Android system requirements
Last updated: October 9, 2026
Available on: Android
Before installing Wispr Flow, check your device’s Android version, storage, and permissions. Meeting the Android version requirement alone does not guarantee Google Play availability.
Minimum requirements
Requirement | What to check |
Android version | Android 13 or later on every manufacturer, with no maximum supported Android version. |
Internet | A working connection is required; offline transcription is unavailable. |
Memory | 6 GB RAM or more recommended. |
Microphone | A working microphone. |
Accelerometer | Required for Google Play installation and shake gesture support. |
Storage | Approximately 500 MB available for installation, with free space for recordings. |
Devices with less memory may run more slowly or less reliably.
Recording storage
Recordings use about 1.9 MB per minute. Flow uses internal app storage and falls back to external app storage if it is full or unwritable.
When storage runs out, recording cannot start or stops.
Warning: At the transcription-history limit, Flow deletes the oldest saved recordings and history entries. Switching accounts deletes all saved history and audio, so recordings saved for retry are not guaranteed to remain available.
Microphone selection and lost access
Android selects the input; Flow has no in-app microphone picker. If microphone access is revoked later, the bubble stays available so you can allow access again.
Outside setup, “We can't hear you” means microphone access is missing.
Tap Go to Settings to open Flow’s app settings.
Allow microphone access.
Try dictating again to check that recording starts.
Supported device types
Flow supports Android smartphones, including Samsung One UI devices. Manufacturer-specific setup guidance covers Samsung, Google Pixel, OnePlus, Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO, OPPO, TECNO/Infinix/itel, Motorola/Lenovo, Vivo, Realme, and Huawei/Honor. Other manufacturers receive generic guidance; this is not an exclusive compatibility list.
Tablets and foldables may work but are not officially optimized. Chromebooks and Android Go devices are not officially supported. These compatibility boundaries follow the supported devices and system requirements guide.
On a work phone, your organization’s policies may prevent installation, accessibility services, or the required permissions. Contact your IT administrator if a setting is unavailable or locked.
Check your device
Open Android Settings → About phone or About tablet.
Look under Software information and confirm that the Android version is 13 or higher. Setting names vary by device.
Open Settings → Storage and check the available space.
For installation steps, see Install Wispr Flow on Android.
Permissions Flow needs
Microphone: Setup requests access during “Try it yourself” to record your voice. After repeated denials, follow “For Wispr Flow to work, Open Settings to enable mic”.
Display over other apps: Required to show the bubble; this setup step cannot be skipped.
Accessibility: Required to insert dictated text; this step cannot be skipped. Keep the main Wispr Flow service on and the “Wispr Flow shortcut” toggle off.
On the Accessibility step, Open settings first opens “Accessibility Permissions Required”. Agree proceeds to settings; Not now returns to setup. Setup advances after the required access is granted and the shortcut is off.
Accessibility disclosure and privacy
The disclosure lists access to on-screen text, text-field layout, app/website names and URLs, limited text-box contents, and input-field types. You can turn Accessibility access off in Settings.
It also states that Flow does not insert into password or credit-card fields or appear in password managers. Banking-app and field exclusions are explained below.
After Accessibility, setup requires a data-sharing choice: Improve the model for everyone collects audio, transcripts, and edits to improve Wispr’s models; Don't share data prevents Wispr and third parties from using dictation data for model training, except dictations you choose to report to Wispr. Organization policies can lock the choice to Don't share data.
A battery optimization exemption is recommended on every manufacturer, including Pixel, to keep Flow running in the background, but you can Skip it during setup. Pixel needs no additional manufacturer setup beyond Settings → Apps → Wispr Flow → Battery → Unrestricted.
Other manufacturers’ settings may still close Flow. Xiaomi, Redmi, and POCO need Autostart, Battery saver → No restrictions, and Flow locked in Recent Apps. Follow Android permission and battery setup for your device’s steps.
Notifications are the last permission requested and are optional: choose Allow notifications or Skip. Already-granted permission skips this prompt. It only lets Flow show its own status alerts—not read other apps’ notifications.
Compatibility versus a temporary problem
Flow is installed but the bubble is missing
Setup completion is tracked per signed-in account, and the bubble stays hidden while setup is open.
Finish setup for your current account.
Tap a regular text field to open the keyboard and check for the bubble.
For privacy, Flow hides the bubble and excludes text reading in selected banking and financial apps; not every such app is covered. Password, numeric, and phone-number fields are excluded, except system notification replies and supported browser address bars.
A missing permission, stopped Accessibility service, snooze, or battery restriction can also hide or interrupt the bubble. Snooze ends automatically after 10 minutes; shake your phone or tap End snooze now on the “Flow is snoozed” card to end it early.
If Android stopped Flow in the background, reopen Flow to restart it. On Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO, Huawei/Honor, and TECNO/Infinix/itel, re-enable Autostart before restoring Accessibility access. If the bubble still does not appear in a regular text field, use Flow Bubble troubleshooting.
A connection drops during dictation
If the connection drops during dictation, Flow may save captured audio for retry in History. Retry requires that recorded audio file to still exist. Fully offline, it cannot start a new dictation.
Reconnect to the internet.
Open History and use Retry if available.
A successful retry adds the transcript to the History entry. “Retry failed. Audio file not found.” or “Retry failed. Audio file missing.” means that recording is no longer available.
If Flow shows Update Required, select Update Now and install the update from Google Play before continuing. This screen cannot be skipped.
Still need help?
Contact support if Google Play says Flow is unavailable or a compatible device cannot install or launch it. Include your device model, Android version, Flow version, exact message, and what you tried. In-app reports attach the device and version details automatically; add the message and steps you tried.