Captcha issues blocking login, downloads, or subscriptions

Last updated: June 5, 2026

Available on: Mac, Windows, iOS. Android sign-up and authentication are fully supported but don't include a captcha challenge.

If you're seeing "Captcha error, please try again," a captcha that won't load, or a captcha that appears checked but doesn't let you proceed — this guide will help you fix it. Most issues resolve in under 2 minutes after updating Flow.

Note: Captcha is only required when creating a new account, resetting your password, or resending a verification email — not when signing in to an existing account. If you're having trouble signing in to an existing account, the issue is not captcha-related.

Quick checks

  • Is Flow up to date? Several captcha bugs were fixed in recent versions — updating resolves most issues.

  • Are you being rate-limited? If you've attempted password reset, resend verification, or sign-up several times in a row, wait a while and try again.

  • Are you on a shared network or VPN? Sign-up, password reset, and resend verification are rate-limited, and VPN or shared network users may hit these limits sooner. If you do, wait a bit and try again.

  • Does captcha work in a browser? Try completing your action at wisprflow.ai. If captcha fails there too, the issue is network-related, not Flow-specific.

  • Is your network on your organization's allowlist? If your organization restricts access by IP, you may see a screen titled "Your network isn't allowed" instead of the sign-in form. Switch to an approved network or contact your admin, then click Retry.

How to fix this

Note: On Mac and Windows, Flow opens your web browser to complete sign-up, password reset, and verification. Captcha challenges appear in the browser, not in the Flow app. The browser sign-in session expires after 5 minutes — if you don't complete sign-in in time, return to Flow and click the sign-in button again.

Mac

  1. Quit Flow completely — click the Flow icon in the menu bar, then click Quit Flow.

  2. Reopen Flow.

  3. Update to the latest version when prompted. If you're not prompted, follow How to update to the latest version.

  4. Retry your original action (creating an account, resending a verification email, or resetting your password).

If captcha loads and you can complete your action, you're done. If not, see "If updating didn't help" below.

Windows

  1. Close Flow completely — right-click the Flow icon in the system tray and select Exit.

  2. Reopen Flow.

  3. Update to the latest version when prompted. If you're not prompted, follow How to update to the latest version.

  4. Retry your original action (creating an account, resending a verification email, or resetting your password).

If captcha loads and you can complete your action, you're done. If not, see "If updating didn't help" below.

iOS

On iOS, the captcha appears directly on the sign-up, forgot password, and resend verification screens. You must complete it before proceeding.

  1. Open the App Store and tap your profile icon in the top right.

  2. Update Wispr Flow if an update is available.

  3. Reopen Flow and retry your action.

If captcha loads and you can complete your action, you're done.

If the captcha can't load, you'll see an error screen with the message "Verification service unavailable. Please try again later." and a Go Back button. Tap Go Back to return to the main sign-in screen and use Google, Apple, Microsoft, or SSO instead — these don't require captcha. Google and Apple appear by default; tap More Options for Microsoft, SSO, or email sign-in.

Other error messages you may see:

  • "Unable to initialize verification": the captcha service failed to start.

  • "Verification cancelled": you closed the captcha before completing it.

  • "Verification challenge failed": the challenge couldn't be completed.

  • "Network error during verification": a network problem interrupted the challenge.

  • "Unable to display verification": the captcha view couldn't render.

For any of these, tap Go Back and use a different sign-in method, or check your network and try again.

Note: Android sign-up, forgot password, and email verification screens don't currently include a captcha challenge. If you're experiencing login or sign-up issues on Android, contact support — the issue is unrelated to captcha.

If updating didn't help (Mac and Windows)

If captcha still fails after updating Flow, the issue is likely in your web browser. Flow opens wisprflow.ai/login in your default browser for authentication.

  1. Clear your browser cache and cookies for wisprflow.ai.

  2. Disable browser extensions that block scripts, such as ad blockers and privacy extensions.

  3. Try a different browser.

  4. Retry sign-up or password reset.

If captcha completes and your action goes through, you're done.

Note: If the connection between Flow and your browser drops during sign-in, Flow automatically reconnects in the background. If the browser doesn't open at all when you click Sign in, click Sign in again to retry.

Common issues

Captcha appears checked but the button stays disabled (iOS)

This was caused by the captcha state not resetting when navigating between the sign-up, forgot password, and resend verification screens. Fixed in recent versions of the Wispr Flow iOS app.

  1. Update Wispr Flow from the App Store.

  2. Reopen the app and try again.

FAQs

Why am I seeing a captcha?

Captcha verification is required when creating a new account, resending a verification email, or resetting your password. This prevents spam and automated abuse.

Does Android require captcha?

No. Android sign-up and authentication screens don't currently include captcha verification.

Can I sign up with an all-numeric email address (e.g., 123456@domain.com)?

No. Email addresses where the part before the @ is entirely numbers are not accepted, and you'll see "Invalid email address." Use a standard email address instead.

Can I sign up with an email alias like name+tag@domain.com?

No. Email addresses containing a + are not accepted for sign-up, and you'll see "Email aliases (containing +) are not supported. Please use your original email address." Use your base email address (without the +tag) instead.

What if my organization uses SSO?

If your organization uses SSO, you must sign in through SSO. Google, Apple, or Microsoft sign-in will redirect you to an error page explaining that SSO is required for your domain. SSO enforcement only applies when the organization has an active subscription.

SSO-related error pages you may encounter:

  • SSO Sign In Required: your domain requires SSO.

  • Account Managed by Your Organization: your account is provisioned via directory sync — contact your IT admin.

  • SSO Requires Being A Part Of An Organization: your domain is not in any organization.

  • Your Organization Has Not Configured SSO: your admin needs to complete SSO setup.

  • You were not invited to this organization: membership issue — contact your IT admin.

Still stuck?

Reach out to our support team if:

  • You still see captcha errors after updating Flow and trying a different browser.

  • Captcha appears to work but the action doesn't complete.

  • Captcha fails on every browser and network you try.

Include your platform (Mac, Windows, or iOS), the action you were trying (sign up, password reset, or resend verification), and a screenshot of the captcha screen if possible. Most captcha issues are resolved in one reply.