How to use Command Mode

Last updated: May 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 a question to get an answer inline.

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. A confirmation appears once it's active.

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 (without an Apple Fn key): Cmd + Ctrl + Option — auto-detected and set during onboarding.

  • 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 macOS, Caps Lock cannot be used in shortcuts (macOS does not fire a release event for it), and the Fn key is only available as a modifier on macOS. Common OS shortcuts like Cmd+C and Cmd+V are reserved. 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 (e.g., "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).

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.

"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.

If "press enter" is the only thing you say, Flow presses Enter without inserting any text. This is useful when you dictate, pause to review, then re-enable Flow just to send the message.

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 (this also restores the words in your current document). You can change this any time in Settings → Experimental.

Known edge case: 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.

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 between 1 and 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?

The servers are experiencing high demand. Wait a few minutes and try again.

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

Your text is copied to the clipboard with a notification. Note that the clipboard contains your original transcribed text, not the transformed output.

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.

Limitations and notes

  • Command Mode 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 is still processing — wait for it to complete.

  • 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.

Still stuck?

If Command Mode isn't working as expected, reach out to support. 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)