Android System Requirements

Last updated: August 23, 2026

Available on: Android

Not sure if Wispr Flow will run on your Android phone, tablet, foldable, or Chromebook? You need Android 13 or later, an internet connection, and a few permissions. Confirm compatibility in under a minute.

Minimum requirements

  • Android 13 or later: Earlier versions are not supported; Android 16 is fully supported.

  • Internet connection: Offline transcription is not available.

  • Free storage: If storage runs out during dictation, recording stops until you free up space.

  • Permissions: Setup walks you through the overlay permission (draw over other apps) and the accessibility service; microphone and notification permissions use standard Android prompts. Exempting Flow from battery optimization is optional.

  • Accelerometer sensor: Several quick shakes in a row (not a single bump) bring the Flow Bubble back while snoozed. Without an accelerometer, tap "End snooze now" on the Snoozed card on the Wispr Flow home screen.

Device compatibility

  • Smartphones: Most smartphones on Android 13 or later, including Samsung, Google Pixel, OnePlus, Xiaomi, OPPO, TECNO, Infinix, and itel. More RAM generally performs better.

  • Tablets: Supported on Android 13 or later; the Flow Bubble adapts to larger screens.

  • Foldables: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip series are supported.

  • Chromebooks: Supported if they run Android apps and Android 13 or later. Performance varies by model.

  • TalkBack: The reconnecting bubble announces "Flow Bubble is reconnecting…", and repair-state announcements are queued so they don't interrupt text-field focus announcements.

How to check your device

  1. Open the Settings app on your Android device.

  2. Tap About phone (or About tablet) → Software information, and confirm the Android version is 13 or higher.

  3. Return to Settings → Storage and confirm you have free space for the app and recordings.

Tip: If your device meets all requirements, install Wispr Flow from the Google Play Store.

Device-specific setup

Accessibility setup wording varies by device: Samsung shows an "Installed apps" list, Vivo and Motorola show "Wispr Flow" directly, and Xiaomi adds a "Tap OK" step. An in-app overlay guides you through enabling the service. Before Flow opens Accessibility Settings, a legal notice explains how the permission is used — tap Agree to continue or Not now to return to the previous step.

Realme, OPPO, Vivo, Huawei (including Honor), OnePlus, Transsion (TECNO, Infinix, itel), or Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO

Tapping Allow during setup opens your device's battery settings, and Flow opens the correct screen to grant the exemption, then returns you to finish setup. Honor devices follow the Huawei flow.

Note: If the automatic redirect isn't active on your device, tapping Allow still opens battery settings — complete the follow-up step manually.

Xiaomi, Redmi, or POCO — additional autostart step

These devices need two permissions to keep Flow running in the background. Setup guides you through both:

  1. Enable Autostart for Wispr Flow in the Background autostart manager.

  2. Select No restrictions on the Battery details screen so the battery manager doesn't stop the app.

Flow then returns you to finish setup. If you skipped the second step, grant it under Settings → Apps → Wispr Flow → Battery → No restrictions.

Motorola or Lenovo

These devices use standard inline Android permission dialogs — tap Allow in each prompt. There is no automatic redirect to battery settings.

Recovery notifications and the warning bubble

What the recovery notifications mean

"Wispr Flow needs attention" means accessibility permission was revoked; tapping it opens the in-app permission screen. "Flow isn't responding" means the accessibility service is unresponsive; tapping it opens the app so you can restart Flow, and accessibility permission stays granted.

With notifications turned off, Flow shows a toast instead. When the connection recovers, Flow confirms with a "Flow Bubble reconnected." toast.

Warning bubble states

A warning triangle means permission was revoked — tap to open the permission screen. A retry icon means Flow isn't responding — tap to restart. A pulsing spinner means Flow is reconnecting; it resolves automatically or escalates to the retry icon. Error states auto-dismiss after a period of inactivity.

When the bubble doesn't appear

The Flow Bubble appears only after the signed-in account finishes onboarding; signing in with a different, non-onboarded account suppresses it until that account completes onboarding.

Inside the Wispr Flow app, the bubble is hidden by default and appears only on screens with dictatable fields, such as the feedback/report screen and the Edit Profile dialog. It also requires the overlay permission — if that's revoked, the bubble cannot be shown.

Why tapping the bubble sometimes does nothing

While the bubble is recording, processing, or showing an error/repair state, tapping its body only lets you drag it. The action buttons (cancel, stop, paste, retry, repair) still respond.

FAQs

My device has Android 12. Can I still use Wispr Flow?

No. Wispr Flow requires Android 13 or later. Check for a system update under Settings → System → Software update.

Is Flow compatible with Samsung One UI?

