Using Wispr Flow Discreetly: Microphone Guide

Desktop (Mac & Windows)

Onboarding guides you toward a mic setup that supports quiet dictation.

• Work environment question: Flow asks whether you work in "Mostly private, quiet spaces," a "Mix of private and public spaces," or "Mostly working around others," then tailors setup advice.

• Microphone Quiz: A 5-step modal reachable from a Hub banner covers your work environment, whisper education, whether you always work at the same desk, which equipment you already own (Wired Headphones, Bluetooth Earbuds, Headset with Mic, Wireless Lav Mic, Podcast Mic, Gooseneck Mic), and personalized recommendations. The desk-vs-portable answer decides whether Flow recommends desk mics (podcast/gooseneck) or portable ones (clip-on lav, headset with boom mic).

• Quiz results: Recommendation cards are badged "Best option," "What you have," "Runner up," or "Another option"; if you already own a suitable mic, Flow says so instead of suggesting a purchase. A "Less ideal" card warns that some Bluetooth earbuds and wired mics can cause performance issues. You can have the results emailed to you.

iOS

iOS offers several ways to dictate discreetly.

• In-app dictation: Tap the microphone button in the Scratch Pad editor to dictate at your cursor. The checkmark finishes the session; the X cancels it, including while a transcription is still processing.

• Lock screen widget: Opens a new Scratch Pad entry with dictation ready, without unlocking to the home screen.

• Siri shortcuts: "Dictate a Flow note" dictates to a new note, "Quick dictation to clipboard" dictates straight to the clipboard, "Toggle Flow on/off" starts and stops recording, and "Open Flow notes" opens your notes.

Android

Flow works as a floating bubble above the on-screen keyboard whenever you focus a text field. Whisper into the bubble using the same mic-distance principles as on desktop and iOS.

• Flow Bubble: Tap once to start a hands-free session and tap the checkmark to finish, or hold to push-to-talk and release to finish; a cancel option appears after about 3 seconds during a hold. Text is inserted at the cursor.

• Where it works: Messaging apps (WhatsApp, Messages, Gmail), notification reply boxes, and browser address bars. The bubble does not appear in password, PIN, numeric, or phone-number fields, or in known banking and finance apps; some regional or less common banking apps may not be hidden automatically.

• Copy button: After a successful dictation, a Copy button appears briefly on the inner side of whichever edge the bubble is docked to, so you can recopy the text. Tapping it with nothing captured shows a "Nothing to copy" toast.

• Bubble docking: The bubble can sit on the left or right edge of the screen.

• Snooze and shake-to-restore: Drag the bubble to the snooze target at the bottom of the screen to hide it for 10 minutes; shake the phone to bring it back early.

• Bubble customization: A Size setting offers four steps (0.7×, 0.85×, 1.0× default, 1.15×) with a live preview and Reset button, plus shrink-when-idle and shrink-in-search-fields toggles for a more discreet bubble.

• Session length: Dictation is capped at 5 minutes, with a "1 minute left" toast beforehand and a "Session ended, 5-minute limit reached" toast and notification at the cap.

• Offline behavior: The bubble greys out when offline; tapping it shows "No internet. Try again later."

• Recovery prompts: If Accessibility permission is revoked or the service stops responding, Flow shows "Flow Bubble disconnected. Tap to re-grant accessibility." or "Flow isn't responding. Tap to restart." with Repair accessibility / Restart Flow actions and matching system notifications, then confirms "Flow Bubble reconnected."

• In-app education: Cards cover "Start dictating!", "Snooze the Bubble," and "Resize the Bubble."

• Permissions: Setup requires "Display over other apps" (overlay) then Accessibility. A legal consent dialog precedes the Accessibility grant, stating Flow does not insert into password or credit-card fields and does not appear in banking apps or password managers.

• External mic support: Flow works with any microphone your phone recognizes — wired headsets, USB mics, and Bluetooth devices. Connect a wired lavalier or boom headset and Android routes audio through it automatically.

• Not yet on Android: There is no hands-free voice trigger (tap the bubble to begin) and no Scratch Pad; Flow dictates into existing text fields.

