Starting your first dictation

Mac and Windows

1. Click into any text field (Slack, Google Docs, Notion) so you see a flashing cursor.

2. Press and hold the default hotkey — Fn on Mac, Ctrl + Win on Windows. Start speaking when you hear a ping or see the white bars moving.

3. Speak naturally at a steady pace. Flow listens while you hold the hotkey.

4. Release the hotkey. If your formatted text appears in the field, your first dictation is complete.

iOS

1. Open the Wispr Flow app, sign in if prompted, and complete the onboarding tutorial — you'll practice dictating during guided setup.

2. Tap into any note, document, or text field so you see the cursor.

3. Tap the microphone button, then tap Allow if prompted for microphone access.

4. Speak at a steady pace.

5. Tap the check button. Your formatted text appears in the text field.

Android

The Flow Bubble is a floating overlay that appears over all apps when you tap into a text field.

1. Open the Wispr Flow app and complete onboarding, granting microphone, accessibility service, and display over other apps permissions when prompted.

2. Tap into any text field in any app. The Flow Bubble appears on the edge of your screen.

3. Start dictating using one of two modes:

   1. Tap-to-Dictate: Tap the bubble once, speak, then tap the checkmark.

   2. Hold-to-Dictate: Press and hold the bubble, speak, and release when done. A cancel option appears after a few seconds.

4. Wait briefly while Flow transcribes and inserts your text. If insertion fails, tap Paste on the bubble to paste from the clipboard.

How do I use hands-free dictation?

Press Fn + Space (Mac) or Ctrl + Win + Space (Windows) to start, speak without holding any key, then press the same shortcut again to stop and paste.

Can I use a mouse button instead of the keyboard hotkey?

Yes, on Mac and Windows. In Settings → General → Shortcuts, assign Middle Click, Mouse 4–10, or Aux Button, optionally combined with a keyboard key (e.g., Ctrl + Mouse 4). Left and right click cannot be used.

How many shortcuts can I assign per action?

Up to 4 shortcuts per action, each up to 3 keys (keyboard keys and/or mouse buttons). Cancel/Dismiss allows one shortcut only. Optional actions (Open Scratchpad, Note, Paste Last Text) start unset and their last binding can be removed entirely.

Can I start dictation from the Flow Bar?

Yes, on desktop. Click the Flow Bar in the center of your screen, wait for the ping or moving white bars, then speak. When you stop, Flow pastes your text into the active text field. If the Flow Bar isn't visible on a new installation, enable it in Settings.

Will my text always go into the right field?

Flow tracks which text field you clicked into when you started dictating and inserts your text there in supported apps.

Can I dictate with the iPhone Action Button?

Assign the built-in "Quick Dictation to Clipboard" shortcut in Settings → Action Button to dictate without opening an app first. Dictating outside a text field copies your transcript to the clipboard — open any app and paste. A "Quick Dictation to Notes" shortcut in the Shortcuts app saves your dictation to Flow Notes instead.

Why do I see a "Flow was processing your last transcript" message?

Your previous dictation — or a retry triggered from history — is still processing, and Flow won't start a new session until it finishes. Dismiss the notification, then press your shortcut again. Cancel only dismisses the notification; to cancel the in-progress transcription, follow the shortcut prompt in the notification body.

What are Smart Formatting and Backtrack?

Smart Formatting formats your dictation automatically — say "first, second" for a numbered list, or "new line" for a paragraph break.

Backtrack lets you change your mind mid-sentence and Flow adjusts what you just said.

Is there a time limit for dictation?

Mac and Windows: 20 minutes per session, with a warning under a minute before the end. At the limit, Flow ends the session with a "Transcription session ended" notification and a Recover text button. iOS: 5 minutes. Android: long sessions may end automatically.

Where do my past dictations go?

Past transcripts appear in Recent activity. Cancelled desktop sessions are saved there as audio only when they ran long enough; very short cancellations are discarded, and Enterprise accounts configured not to store dictation history save nothing.

What error messages might I see during iOS onboarding?

During the "try it yourself" steps, a message appears at the top of the screen if a dictation attempt doesn't succeed:

• "Oops, we didn't hear you. Get closer to your mic and try again!" Move closer to your microphone and retry.

• "Poor connection! Tap the mic to try again" Check your internet connection, then tap the microphone button.

• "Your mic is being used by another app. Close other apps and try again!" Close apps that may be using audio, then retry.

• "Enable microphone access to use Flow" Go to your iPhone's Settings, find Wispr Flow, and enable Microphone access.

• "Oops, something went wrong. Tap the mic to try again!" Tap the microphone button to retry.

What in-keyboard error messages might I see on iOS?

If a transcription attempt fails from the Flow keyboard, a modal appears with a Retry button. Possible messages:

• Audio Engine Error: "Audio engine failed to start, Please try again!"

• Transcription Error: An error occurred during transcription.

• Network Error: "Please check your network connection and try again."

• Microphone Error: "Please check if the microphone is being used by another application."

• Processing Error: "Unknown error. Please try again."

• Microphone Access Denied: Flow does not have permission to use your microphone.

If recording fails to start entirely, a full-screen audio-failure view appears with Dismiss and Retry buttons. The keyboard can also show a service-disruption banner mirrored from the main app. Tapping a Flow push notification can copy or retry a specific transcript before opening the app.

What happens if I reach my free-plan word limit on iOS?

The free iOS plan allows 1,000 words per week, with a 1,500-word hard cap enforced in two stages: a soft limit that re-prompts as usage grows, then a hard cap that blocks transcription. A modal may appear instead of transcription:

• Flow Pro Trial Ended: "You're now limited to 1000 words per week" — with an upgrade CTA.

• No Words Left: You've used your weekly allowance — with an upgrade CTA. Students see a "Claim Your Student Plan" option.

iOS users may also see a one-time 'trial granted' modal and a one-time 'bonus words' modal.

What microphone error notifications might I see on Mac or Windows?

If Flow can't access your microphone when you start a session, it dismisses the session and shows one of these:

• Microphone Permission Required (Mac): Tap Grant Permission.

• Microphone access is disabled (Windows): Access is off in Windows privacy settings. Tap Open Settings.

• No microphone detected: Tap Open Sound Settings to connect one or verify an input device is selected.

• Selected microphone is unavailable: The microphone pinned in Flow is no longer connected. Tap Choose Microphone.

• Microphone unavailable: Another app may be holding the mic, or the audio driver needs a reset. Try dictating again, or tap Troubleshoot.

• Microphone error: Tap Troubleshoot.

If your microphone stops picking up audio mid-session:

• No audio received (first occurrence): Has a Contact us button.

• Microphone is not working (escalated): Shown if the problem recurs, with Select microphone and Contact us buttons.

• Microphone disconnected: Shown if your microphone disconnects mid-session, with an Insert button.