Captcha issues blocking login, downloads, or subscriptions

Last updated: April 23, 2026

Available on: Mac, Windows, iOS

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 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 or resend verification email more than 3 times, wait 30 minutes and try again. Sign-up attempts are limited to 3 per hour per email address.

  • 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.

How to fix this

Mac

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

  2. Reopen Flow.

  3. Update when prompted to the latest version. 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.

Note: 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.

Windows

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

  2. Reopen Flow.

  3. Update when prompted to the latest version. 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.

Note: 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.

iOS

A captcha widget (hCaptcha) appears 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. Open Flow and retry your action.

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

If the captcha fails to load on the email sign-in screen, you'll see an error screen with a "Go Back" button. Return to the main sign-in screen and try a different sign-in method — Google and Apple are shown by default. Tap "More Options" for Microsoft, SSO, or email sign-in.

Error messages you may see on iOS:

  • "Verification service unavailable. Please try again later." — the captcha service can't initialize.

  • "Connection error. Please check your internet and try again." — there's a network problem during captcha.

  • "Verification failed. Please try again." — general captcha failure.

Note: Android sign-up, forgot password, and email verification screens do not 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 (desktop)

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 (ad blockers, privacy extensions).

  3. Try a different browser.

  4. Retry sign-up or password reset.

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

Common issues

Captcha appears checked but button stays disabled (iOS)

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

  1. Update Wispr Flow from the App Store.

  2. Reopen the app and try again.

FAQs

Why am I seeing a captcha?

Captcha verification (hCaptcha) 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 do not currently include captcha verification.

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

No. Email addresses where the local part is entirely numbers are not accepted for sign-up or password reset. Use a standard email address to create an account.

What if the captcha doesn't load on the email sign-in screen (iOS)?

You'll see an error screen with a "Go Back" button. Tap it to return to the main sign-in screen and use a different sign-in method (Google, Apple, Microsoft, or SSO). If the issue persists, check your network connection and try again.

What if my organization uses SSO?

If your organization uses SSO, you must sign in through SSO — attempting Google, Apple, or Microsoft sign-in will redirect you to an error page explaining that SSO is required for your domain.

Still stuck?

Reach out to our support team if:

  • You still see captcha errors after updating 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, etc.), and a screenshot of the captcha screen if possible. Most captcha issues are resolved in one reply.