Starting Your First Dictation on Android

Last updated: September 20, 2026

Available on: Android 13 and later

The Flow Bubble turns speech into text in Android apps. For your first dictation, use an empty message or note field.

Before you start

Dictation requires an internet connection. Below the minimum supported app version, Flow blocks usage until you update from the Play Store.

  1. Allow microphone access during Flow’s “Try it yourself” tutorial.

  2. Enable the Flow bubble on screen when prompted.

  3. Agree to the accessibility notice, then enable Wispr Flow under Android Settings → Accessibility.

  4. Keep “Wispr Flow shortcut” off; use the main accessibility toggle.

  5. Grant the standard battery exemption when prompted, including on Pixel/Google devices.

Flow detects the accessibility grant automatically and returns you to the app.

Note: The battery step can be skipped. Only Pixel/Google needs no additional manufacturer battery setup; other devices have guidance below.

Start your first dictation

  1. Tap an empty text field in Messages, WhatsApp, or another app so the on-screen keyboard opens.

  2. Tap the Flow Bubble at either screen edge to start recording.

  3. Speak naturally. Flow adds punctuation and formatting automatically.

  4. Tap the checkmark (Done) to stop recording.

  5. Wait for transcription; when your words appear in the field, you’re done.

The bubble can take a moment on slower devices. Use Cancel (X) to cancel recording.

Completed dictations appear as cards in Home, stored on this device without cross-device text sync. Tutorial practice dictations aren’t saved.

Note: The bubble stays hidden in password fields—including custom fields the app marks as password—PIN, phone-number, and numeric-only fields, except inline notification replies. Typing or shaking won’t reveal it in banking or financial apps, including payment apps.

Sessions last approximately 5 minutes. Flow warns “1 minute left before you reach the 5-minute limit.” At the cap, it submits automatically and shows “Session ended, 5-minute limit reached.” Tap the bubble again for a new dictation.

Recover a missing bubble or text

  • Warning triangle: Accessibility permission was revoked.

    1. Tap the triangle to open Flow’s repair screen.

    2. Select Open settings.

    3. Enable Wispr Flow’s main accessibility toggle.

  • Retry icon: Permission is still granted, but Flow isn’t responding; tap to reconnect.

  • Reconnecting spinner: Wait; it isn’t tappable. After 60 seconds without reconnecting, it can become a tappable retry state.

  • Force-stopped app: Open Flow once to restart it.

  • Home warnings: Swipe through cards and use their action buttons—not the card body. Depending on the card, choose Allow Microphone, Go to Settings, Allow, End snooze now, Turn Back On, or Restart Flow. Permission cards clear when you return with access restored.

Text wasn’t inserted

If direct insertion fails, Flow copies your text to the clipboard and shows Paste.

  1. Focus the target text field.

  2. Tap Paste on the bubble, or long-press the field and choose Paste.

Your words should now appear in the field.

“Failed to transcribe. Saved in the app.”

The recording is saved for retry.

  1. Check your internet connection.

  2. Tap Retry on the bubble.

You can also use Home → More options → Retry Transcript while the recorded audio remains available. Check Home for the completed transcript.

Check background settings for your device

Manufacturer battery restrictions can hide the bubble. Use these settings if it remains missing after permissions setup.

On Realme, OPPO, Vivo, Huawei/Honor, OnePlus, Transsion, and Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO, finish both the manufacturer battery screen and the per-app battery settings Flow opens next. If settings cannot open, retry or select Skip to continue onboarding.

Pixel / Google: optional recovery

Battery controls: Settings → Apps → Wispr Flow → Battery.

  1. Select Unrestricted.

Samsung battery settings

Background controls: Settings → Battery → Background usage limits.

  1. Add Wispr Flow to Never sleeping apps.

  2. Disable Put unused apps to sleep.

  3. Select Unrestricted under Settings → Apps → Wispr Flow → Battery.

Xiaomi / Redmi / POCO

Accessibility setup includes an extra OK confirmation.

  1. Enable autostart for Wispr Flow.

  2. Select No restrictions in Flow’s battery saver settings.

  3. Lock Wispr Flow in recent apps.

Vivo battery settings

Autostart: Settings → More Settings → Applications → Autostart.

  1. Enable Wispr Flow.

  2. Lock Flow in recent apps by swiping down on its app card.

Transsion: Tecno / Infinix / itel

Autostart: Security → Permissions → Autostart.

  1. Enable Wispr Flow.

  2. Select Don’t optimize for Flow under Settings → Battery → Battery optimization.

  3. Lock Wispr Flow in recent apps.

Motorola / Lenovo

Battery controls: Settings → Apps → Special app access → Battery optimization.

  1. Select Don’t optimize for Wispr Flow.

  2. Lock Flow in recent apps by swiping down on its app card.

OPPO battery settings

App controls: Settings → App Management → Wispr Flow.

  1. Enable Allow Auto-Launch.

  2. Enable Allow Background Activity.

  3. Add Flow to the power-saving exception list.

Realme battery settings

Battery controls: Battery Optimization.

  1. Select Not optimized for Flow.

  2. Enable Auto Launch for Flow.

  3. Allow background activity for Flow.

OnePlus battery settings

Battery controls: Battery Optimization.

  1. Select Don’t optimize for Flow.

  2. Enable App Auto-Launch for Flow.

  3. Lock Wispr Flow in recent apps.

Huawei / Honor

App launch controls: Settings → Apps → App launch → Wispr Flow.

  1. Select Manage manually.

  2. Enable all three toggles.

  3. Select Don’t allow for Flow under Settings → Apps → Special access → Battery optimization.

Other devices, including non-Pixel stock Android

Battery controls: Settings → Apps → Wispr Flow → Battery.

  1. Disable battery optimization.

  2. Enable autostart for Flow if available.

  3. Lock Wispr Flow in recent apps.

After any bubble repair, open an eligible text field with the keyboard visible. If the bubble returns, try dictating again.

Still stuck?

Contact support if the bubble stays missing after setup, transcription fails on a stable connection, or you see an unlisted error. Include your device model, Android version, and steps tried.