"Connection lost" / network connection issues blocking Wispr Flow

Last updated: August 31, 2026

Available on: Mac, Windows, iOS, Android

If Flow shows "Connection lost," dictation stops mid-sentence, or Flow won't connect at all, VPNs, proxies, or security tools are usually the cause. Most issues resolve in under 5 minutes.

Quick checks

  • Is your internet working? Open a webpage. If it doesn't load, fix your internet connection first.

  • Is a VPN active? Disconnect it, then dictate a test phrase. If text appears, your VPN is the issue — go to Step 3 to allow Flow.

  • Are you on an Enterprise account seeing a network-restriction screen? Some organizations restrict Wispr Flow to approved networks. Switch to an approved network or contact your admin — the steps below won't resolve this.

  • Do other apps work online? If websites load but Flow won't connect, a firewall, proxy, or security tool is blocking Flow specifically — continue below. If other apps are also offline, the issue is your network, not Flow.

How to fix this

Important: Flow isn't compatible with most VPNs. Expect slow performance or connection failures while a VPN is active.

Mac & Windows

Work through these steps in order. Stop as soon as dictation works.

Step 1: Quit Flow and disable proxies

  1. Right-click the Flow icon in the menu bar (Mac) or system tray (Windows) and select Quit.

  2. Open System Settings → Network (Mac) or Settings → Network & internet → Proxy (Windows).

  3. Disable any active proxies temporarily.

  4. Reopen Flow and dictate a test phrase. If text appears, a proxy was the cause — go to Step 3 to allow Flow permanently. If not, continue to Step 2.

Step 2: Pause security and firewall tools

  1. Pause any antivirus, firewall, or security software temporarily.

  2. Reopen Flow and sign in.

  3. Dictate a short test phrase. If text appears, your security software is blocking Flow — continue to Step 3 to make this permanent. If not, go to Step 4.

Step 3: Add Flow to your allowed apps

  1. Contact your IT administrator if you're on a managed or corporate network.

  2. Open your security or firewall software settings.

  3. Add the Wispr Flow application to the allowed/trusted apps list.

  4. Allow the domains Flow uses: wisprflow.ai and wisprflow.com are both required.

  5. Re-enable your security tools.

  6. Dictate another test phrase. If text appears with your security tools active, you're done.

Note: On deny-by-default firewalls this domain list isn't sufficient. Contact Wispr support for the current full list of addresses to allow.

Note: Flow's connection can also break behind proxies that inspect encrypted traffic. Ask IT to install the proxy's root certificate in your operating system's root certificate store.

Step 4: Try a different DNS server

  1. Open your system network settings.

  2. Change your DNS server to a public provider such as Google (8.8.8.8). See instructions for your platform.

  3. Restart Flow and dictate a test phrase. If dictation works, your previous DNS was blocking Flow's domains. If not, see "Still stuck?" below.

Chrome extension

If the Chrome extension shows "No Internet Connection":

  1. Reload the extension: click the Wispr Flow extension icon in your Chrome toolbar, close the popup, wait a few seconds, then click the icon again.

  2. Check Chrome proxy settings at Settings → System → Open your computer's proxy settings. If your organization configured a proxy, contact your admin.

  3. Disable any VPN or security software temporarily, then reload the extension. If the extension connects, you're done.

iOS

If a VPN or network filter is blocking Flow on iOS:

  1. Open Settings → VPN and turn off any active VPN.

  2. Pause any security or filtering app temporarily.

  3. Check your Wi-Fi proxy: go to Settings → Wi-Fi, tap the info icon next to your network, scroll to HTTP Proxy, and set it to Off.

  4. Dictate a test phrase. If text appears, you're done.

Note: After a failed dictation on iOS, the mic remains available for a new dictation.

Android

If a VPN or firewall is blocking Flow on Android:

  1. Open Settings → Network and internet → VPN and disconnect any active VPN.

  2. Pause any firewall or security app temporarily.

  3. Check your network proxy: go to Settings → Network and internet → Internet, tap your current network, then Advanced.

  4. Dictate a test phrase. If text appears, you're done.

Note: While Flow is offline on Android, the bubble dims and tap or long-press to dictate is blocked — only the on-bubble buttons (Cancel, Done, Paste, Retry, repair icon) respond. A failed transcription is kept as a history entry you can retry; if text insertion fails, the text is copied to your clipboard and a Paste button appears. If notifications are denied, Flow's recovery messages appear as toasts instead ("Re-enable accessibility for Wispr Flow to keep working." / "Wispr Flow isn't responding. Open the app to restart it.").

