How to Set Up Flow Shortcuts for iPhone

Action Button — guided setup (iPhone 15 Pro and later)

After you complete a few dictations totaling 50+ words on a compatible device, a "Flow faster with a shortcut" card appears in the keyboard. The card is a one-time prompt — once dismissed, it won't reappear.

1. Tap Set up on the card, then tap Let's go! on the intro screen.

2. Watch the demo video, then continue.

3. Add the Flow shortcut when prompted, then map it to your Action Button by following the on-screen video guide through iPhone Settings.

4. Return to Flow when prompted.

5. Switch to the Flow keyboard: tap a text field, then use the globe key to select it.

6. Test the shortcut by dictating into Notes. (Tap Skip to skip testing.)

7. Tap Finish on the completion screen. You should feel a haptic tap when dictation starts — that confirms the shortcut is working.

Action Button — manual setup (iPhone 15 Pro and later)

Use this if you missed the in-keyboard prompt or prefer to set it up directly in iOS Settings.

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.

2. Tap Action Button.

3. Swipe through the options until you reach Shortcuts.

4. Tap the selection area under Shortcuts.

5. Select the Flow shortcut you want to assign.

6. Press and hold the Action Button to test it. You'll feel a haptic tap when dictation starts.

Back Tap

Trigger Flow by tapping the back of your iPhone.

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.

2. Go to Accessibility → Touch.

3. Scroll down and tap Back Tap.

4. Choose Double Tap or Triple Tap.

5. Scroll to the Shortcuts section and select your Flow shortcut.

6. Test by double- or triple-tapping the back of your iPhone. Dictation starts immediately.

Control Center

Flow provides two Control Center widgets: a recording toggle and a Flow Notes button.

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.

2. Tap Control Center.

3. Find the Flow widgets under More Controls.

4. Tap the + icon to add them to Control Center.

5. Swipe down from the top-right of your screen to open Control Center.

6. Tap a Flow widget to start recording or open Flow Notes.

"Start Flow" doesn't start dictation — the button stays visible

This was caused by tapping Start Flow from the keyboard while the Flow app wasn't open in the background. Fixed in v1.57.

1. Update Wispr Flow to the latest version.

2. Restart Flow after updating.

Quick Dictation to Notes shortcut doesn't insert text when the Flow keyboard is active

When using the Quick Dictation to Notes shortcut with the Flow keyboard active, dictation was not correctly inserting text into the current text field — it was falling back to the generic app behavior instead. This has been fixed.

1. Update Wispr Flow to the latest version.

2. Restart Flow after updating.

Wispr Flow didn't appear under Microphone in iOS Settings

Flow would not appear in Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone if it had never explicitly asked for microphone access. Flow now requests microphone permission before starting a recording session, so the app will appear in that list after the first use.

1. Update Wispr Flow to the latest version.

2. Tap Start Flow — you will be prompted to grant microphone access if you haven't already.

3. Tap Allow, or tap Open Settings in the prompt to enable access directly in iOS Settings.

What Siri voice commands work with Flow shortcuts?

• Dictate a Flow Note: "take Flow note" or "dictate with Flow"

• Quick Dictation to Clipboard: "quick dictate with Flow" or "dictate to clipboard with Flow"

• Quick Dictation to Notes: "quick dictate to notes with Flow" or "save note with Flow"

• Turn On/Off: "turn on off Flow" to toggle recording

• Open Flow Notes: "open Flow note", "create note with Flow", or "create Flow note"

• Save Flow Note: "save Flow note" or "quick Flow note" — Siri asks what the note should say, then saves it without opening the app

Where does dictated text go when I use a shortcut?

It depends on the shortcut and context:

• Dictate a Flow Note: When the Flow keyboard is active, text is inserted directly. Otherwise, the transcript is returned as a Shortcuts result and may be saved as a note.

• Quick Dictation to Clipboard: Copies the transcript to your clipboard. When the Flow keyboard is active, text is inserted directly instead.

• Quick Dictation to Notes: When the Flow keyboard is active, text is inserted directly into the current text field. When the keyboard is inactive, the transcript is saved as a note.

• Save Flow Note: Siri prompts you for the note content, then saves it without opening the app.

• Open Flow Notes: Opens the app to a new note and starts dictation automatically.

Why does iOS ask me to swipe back to Flow after activating a shortcut?

On iOS 26.4 or later, a guidance screen appears when activating a shortcut that switches apps. The first time, an alert titled "A quick change for iOS 26.4+" explains the swipe-back requirement — tap OK to dismiss it (it won't appear again).

A "Swipe back to your app" screen may also appear each time. Follow the "Swipe right on the bottom bar" prompt, or tap the X to close it.

I see a "We can't hear you" prompt when tapping Start Flow or the microphone button

Flow's microphone permission has been revoked in iOS Settings. Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone and re-enable access for Wispr Flow.

What do the error messages during setup dictation mean?

During onboarding, Flow shows a message at the top of the screen if a dictation attempt fails. Here's what each message means and what to do:

• "Oops, we didn't hear you.. Get closer to your mic!" — Flow recorded silence or couldn't detect your voice. Move closer to your microphone and try again.

• "Poor connection! Tap the mic to try again" — The transcription couldn't complete due to a network issue. Check your internet connection and tap the microphone button to retry.

• "Your mic is being used by another app. Close other apps and try again!" — Another app is currently using your microphone. Close other open apps and tap the microphone button to try again.

• "Enable microphone access to use Flow" — Flow doesn't have microphone permission. Go to Settings → Privacy & Security → Microphone and enable access for Wispr Flow.

• "Oops, something went wrong.. Tap the mic to try again!" — An unexpected error occurred. Tap the microphone button to retry.