How to use Command Mode

Last updated: June 6, 2026

Available on: Mac, Windows

Command Mode lets you transform text with your voice — rewrite a paragraph, translate content, or ask a question by speaking. Highlight text and give a command to edit it instantly, or ask without a selection to get an answer inline. You can also update your Polish settings hands-free.

How to enable Command Mode

Important: Command Mode requires a paid subscription or active free trial, and must be enabled in Settings before use.

  1. Open Wispr Flow and go to Settings → Experimental.

  2. Toggle on Command Mode. The toggle should show as enabled.

Note: The Experimental settings page is only visible to paying users (including those on a free trial). If you don't see it, check that your subscription or trial is active under Settings → Account → Plans and Billing.

Keyboard shortcuts

Press and hold the shortcut, speak your command, then release. Press ESC at any time to cancel.

  • Mac: Fn + Ctrl

  • Mac (no Apple Fn key): Cmd + Ctrl + Option

  • Windows: Ctrl + Win + Alt

Tip: You can bind a mouse button or custom shortcut. Go to Settings → Shortcuts → Command Mode to assign up to 4 shortcuts with up to 3 keys each. Supported mouse buttons include Middle Click and Mouse 4–10.

Note: On Mac, Caps Lock cannot be used in shortcuts, and the Fn key is only available as a modifier on Mac. Common OS shortcuts like Cmd+C and Cmd+V are reserved. Shortcuts cannot combine the left and right version of the same modifier key (for example, left Ctrl + right Ctrl). To restore defaults, use the Reset button in the shortcuts dialog.

How to use Command Mode

With highlighted text

  1. Highlight text in any app.

  2. Activate Command Mode using your shortcut.

  3. Speak your command (for example, "Make this more concise").

  4. Release the shortcut. Flow replaces the highlighted text with the result.

Warning: The edited text replaces your highlighted selection, so select exactly what you want transformed. To revert, press Cmd+Z (Mac) or Ctrl+Z (Windows).

Note: The first time you activate Command Mode, a "Using Command Mode (beta)" notification appears with a Disable button. On later activations, a smaller "Using Command Mode" indicator appears without buttons.

Without highlighted text

Activate Command Mode without selecting any text to generate content or ask a question. Flow inserts the answer or generated text inline at your cursor.

Updating Polish settings by voice

Change your Polish settings hands-free by speaking a request during Command Mode. Flow recognizes what you want to change, shows a notification with an Apply button, and only saves the change once you confirm.

You can ask Flow to turn a Polish option on or off, add a new custom rule, or remove an existing one. You can also state a personal preference and Flow will update your settings accordingly. For example:

  • "Always capitalize acronyms"

  • "Turn off Fix spelling"

  • "Add a rule to never use exclamation marks"

  • "I don't like to use the word utilize"

Note: No changes are applied until you tap Apply in the confirmation notification. Dismiss the notification to cancel.

Recalling past dictations and notes

You can ask Flow to recall something from your past dictations, notes, or meetings. Flow will look up your history and surface the relevant content inline.

"Press enter" voice command

Say "press enter" at the end of a dictation to have Flow press the Enter key after pasting your text. The words "press enter" are stripped from the output, so Flow pastes only your dictated text and then sends an Enter keystroke — useful in chat and prompt apps where Enter submits.

Flow handles punctuation automatically. Saying "Hello world. Press enter." pastes "Hello world." and then presses Enter. The command is case-insensitive and only recognized at the end of your dictation.

Once the feature is enabled, if "press enter" is the only thing you say, Flow presses Enter without inserting any text. On first detection, the words are stripped but Enter is not pressed — the prompt appears first.

Note: The first time you say "press enter," Flow shows a one-time notification. Tap Great to enable it, or Disable to keep "press enter" as literal text in future dictations. Change this any time in Settings → Experimental.

Warning: A comma immediately before "press enter" is not treated as a sentence boundary, so "Hello world, press enter." produces "Hello world,." (period after the comma).

Examples

Rewriting text to be more concise

You highlight: A long paragraph in an email draft.

