How to install Wispr Flow on Mac

Last updated: July 14, 2026

Available on: Mac

Install Wispr Flow on your Mac in under a minute. This guide walks you through downloading the app, moving it to Applications, and resolving the most common install errors.

Quick checks

  • Is your Mac on macOS 12.0 or later? Click the Apple menu → About This Mac. Wispr Flow requires macOS 12.0 (Monterey) or later.

  • Is your Mac Apple Silicon or Intel? Click the Apple menu → About This Mac and check the Chip or Processor line. There are separate downloads for each — using the wrong one will cause the app to quit on launch.

How to install

  1. Download Wispr Flow from wisprflow.ai. Select the Apple Silicon or Intel version that matches your Mac.

  2. Open the downloaded .dmg file. An installer window appears showing the Wispr Flow icon and an Applications folder shortcut.

  3. Drag the Wispr Flow icon onto the Applications folder in the installer window.

  4. Close the installer window.

  5. Open Wispr Flow from your Applications folder, or press ⌘ + Space and type "Wispr Flow" to launch it from Spotlight. The Wispr Flow icon appears in your menu bar at the top of the screen.

  6. Grant permissions when prompted during onboarding. Each permission card appears in sequence — grant one to reveal the next. Clicking Allow opens the native macOS permission prompt; if the permission was previously denied, clicking Allow opens the relevant System Settings pane instead. Flow will ask for microphone access, and — if you are setting up Flow as a meeting notetaker — system audio access as well.

Warning: Always launch Wispr Flow from your Applications folder, Launchpad, or Spotlight. Launching from anywhere else (the still-open installer window, Downloads, or Desktop) triggers a "Flow needs to be in the Applications folder to run" error. If you see this error, dismiss it, drag Wispr Flow into Applications, and launch from there.

Note: Valid install locations on macOS are /Applications, ~/Applications (a user-level Applications folder), and /System/Applications.

Note: On macOS 14.0–14.3, system audio capture is not supported by Apple. The system audio permission card appears during notetaker onboarding but cannot be granted — you can still continue and use dictation without it. To use system audio capture (required for meeting notetaker transcription of other participants), update to macOS 14.4 or later. On macOS 13 or earlier, screen recording permission is used instead, and Flow will show a Restart button after you grant it.

Tip: Wispr Flow lives in the menu bar. By default, a Dock icon also appears whenever the Hub window is open — this is controlled by the Show in Dock toggle under Settings → System → App Settings. Turn it OFF for a menu-bar-only experience. Even with Show in Dock off and the Hub closed, the Dock icon still appears if the floating Scratchpad window is open.

FAQs

Can I install Wispr Flow somewhere other than the Applications folder?

Wispr Flow must be installed in a valid Applications location: /Applications, ~/Applications (user-level), or /System/Applications.

How do I eject the installer after installing?

Right-click the Wispr Flow disk icon on your desktop (or in Finder's sidebar) and select Eject. You can also delete the .dmg file from your Downloads folder to free up space.

Can I hide the Dock icon?

Yes. Turn off Show in Dock under Settings → System → App Settings. The Dock icon will disappear whenever you close the Hub. Note that the Dock icon still appears if the floating Scratchpad window is open.

I see an "Incorrect App Version" error about running the Intel version on Apple Silicon

You installed the Intel build on an Apple Silicon Mac. After you dismiss the dialog, the app quits. Download the Apple Silicon version from wisprflow.ai, delete the Intel version from your Applications folder, then install the correct one.

I see an "Unsupported MacOS Version" error

Wispr Flow requires macOS 12.0 or later. Go to System Settings → General → Software Update to update your Mac, then try installing again.

I'm setting up Flow as a meeting notetaker but can't grant the system audio permission

On macOS 14.0–14.3, system audio capture is not supported by Apple, so the permission card appears but cannot be granted — you can still complete setup and use dictation without it. To use system audio capture, update to macOS 14.4 or later. On macOS 13 or earlier, screen recording permission is used instead, and Flow will show a Restart button after you grant it.

Limitations and notes

  • Wispr Flow requires macOS 12.0 (Monterey) or later.

  • Apple Silicon and Intel Macs use separate downloads — the Intel build will not run on Apple Silicon.

  • Wispr Flow must be installed in your Applications folder.

  • Wispr Flow lives in the menu bar and launches automatically at login on first install. Launch-at-login can be turned off in Settings.

  • System audio capture (used by the meeting notetaker to transcribe other participants) requires macOS 14.4 or later. On macOS 14.0–14.3, the permission cannot be granted; you can still complete setup and use dictation. On macOS 13 or earlier, screen recording permission is used, and Flow prompts a restart after you grant it.

Still stuck?

Reach out to our support team if:

  • The installer fails or the .dmg won't open after re-downloading.

  • Wispr Flow launches but the menu bar icon never appears.

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

Include your macOS version, whether your Mac is Apple Silicon or Intel, and the exact text of any error you saw. Most install issues are resolved in one reply.