Clip-on lav mics — best for on the go

Clip-on lav mics attach to your collar and stay close to your mouth wherever you are — coffee shops, travel, or moving between rooms.

DJI Mic Mini - Best option

• Tiny, lightweight wireless lav with magnetic and clip-on mounts

• All-day battery and excellent whisper capture for the size

• Great for travel and quick dictation on the move

Rode Wireless GO (Gen 3) - Runner up

• Compact wireless clip-on lav with 32-bit float recording and GainAssist for consistently clean audio

• Clips to your shirt or pairs with an external lav capsule

• Series IV 2.4GHz digital transmission with a solid signal up to 260m

BOYA Mini 2 - Budget-friendly option

• Pocket-sized, clips to clothing

• Works anywhere: desk, coffee shop, travel

• Excellent whisper capture

Attachable boom mics — upgrade your headphones

An attachable boom mic clips or magnets onto headphones you already own, positioning a microphone right next to your mouth. This is the setup recommended during onboarding for dictating in shared office spaces.

Antlion ModMic Uni 2+ - Best option

• Attaches magnetically to any headphones - universal compatibility

• Uni-directional noise-canceling capsule keeps your voice clear and background noise out

• 3.5mm connection works with virtually any device

Antlion ModMic USB 2 - Runner up

• Same magnetic attachment system as the Uni 2+

• USB digital connection for a cleaner signal path - great if you have a USB port free

• Professional-grade cardioid pickup pattern

Antlion ModMic Wireless - Premium option

• Fully wireless with low-latency audio - no cable clutter

• 12+ hour battery, charges while in use

• Broadcast-quality audio; switch between uni-directional and omnidirectional modes

Podcast mics — best desk audio quality

Podcast-style condenser mics deliver the highest audio quality for a fixed desk setup. They sit on a stand or boom arm next to your face and pick up whispered speech with exceptional clarity.

Shure MV7+ - Best option

• Professional-grade quality

• Built to last

• Superior close-range capture

Elgato Wave:3 - Runner up

• Premium USB condenser mic with plug-and-play setup - no audio interface needed

• Built-in Clipguard technology prevents distortion, even if you suddenly raise your voice

• Comes with a desk stand; also mounts on standard mic arms

• Middle ground between the Shure's pro quality and a lower price point

Gooseneck mics — hands-free desk setup

Gooseneck mics stand on your desk and stay positioned — ideal for a stationary workspace where you want consistent, hands-free whisper capture without a boom arm or stand taking up space.

Boya BY-GM18 Gooseneck - Best option

• Mounts to your desk and stays positioned

• Perfect for whispering at a fixed workspace

• Affordable with excellent audio quality

Movo GM-7 USB Gooseneck - Another option

• Plug-and-play USB gooseneck - no audio interface needed

• Flexible arm bends to keep the capsule inches from your mouth

• Budget-friendly option for a dedicated whisper-dictation desk setup

I already have a mic — will it work?

Any microphone that sits close to your mouth works well with Flow. If it picks up your whisper clearly from within a few inches, you're set.

Can I use my laptop's built-in mic for whispering?

Yes, but you'll need to lean in close. For true whisper-level dictation, an external mic near your mouth works much better.

Can I dictate with my Mac lid closed?

Yes, with an external microphone selected. See "Desktop (Mac & Windows)" under Key behaviors.

What about AirPods?

AirPods aren't recommended for dictation — see "Why earbuds and AirPods fall short" above.

What if I already have headphones I like?

Keep them. An attachable boom mic like the Antlion ModMic adds a high-quality microphone next to your mouth — see "Attachable boom mics" above.

Flow isn't appearing under Microphone in iOS Settings — how do I fix this?

Apps appear under iOS Microphone settings only after requesting microphone access once. Start a dictation session in Flow and respond to the permission prompt; Wispr Flow will then appear there.

How do I dictate a Scratch Pad entry discreetly on iOS without opening the app?

Say "Hey Siri, Dictate a Flow note," or tap the lock screen widget. See "iOS" under Key behaviors for all options.

How do I use Flow discreetly on Android?

Tap into any text field so your keyboard appears, then use the Flow Bubble. For best results, use a wired headset or clip-on lav mic. See "Android" under Key behaviors.