Yes. Samsung devices running One UI based on Android 13 or later are fully compatible, and the Flow Bubble is optimized for One UI.

Will Flow work on my work phone with MDM?

It depends on your organization's MDM policies; some restrict accessibility services or app installations. Contact your IT administrator if you cannot enable the required permissions.

Does Wispr Flow work on Android Go devices?

Android Go devices are not officially supported. Their limited RAM may cause reduced performance or instability.

What happens if I lose internet connection during a recording?

Flow retries automatically. If transcription still fails, you'll see "Failed to transcribe. Saved in the app." with a Retry button, and you can retry the saved transcript later from the history screen.

On a slow or dropping connection, Flow shows "Taking longer than usual. Your audio is saved in the app." If you are fully offline, tapping or long-pressing the bubble won't start a dictation — an offline toast appears and the bubble is greyed out.

What happens if Flow is shut down in the background?

Flow runs as an Android accessibility service. If it's shut down by a crash or your device's memory manager, the Flow Bubble restarts the next time you open Wispr Flow and tap into a text box.

On most devices Flow starts automatically after boot and after app updates, provided the accessibility service is enabled. On OEMs offering "dual-app" or app clones, this may fail silently, and devices with aggressive battery managers (Xiaomi, Vivo, OPPO, Samsung, Huawei, OnePlus, Transsion brands) may not auto-start — open Wispr Flow to restore the bubble. If accessibility was off at boot, a "Wispr Flow needs attention" notification prompts you to re-enable it.

If overlay or accessibility permission was revoked, the home screen shows an error card; tap it to open Android Settings and re-grant. Flow returns to the foreground automatically only after the overlay permission is granted. After re-granting accessibility, Flow reconnects and cancels the recovery notification, but you must switch back to Flow manually.

I switched microphones mid-recording on Android 16. Will that affect my dictation?

On Android 16, Flow detects a microphone change (such as switching to LE Audio hearing aids) and continues the session. For best results, finish the current dictation and start a new one after settling on a microphone.

What happens if Flow cannot paste text into a field?

Flow saves the text to your clipboard so it isn't lost, and the bubble shows a Paste button to insert it manually.

How can I temporarily hide the Flow Bubble?

Drag it to the snooze circle at the bottom of the screen to hide it for 10 minutes; a toast confirms "Wispr Flow is snoozed for 10 min. Shake your phone to bring it back." Shake your phone to end snooze early, or tap "End snooze now" on the Snoozed card on the home screen. Snooze is unavailable while the warning bubble is shown.

Can I change the size or opacity of the Flow Bubble?

Yes. Flow Bubble Size offers 4 sizes (0.7x, 0.85x default, 1.0x, 1.15x) with a live preview and Reset option, and Flow Bubble Opacity offers 5 steps from 20% to 100% (default 80%). You can also enable auto-shrink when not in use, shrink to a dot, and shrink in search fields.

What if my device silently revokes Flow's permissions?

Flow attempts to recover automatically. If recovery fails, a "Wispr Flow needs attention" notification appears — tap it to re-enable the accessibility service.

Limitations and notes

  • Each dictation session lasts a maximum of 5 minutes. With 1 minute left, a toast reads "1 minute left before you reach the 5-minute limit." At the limit, Flow shows "Session ended, 5-minute limit reached" and a "Session ended" notification reading "Flow supports up to 5 minutes per session."

  • Devices with limited RAM may run slower or less stably.

  • Manufacturer customizations may affect accessibility features. The guided battery optimization flow is available on Realme, OPPO, Vivo, Huawei (including Honor), OnePlus, Transsion (TECNO, Infinix, itel), and Xiaomi/Redmi/POCO; other devices, including Samsung, Motorola, and Lenovo, use standard inline dialogs.

  • Dictation sound effects are not user-configurable.

  • The Flow Bubble is hidden in banking and financial apps for security.

  • The warning bubble cannot be dismissed or snoozed. It appears whenever you focus a text field with the keyboard open; dismissing the keyboard hides it until the next text field focus, and the "Wispr Flow needs attention" notification remains until accessibility is restored.

  • Android uses automatic language detection only — there is no language selection UI.

  • Dictionary, Snippets, and Writing Styles are not yet available on Android.

  • Subscriptions cannot be purchased in the Android app — manage your plan on the web.

  • Transcripts are stored locally on each device and do not sync across devices.

  • If your installed version falls below the minimum supported version, Flow blocks usage until you update from the Google Play Store.

Still stuck?

Reach out to our support team if:

  • Your device meets all requirements but Flow won't install or launch.

  • Permissions keep getting revoked even after you re-grant them.

  • You see an error message not covered in this guide.

Include your device model, Android version, and Wispr Flow app version. Most setup issues are resolved in one reply.