How to use Command Mode

Last updated: October 3, 2026

Available on: Mac, Windows. On iOS, spoken Command Mode phrases can open a web search; in-place text editing is not currently working.

Command Mode lets you edit text, draft a reply, or search by voice. On desktop, hold a shortcut, speak an instruction, then release to run it.

Run a command

Command Mode is off by default. Access includes active or past-due personal subscriptions, unexpired trials, and enterprise subscriptions that are active, trialing, or past due.

Setup

Default shortcut

Mac

Fn + Ctrl

Mac without an Apple Fn key, set during onboarding

Cmd + Ctrl + Option

Windows

Ctrl + Win + Alt

Note: Command Mode sends your current text box contents and selected text with your instruction. If Flow cannot read a selection directly, it tries copying it.

  1. Turn on Command Mode in Settings → Experimental.

  2. Focus an editable text box for text commands.

  3. Hold your Command Mode shortcut.

  4. Speak your instruction naturally; no “Hey Flow” prefix or fixed “ask/search/hey” phrasing is required.

  5. Release the shortcut to run the instruction.

Edited or drafted text is pasted as returned, without normal dictation formatting. Desktop searches open Perplexity with selected text appended to your query; app-building commands open the result in your browser.

On desktop, saying “Hey Flow” or “ask perplexity” during ordinary dictation does not start Command Mode. Spoken trigger phrases are English-only; hotkey activation works in any dictation language.

Press ESC or Backspace to cancel. ESC is the default Cancel shortcut; a custom Cancel binding replaces ESC and works even while other keys are held. A notification confirms cancellation. Releasing before Flow starts listening cancels instead of running the command.

Tip: Double-press within 500 ms to lock Command Mode hands-free; use the stop button when finished. A third press within that window dismisses. During onboarding, locking is available only on steps that support hands-free.

Recording warns at 19 minutes and stops at 20 minutes. Switching to a non-Flow system shortcut within the first second, while not hands-free, cancels the session and shows a notification.

Turn Command Mode off in Settings → Experimental or choose Disable in the one-time “Using Command Mode (beta)” notice. Later activations show “Using Command Mode” instead.

Customize your shortcut

  1. Open Settings → Shortcuts → Command Mode.

  2. Click the existing shortcut to record a replacement.

  3. Press and release your chosen keys to save.

All shortcuts allow up to 3 keys. Each action allows up to 4 bindings except Cancel, which allows one; Add another disappears at four. Command Mode’s last binding cannot be removed.

Valid shortcuts and recording controls

Command Mode shortcuts need a modifier or supported mouse button; Fn works as a modifier on Mac only.

  • Mouse: Middle Click, Mouse 4–10, and Aux Button on supported mice work alone. Combining a modifier with a mouse button, such as Ctrl + Mouse 4, saves immediately on click.

  • Keyboard: Combine function keys F1–F20 (Mac) or F1–F24 (Windows), arrows, punctuation, or Windows numpad keys with a modifier or mouse button; reserved combinations remain blocked.

  • Standalone exceptions: Escape works alone only for Cancel; Caps Lock works alone only for Push-to-talk and Hands-free, not Command Mode.

While recording a Command Mode shortcut, Escape, left-click, right-click, or the Cancel (X) button cancels without changing the saved binding—even when clicking outside the field. For a combination containing Escape, press the modifier first. Remove (trash) deletes a binding when removal is allowed.

Shortcut validation errors

Choose another combination when Flow shows an error:

  • “This shortcut is not allowed: Cmd + C”: A red error toast names the blocked keys. Single letters, numbers, punctuation, and reserved combinations are blocked, including Cmd+C/Cmd+V on Mac and Ctrl+C/Ctrl+V on Windows.

  • “This shortcut is already in use”: Another action already uses that combination.

  • “Shortcut must include a modifier key or a valid mouse button”: Add a modifier or supported mouse button.

  • “Shortcut must contain 3 or fewer keys”: Remove a key.

  • “Shortcut cannot contain both left and right version of the same key”: Use only one side of that modifier.

Restore default shortcuts

Add another and Reset to default are blocked during shortcut recording; the error can read “Please stop the Notetaker first”.

Warning: Reset to default replaces custom shortcuts across the dialog and clears bindings for actions without defaults, such as Press Enter. A hidden Notetaker row is not reset.

  1. Finish or cancel shortcut recording.

  2. Click Reset to default to restore defaults.

FAQs

Why doesn’t the shortcut start a command?

Free and lapsed accounts get no response or notification. Shortcuts also remain inactive until onboarding reaches a dictation-enabled step or is complete; close the microphone-test dialog if open—ESC closes it. For eligible accounts with Command Mode off, “Command mode is toggled off” / “Please turn it on to use it” offers Go to settings, opening Experimental; this notice appears at most three times total and once per day.

Why do I see “Transcript currently processing”?

The shortcut press is ignored while the previous transcript processes; wait for it to finish, then press again. Repeated presses within 500 ms may produce no alert. The alert can be dismissed or left to close automatically.

Why wasn’t text pasted?

Text-editing commands require existing text: with no surrounding text and nothing selected, the command does nothing. If no editable text box is focused, Flow shows the returned text in a notification instead of pasting it. Focus an editable text box before trying again.

How does Flow report command failures?

Desktop failures show an error notification; “Command Mode Servers Are Busy” / “Servers experiencing high demand.” means no usable result was returned and nothing was pasted. If a command is rejected for plan access, “Upgrade for Command Mode” / “Flow commands only available on Flow Pro.” offers Upgrade. On iOS, a failed edit in the spoken-phrase path shows no error, so re-try the command.

Still stuck?

Contact support if an eligible account cannot start a command after these checks, or commands still fail with an editable text box focused. Include:

  • Your platform, device, and Wispr Flow version

  • The shortcut, spoken command, and checks you tried

  • What you expected versus what happened, including error notifications