Set up the Action Button for Flow on iPhone

Last updated: September 21, 2026

Available on: iOS — iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max; iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, 16 Pro Max and 16e; iPhone 17, 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max; and iPhone Air.

Flow's Action Button setup row and home-screen card are hidden on other iPhones, including iPhone 17e.

Connect your iPhone's Action Button to Quick Dictation to Clipboard for Flow dictation in any app. With the Flow keyboard active, text goes into the focused field rather than back to Shortcuts or the clipboard; outside a text box, Flow saves it to your clipboard.

How to set it up

There is no web or deep link that opens Action Button setup — it must be started from inside the app.

Add the shortcut

  1. Open Wispr Flow → Settings → General → Action button shortcut.

  2. Tap Let's go! on “Set up Flow Action Button”.

  3. Tap Try now after the demo video.

  4. Tap Add shortcut to open the iCloud shortcut link.

  5. Add Quick Dictation to Clipboard.

  6. Return to Flow; setup automatically advances to the mapping step.

Assign it to the Action Button

  1. Tap Go to Settings to open iPhone Settings.

  2. Swipe to Shortcut.

  3. Select Quick Dictation to Clipboard.

  4. Return to Flow; setup automatically opens “Let's test your new shortcut”.

The instructional video keeps playing over Settings in picture-in-picture. You can also go manually to Settings → Action Button.

Done on the mapping screen also continues to the test introduction; it does not assign the shortcut for you.

Test and finish

The test uses a Notes-styled card inside Flow, not Apple Notes. It requires the Flow keyboard: if it isn't active, an instructional video shows how to switch, and setup advances automatically once it's active.

Note: The trial is optional. Skip in the header during keyboard switching or the dictation test stops any active recording and opens All set.

  1. Tap Try now on “Let's test your new shortcut” to begin the trial.

  2. Switch to the Flow keyboard if prompted.

  3. Press & hold the Action Button until dictation starts.

  4. Release the Action Button and speak a short phrase.

  5. Press & hold, then release the Action Button to stop.

  6. Tap Next when it appears to continue to All set.

  7. Tap Finish to close setup.

Repeating the Action Button gesture while dictation is still starting also stops it.

Learn more on All set opens the Action Button help page. Finishing or closing setup returns to Flow's home screen without automatically reopening the walkthrough.

Test controls and recovery

Next doesn't appear, or the test text is unexpected

Next can appear when the trial dictation ends, before text arrives. Text can also reveal it after a short delay; clearing text cancels that reveal, but Next can remain if the trial is already complete. While Flow shows the stop reminder, Next is hidden.

The continue button does not appear if the dictation was stopped with the keyboard's stop button instead of releasing the Action Button.

If it doesn't appear, return to Settings → Action Button and confirm Quick Dictation to Clipboard is selected. You can use Skip as described above to finish without the trial.

If no transcript reaches the test card after dictation finishes, Flow uses any available clipboard text instead. Check that the displayed text matches what you said.

A keyboard or network error blocks the test

Three conditions block the test dictation, each shown as a modal in the Flow keyboard: hitting the weekly hard word cap, Full Access not granted for the Flow keyboard, or microphone permission denied. Resolve the condition shown, then try again.

For a “Network error,” tap Retry, or dismiss the modal, check your connection, and try again.

Returning to Flow during the test

Flow restores your place when you return mid-test; Next returns only if it was previously available or dictated text exists.

Note: If you see a "Swipe back to your app" screen, swipe right across the bottom edge to return to Flow — Apple requires Flow to briefly switch apps to activate the microphone.

The manual return screen is conditional: it appears only when that experience is available and automatic return does not apply. Automatic return depends on the previous app and the return experience available to you.

Dismiss instructions, go back, or close setup

Tap the dimmed background to dismiss the start instruction or stop reminder; the initial stop instruction cannot be dismissed. The reminder reappears if Flow prompts you again.

Back steps through setup and exits when no previous step remains. During a recording, it stops recording first and goes back after transcription ends.

Back isn't available on the intro or “Let's test your new shortcut” screens. Use X on the intro screen to exit.

FAQs

When does the Action Button feature card appear?

The “Flow faster with a shortcut” card can appear on supported iPhones after at least 500 total dictated words, never in the Flow keyboard. It appears at most three times, counted when you bring Flow to the foreground while the card is eligible—not when you swipe to it; another promotional card can occupy its single carousel slot. Tap Set up to start setup or X to dismiss it; both hide it permanently across app launches, but the Settings path in “How to set it up” remains available.

Can I change the Action Button assignment later?

Yes. Change it anytime in iPhone Settings → Action Button. To reconfigure it for Flow, repeat the setup steps above.

Still stuck?

Contact support if:

  • Next never appears after confirming the selected shortcut.

  • The Action Button doesn't trigger Flow after setup completes.

  • You see an error during setup that isn't covered above.

Include your iPhone model, iOS version, Wispr Flow app version, and what you tried.