Wispr Flow keyboard shortcuts: the defaults, how to change them, and what is not allowed

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On a Mac, Wispr Flow's default shortcuts are Fn held down to dictate, Fn Space for hands-free, Fn Control for Command Mode, Command Control V to paste the last transcript, and Escape to cancel. On Windows they are Control Win, Control Win Space, Control Win Alt, Shift Alt Z, and Escape. You change them in Settings, General, Shortcuts.

I built YapToText, a different dictation app for the Mac, so read what I say about Wispr Flow with that in mind. Every fact about Wispr Flow here comes from its own help center, read on October 10, 2026.

Download YapToText on the Mac App StoreThis app is completely free. You don't have to make an account. There are no subscriptions, no difficult downloads, and nothing is locked. Made for Apple silicon Macs. Source on GitHub.

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On this page: 8 sections
  1. Every default shortcut
  2. Change or add a shortcut
  3. What Wispr Flow will not accept
  4. Use a mouse button
  5. If a shortcut stops working
  6. How YapToText's keys compare
  7. The short version
  8. Questions

Every default shortcut

From Wispr Flow's help article Customize keyboard and mouse shortcuts, read October 10, 2026.

ActionMacWindows
Push to talk (hold to dictate)FnCtrl+Win
Hands-free (press to start and stop)Fn+SpaceCtrl+Win+Space
Command ModeFn+CtrlCtrl+Win+Alt
Paste last transcriptCmd+Ctrl+VShift+Alt+Z
Copy last transcriptCmd+Ctrl+CShift+Alt+X
CancelEscapeEscape

On a Mac with no Apple Fn key, onboarding switches to Control Option for Push to talk, Control Option Space for Hands-free, and Command Control Option for Command Mode. Double-tapping the Push to talk key within half a second also starts hands-free dictation. Command Mode needs a paid plan or a trial.

Change or add a shortcut

  1. Click the Wispr Flow menu bar icon on Mac, or the system tray icon on Windows, and open Settings, General, Shortcuts.
  2. Click Change in the Shortcuts row.
  3. Click a binding to replace it, or the plus button to add another beside it.
  4. Press the new combination. Keyboard combinations save when you release, and mouse buttons save when you press.
  5. Click Done after Shortcut saved appears.

Each action holds up to four shortcuts, and Cancel holds one. Custom shortcuts are saved per device and do not sync between your computers. Reset to default puts everything back and has no undo.

What Wispr Flow will not accept

  • A single plain key. Standalone letters, numbers and punctuation are rejected. A shortcut must include Control, Command, Option, Shift or Fn on a Mac, or a valid mouse button.
  • More than three keys. The limit is three.
  • Left and right versions of one modifier together. Use one side only.
  • A combination another Flow action uses. Each must be unique.
  • On a Mac. Command Delete, Command Space and Command Control F are blocked.
  • On Windows. Standalone Control, and Win with E, R, L, D, Tab, I, S, X, P, Up, Down or Q.

Two exceptions: Caps Lock alone works for Push to talk or Hands-free, and then stops toggling capitals. Escape alone works only for Cancel.

Use a mouse button

Middle Click, Mouse 4 and Mouse 5 can be shortcuts, alone or with modifiers, on a recognized mouse with more than three buttons or a supported Logitech MX model. An Apple Magic Mouse, a trackpad and a three-button mouse do not qualify. For Logitech MX side buttons, Wispr says to set the button to No action or a keystroke in Logi Options+ first. An assigned mouse button no longer reaches other apps.

If a shortcut stops working

  • Fn hold works, Fn Space does not. Another app's Secure Keyboard Entry can block key-based shortcuts on a Mac while modifier-only holds keep working. Quit the responsible app, such as a password manager, and reopen it.
  • Right after launch, wake or unlock. Shortcuts can pause while Flow restores keyboard access. Try again.
  • A key seems stuck. Release everything and press the full combination again. Flow clears keys that look held after 10 seconds.
  • Hands-free overlaps Push to talk. Flow saves it with a warning. Choose combinations that do not contain each other.
  • Accessibility is off. On a Mac, shortcuts and dictation need Wispr Flow enabled in System Settings, Privacy & Security, Accessibility.
  • Flow is busy. Shortcuts are ignored while Flow is stopping, processing, retrying or testing the microphone.

The Wispr Flow troubleshooting page covers the rest.

How YapToText's keys compare

YapToText, my free Mac dictation app, uses fewer keys and has looser rules. One key starts and stops a dictation, and it can be any single key.

Wispr Flow from its help center, read October 10, 2026. YapToText from its own settings.

ActionWispr Flow on MacYapToText
DictateHold FnTap Right Command, or hold it
Hands-freeFn+SpaceThe same key, tapped: tap is the default
Edit selected text by voiceFn+Ctrl, paid plans and trialsRight Option, free
Single plain key as the triggerRejectedAllowed: a letter, an F-key or a number pad key
Extra shortcutsUp to four per actionOne backup shortcut, Control Option Space

A tap of Right Command only counts when no other key was pressed, so Command-C never starts a dictation. YapToText is Mac only and has no Windows version. Its keys and shortcuts page lists every choice.

Download YapToText on the Mac App StoreThis app is completely free. You don't have to make an account. There are no subscriptions, no difficult downloads, and nothing is locked. Made for Apple silicon Macs. Source on GitHub.

The short version

  • Mac defaults. Fn to talk, Fn Space hands-free, Command Control V to paste the last transcript, Escape to cancel.
  • Windows defaults. Control Win, Control Win Space, Shift Alt Z, Escape.
  • Change them. Settings, General, Shortcuts, Change.
  • Not allowed. Single plain keys, more than three keys, system combinations.
  • Broken. Check Secure Keyboard Entry, Accessibility, and whether Flow is busy.

If Wispr changes a default, open an issue on GitHub and I will update this page. Every one gets read.

Download YapToText on the Mac App StoreThis app is completely free. You don't have to make an account. There are no subscriptions, no difficult downloads, and nothing is locked. Made for Apple silicon Macs. Source on GitHub.

About the author. Ryleigh Newman is a developer whose hands make typing difficult and who dictates every day with YapToText, the app this site describes. Facts about other apps come from their own sites, with the date they were read. More about the project.

Sources

Questions

What is the Wispr Flow shortcut on Mac?

Hold Fn to dictate, or press Fn and Space for hands-free. On a Mac with no Fn key, onboarding sets Control Option and Control Option Space.

What is the Wispr Flow shortcut on Windows?

Hold Control and Win to dictate, or press Control, Win and Space for hands-free.

How do I change the Wispr Flow hotkey?

Open Settings, General, Shortcuts, click Change, click a binding and press the new combination. It must include a modifier key.

Can I use a single key for Wispr Flow?

Only Caps Lock, for Push to talk or Hands-free. Other standalone keys are rejected.

Why is my Wispr Flow shortcut not working?

Common causes are another app's Secure Keyboard Entry, the Accessibility permission being off, or Flow still processing a previous dictation.