You say: "Make this more assertive and concise"

Flow does: Replaces your selection with a shorter, punchier version.

Translating content

You highlight: A paragraph in English.

You say: "Translate to Polish"

Flow does: Replaces the selected text with a Polish translation.

Expanding an outline into prose

You highlight: A bulleted outline of key points.

You say: "Turn this outline into an essay"

Flow does: Replaces the outline with a fully written essay.

Updating a Polish setting by voice

You say: "Add a rule to never use exclamation marks"

Flow does: Shows a notification with the proposed change and an Apply button. Tap Apply to save the new rule to your Polish settings.

Stating a word preference

You say: "I don't like to use the word utilize"

Flow does: Shows a notification with the proposed setting change and an Apply button. Tap Apply to save the preference to your Polish settings.

Common issues

Bugs fixed in recent updates

The following issues have been fixed. Update Wispr Flow to the latest version to get these fixes.

  • Next regular dictation treated as a voice command: After using a voice command, the following plain dictation could sometimes be silently processed as another command instead of normal dictation. Regular dictation after a voice command now behaves normally.

  • Voice command delayed or processed twice: In some cases, a voice command could be processed a second time after it had already completed, causing a noticeable delay or duplicate output.

FAQs

Do I need to say "Hey Flow" to use Command Mode?

No. On desktop, use the keyboard shortcut instead. If you say "Hey Flow" during regular dictation with Command Mode enabled, Flow still processes the command but shows a tip suggesting the shortcut.

What's the maximum text length I can transform?

Selections must be under 1,000 words. If your selection is longer, Flow shows: "Oops, too long to polish — try again with under 1000 words."

Can I cancel a transformation that's in progress?

Yes. Press ESC while the transformation is processing to cancel it.

Can I undo a Command Mode transformation?

Yes. Press Cmd+Z (Mac) or Ctrl+Z (Windows) to restore your original text.

What happens if Command Mode is disabled when I trigger it?

A "Command mode is toggled off" notification appears with a button to open Experimental settings. This shows up to 3 times, at most once per day.

What does "Command Mode Servers Are Busy" mean?

Command Mode is experiencing high demand. Wait a few minutes and try again.

What happens if Flow can't paste into the field I'm in?

Your transformed text is copied to the clipboard with a notification, so you can paste it manually with Cmd+V or Ctrl+V.

Can I disable the "press enter" voice command?

Yes. Go to Settings → Experimental and toggle off the "press enter" feature.

What if I don't have a paid subscription?

An "Upgrade for Command Mode" notification appears with an Upgrade button. Command Mode requires a paid subscription or active free trial.

Will my Polish settings change automatically when I say something?

No. Flow always shows a notification with the proposed change first. Your Polish settings are only updated after you tap Apply. If you dismiss the notification, nothing changes.

Can I ask Flow to read my calendar or reminders?

Yes, reading calendar events and reminders is supported. Creating new events or reminders via voice command is not currently supported.

Limitations and notes

  • Command Mode is available on Mac and Windows. It requires a paid subscription or active free trial.

  • This is an experimental feature and may change based on feedback.

  • Command Mode cannot be activated while a previous transcription or Polish is still processing. If you press the shortcut during processing, Flow shows a warning notification instead of starting Command Mode — wait for it to complete.

  • If Command Mode is taking a while, a "Taking longer than usual…" notification appears.

  • If a transformation produces text identical to your original, Flow shows a "Your text looks good!" notification instead of replacing the selection.

  • All shortcuts (except ESC) must include at least one modifier key (Fn, Ctrl, Cmd, Opt, Shift, Alt, or Win) or a valid mouse button. Standalone mouse buttons like Middle Click are valid.

  • Voice-driven Polish setting changes only take effect after you tap Apply in the notification.

  • Voice commands can read calendar events and reminders, but creating or editing them by voice is not currently supported.

Still stuck?

If Command Mode isn't working as expected, reach out to support. Most issues are resolved in one reply. Include:

  • Your platform (Mac or Windows) and Wispr Flow version

  • The shortcut you're using and the command you spoke

  • What you expected versus what happened, including any error notifications