I connected a new mic but didn't get a notification. Is it still added to my list?
Yes. Every mic you connect is automatically appended to the bottom of your ranked list, whether or not you act on the notification. You can confirm it in Settings → Microphone.
Why is my built-in mic greyed out in settings?
Your laptop lid is closed, which makes the built-in mic unavailable. It becomes selectable again when you reopen the lid. Hover over it to see the "Laptop lid is closed" tooltip.
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 this if you'd rather manage your mic preference at the OS level than inside Flow.
Limitations and notes
Mic ranking is available on Mac and Windows. It's not yet available on iOS or Android.
Edit Ranking is only accessible from the mic selection dialog in Settings → General, and only after onboarding is complete.
Automatic fallback restarts recording, so any audio captured in the instant before the mic disconnected may not be recovered.
Auto-switching to a higher-ranked mic when it connects only happens while the microphone settings dialog is open. Outside of that, you'll get a notification to switch instead.
When your laptop lid is closed, the built-in mic is unavailable and can't be selected. Flow switches back to it automatically when you reopen the lid.