Android: Flow keeps becoming unavailable after a device restart

Flow restarts itself after a reboot or app update only if accessibility is still enabled in Settings and the signed-in account has completed onboarding. If accessibility was turned off, Flow posts a "Wispr Flow needs attention" notification ("Accessibility service was turned off. Tap to re-enable."). If nothing comes back, open the Flow app once to trigger recovery. The Flow Bubble stays hidden while onboarding is on screen and for any account that hasn't completed onboarding.

If the issue persists, exclude Wispr Flow from battery optimization. The setting name varies by manufacturer:

  • Samsung: Battery → "Sleeping apps" or "Battery usage limits"

  • Xiaomi: "Autostart management"

  • Huawei: "App launch management"

  • Oppo: "Auto-launch management" or "Startup manager"

  • Vivo: Enable Autostart via iManager; lock Flow in Recents.

  • Realme: Set battery to "Not optimized"; enable Auto Launch and background activity.

  • OnePlus: Set battery to "Don't optimize"; enable App Auto-Launch; lock Flow in Recents.

  • Motorola: Set battery to "Don't optimize"; lock Flow in Recents.

  • Transsion / Tecno / Infinix / itel: Enable Autostart via the Security app; set battery to "Don't optimize".

  • Google Pixel: No manufacturer-specific step needed.

  • Other brands: Look for an Autostart, App launch, or background-activity setting and ensure Flow is not restricted.

Tip: Lock Flow in your Recents screen so it isn't swiped away. Aggressive task cleaners (such as OnePlus Deep Clear or MIUI Clear All) kill Flow when it's swiped away from Recents.

Android: Flow Bubble greyed out or unresponsive

If your device paused Flow's accessibility service, Flow posts a "Wispr Flow needs attention" notification ("Your device paused Wispr Flow's accessibility service. Tap to re-enable."). Tap it to restore the bubble.

If accessibility still shows as granted but Flow is unresponsive, Flow posts a "Flow isn't responding" notification ("Tap to restart Wispr Flow."), which opens the app and offers a restart card.

The bubble also shows three accessibility repair states:

  • Warning icon: "Flow Bubble disconnected. Tap to re-grant accessibility." Tapping opens the accessibility permission screen.

  • Retry icon: "Flow isn't responding. Tap to restart." Tapping re-binds the service without opening settings.

  • Pulsing bubble with spinner: "Flow Bubble is reconnecting. Dictation paused." Not tappable; it resolves on its own.

FAQs

What happens if I lose internet while dictating?

Flow saves your audio even if the connection drops mid-transcription. On desktop, recover the transcript from History. On iOS and Android, use the error controls described in the platform steps above.

What happens if transcription takes longer than usual?

On Android, Flow shows "Taking longer than usual. Your audio is saved in the app." Retry from the bubble or from transcription history.

What if transcription fails after the automatic retry?

On Android, audio is saved locally so you can retry from the bubble or from transcription history. Tapping the Wispr icon dismisses a paste error (your clipboard text is preserved) or starts a new dictation after a transcribe error.

How long is my audio saved on desktop?

Transcripts appear in History on the device where you dictated. Contact support if you need audio retention periods.

Note: With Zero Data Retention enabled in your privacy settings, audio is never saved locally and retry is not available.

Is there a maximum recording length?

There's no hard recording-length cap, but a single audio record uploaded to History is capped at 10 minutes / 25 MB, so very long recordings can fail to save or retry. If a long dictation drops, retry with a shorter recording.

Why is Flow generating network activity in the background?

Flow makes periodic background requests to stay signed in and up to date. If a firewall flags this traffic, allow the domains listed in Step 3 and contact Wispr support for the full list.

Which VPNs and security tools cause issues?

These tools can interfere with Wispr Flow:

  • VPN services: NordVPN, ExpressVPN, Surfshark, Cisco AnyConnect, GlobalProtect, OpenVPN, WireGuard

  • Corporate proxies and firewalls: Zscaler, Netskope, Palo Alto, Fortinet, Cisco Umbrella

  • Antivirus with web filtering: Norton, McAfee, Bitdefender, Kaspersky, ESET

  • DNS filtering: Pi-hole, AdGuard, NextDNS, CleanBrowsing

  • macOS firewalls: Little Snitch, LuLu, Vallum

Tip: If you must use a VPN, enable split tunneling and exclude all Wispr Flow domains listed in Step 3.

I'm an Enterprise user. Why was I signed out and shown a network-restriction screen?

Some organizations restrict Wispr Flow to approved networks. Switch to an approved network or contact your IT administrator.

Still stuck?

If Flow still won't connect, contact support with:

  • Your platform (Mac, Windows, iOS, Android) and Flow version

  • The VPN, proxy, or security software you're using

  • A screenshot of any error messages, and the steps from this guide you've already tried

Most connection issues are resolved in one reply.