Dictation starts but nothing is recorded: cancelled dictation and hold-don't-tap notifications (Mac, Windows)

Last updated: September 22, 2026

Available on: Mac, Windows

You press your dictation shortcut, speak, and no text appears — or you see "Dictation cancelled" or a reminder to hold the shortcut instead of tapping it. Here's what each message means and how to get dictation working.

Quick checks

  • Are you holding the shortcut? Flow records only while the shortcut is held down; a quick tap starts and immediately ends the attempt.

  • Are you pressing other keys at the same time? Another key pressed while dictation is starting cancels it.

  • Did a message appear near the Flow bar? It names the reason — match it to the table below. If no message appeared, the problem is elsewhere: see microphone troubleshooting.

What each message means

Message

What happened

What to do

Dictation cancelled — Another key was pressed while starting

A key outside your Flow shortcut was pressed as dictation started.

Hold only your Flow shortcut, then speak.

Don't tap. Hold down {shortcut}

You tapped the shortcut, or released it before the microphone was ready.

Hold the shortcut for the whole phrase.

Note: A dictation that ends this way returns to idle straight away, so you can start a new one immediately, and a paused meeting microphone resumes. Messages appear in your app language.

How to fix a dictation that records nothing

  1. Release every other key first, so nothing interrupts the start.

  2. Press and hold your dictation shortcut, pause a moment, then speak — keep holding until you finish the phrase. Text should appear as you talk.

  3. Change your shortcut in Flow Settings if it clashes with a system or app shortcut you use often, then repeat step 2.

FAQs

Was my speech saved when dictation was cancelled?

A cancelled start records nothing, so there is nothing to recover. Hold the shortcut and dictate again.

Still stuck?

Contact support if:

  • Nothing is recorded even when you hold only your Flow shortcut.

  • You see a message not listed above.

Include your platform, your dictation shortcut, and the exact message you saw.