Available on: iOS
Apple changed how third-party keyboards work in iOS 26.4, affecting two core parts of the Flow experience. Here's what changed, what we shipped to help, and how to set up your new style controls.
Quick swipe to start: Tapping "Start Flow" used to briefly open the Flow app and automatically return you to your previous app. After iOS 26.4, you may need to swipe back manually. When this happens, you'll see a screen with the message "Apple now requires this to activate the microphone" — swipe right as prompted to return to your app. This change is rolling out gradually and may not yet apply to all users. Voice-to-text still works exactly as before once you're back in your app.
Styles no longer auto-adjust by app: Flow can no longer detect which app you're typing in, so it no longer automatically adjusts formatting per app. Your default style now applies everywhere.
Default style settings in the app: Set your preferred writing style in the Style tab, and it applies across all apps. You can update it anytime. The simplified single-default-style view is rolling out gradually — users who don't yet have it will see a category-based style picker instead.
Quick Style Switcher on the keyboard: A new style pill appears above the keyboard, letting you tap to temporarily switch your style for any conversation without leaving your app. The override resets to your default style 15 minutes after your last dictation, and each new dictation extends the timer. This feature is rolling out gradually and may not be visible to all users yet.
Note: Both features are available for users with English or British English language settings. If you use auto-detect, styles are available when your device language is set to English.
Open the Wispr Flow app on your iPhone.
Tap the Style tab in the bottom bar.
Choose the writing style you want as your default. This style applies across all apps.
Find the style pill next to the Start Flow button on the keyboard — it shows your currently active writing style.
Tap the style pill to open the style picker.
Select the style you want for this conversation. The picker shows four options: Formal, Casual, Very Casual, and Excited. Tapping a style immediately applies it — no save button needed.
Note: You cannot switch styles while dictation is actively in progress. Wait for transcription to complete first. If you have a word selected while the style picker is open, the "Add to Dictionary" button appears in place of the style picker — tap it to add the word, and the style picker returns automatically afterward.
The override is temporary and resets to your default style 15 minutes after your last dictation. Each new dictation extends the timer. Your style override persists even if you dismiss and reopen the keyboard, as long as it's within the 15-minute window.
Why do I have to swipe back to my app after tapping "Start Flow"?
iOS 26.4 changed how apps can switch between each other, which affected Flow's automatic return behavior. When this happens, you'll see a screen saying "Apple now requires this to activate the microphone" — swipe right to return to your app. Dictation works exactly the same once you're back.
Why is my writing style the same in every app now?
iOS 26.4 removed the ability for third-party keyboards to detect which app you're typing in. Set a default style in the Style tab and use the Quick Style Switcher on the keyboard to change it on the fly.
How long does the Quick Style Switcher override last?
The override resets to your default 15 minutes after your last dictation. Each new dictation extends the timer. Switch styles again at any time by tapping the style pill on the keyboard.
Does the Quick Style Switcher change my saved personalization styles?
No. Selecting a style from the Quick Style Switcher applies only as a temporary override for your current session. Your personalized writing styles for personal, work, email, and other categories remain untouched.
Are desktop and Android affected?
No. Mac, Windows, and Android are unaffected by this iOS change and work the same as before.
I don't see the style pill or the Style tab
Flow Styles require English or British English as your selected language. If you're using a different language, the Style tab and style pill won't appear. These features are also rolling out gradually, so make sure you're running the latest version of Wispr Flow from the App Store.
My writing style wasn't being applied correctly when using the style picker
When using the Quick Style Switcher, some styles weren't being applied as intended — for example, "Very Casual" wasn't being treated as a personal/messaging tone, and "Formal" wasn't being applied to email formatting. This has been fixed. Update Wispr Flow to the latest version from the App Store to get this fix.
Selecting a style on the keyboard changed my personalized styles for all categories
Selecting a style override from the keyboard (such as "Very Casual") could incorrectly overwrite your saved personalization styles for personal, work, email, and other categories. This has been fixed — choosing a style from the Quick Style Switcher now applies only as a temporary override and no longer affects your personalized writing styles. Update Wispr Flow to the latest version from the App Store to get this fix.
The alert to switch back to my default style after the override timer wasn't appearing
Some users were not seeing the alert that notifies you when a keyboard style override ends and your default style is restored. This was caused by a missing setting and has been fixed. Update Wispr Flow to the latest version from the App Store to get this fix.
Reach out to our support team if:
The swipe-back behavior is causing issues beyond what's described above
The Style tab or style pill doesn't appear after updating to the latest version
Your default style isn't applying as expected
Include your iPhone model and iOS version so we can help faster.