Dictation session time limits on Android

Last updated: May 17, 2026

Available on: Android. iOS also has a 5-minute limit; Mac and Windows have a 20-minute limit.

If Flow submitted your text mid-thought, or you saw a "1 minute left" toast, your dictation hit Android's 5-minute session limit. Here's how the limit works and how to keep dictating without losing anything.

What it is

Each dictation session on Android has a maximum duration of 5 minutes. When a session reaches that limit, Flow stops recording and submits whatever you've dictated up to that point. The limit applies to every dictation session, regardless of which app you're dictating into.

How it works in Flow

Overview

The session timer starts when Flow enters the active listening state, which can be a moment after you tap the bubble. The brief setup time before recording begins does not count against the 5-minute limit. Flow warns you before the limit is reached, then auto-submits your transcription when the limit is reached.

Key behaviors

  • 4-minute warning: A toast appears saying "1 minute left before you reach the 5-minute limit."

  • Auto-submit at 5 minutes: Flow stops recording and submits your transcription automatically — no action required.

  • End-of-session toast: A toast saying "Session ended, 5-minute limit reached" appears when the session auto-stops.

  • System notification: A notification titled "Session ended" appears with the message "Flow supports up to 5 minutes per session."

  • Text insertion: The auto-submitted transcription is inserted at your cursor in the active text field, the same as a normal submission.

Note: There is no visible countdown timer on the floating bubble. The 4-minute toast is your only advance warning.

Best practices

  • Treat the 4-minute toast as your cue to wrap up your current thought.

  • Start a new session immediately after auto-submit if you have more to say — sessions can be chained back-to-back with no cooldown.

  • Break long content into natural sections (paragraphs, bullet points) so each session covers one complete chunk.

Common issues

Flow bubble is clipped or missing the Done button after a fresh install

This was caused by OEM-modified system services on OnePlus devices running OxygenOS clamping overlay widths, which made the Done (checkmark) button cut off, the waveform look squashed, or the bubble appear clipped on both sides. Fixed in the latest version — the bubble now consistently displays cancel, waveform, and Done controls at full width.

  1. Update Wispr Flow to the latest version from the Play Store.

  2. Reopen Flow and start a dictation session to confirm the bubble renders correctly.

FAQs

Will I lose any of my dictation when the session auto-submits?

No. Everything you dictated up to the 5-minute mark is transcribed and inserted. If text insertion fails (for example, the connection dropped or the target field is no longer accepting input), Flow copies the transcription to the clipboard and shows a Paste button on the bubble so you can paste it manually.

Can I dictate more than 5 minutes of content in one sitting?

Yes. After a session auto-submits, start a new session immediately and continue dictating. There is no cooldown between sessions.

Why is there a 5-minute limit?

The limit keeps performance stable and text insertion reliable across apps. Very long continuous sessions increase the chance of processing issues or insertion failures.

Does the 5-minute limit apply on other platforms?

iOS enforces the same 5-minute limit, but silently — no toast or notification appears when the session auto-stops. Mac and Windows have a 20-minute limit, with a warning notification titled "You have <1 minute left before you reach the 20 minute limit!" and an end-of-session notification titled "Transcription session ended." that includes a "Recover text" button.

Limitations and notes

  • The 5-minute session limit is Android-specific and was introduced in version 1.3.3.

  • Auto-submit inserts text into the active field at the moment of submission. If you've switched apps or moved your cursor, the text may land in a different location than expected.

  • If your device runs out of storage during a recording, the session stops immediately with an error — this is separate from the 5-minute limit.

  • Dictation start and stop tones are always on and cannot be disabled in Android settings.