Windows dictation guide · Verified August 15, 2026
Wispr Flow for Windows: Hotkeys, Dictation, and a Local Alternative
Yes. Wispr Flow officially supports Windows. It runs in the Windows system tray and lets you dictate into applications using keyboard shortcuts. Its normal workflow is push-to-talk, while hands-free dictation is also available. If you're looking for a Windows dictation app that can instead run speech recognition locally, Sonavi is another option.
Wispr's official documentation says its desktop shortcut system is available on Mac and Windows, supports both push-to-talk and hands-free dictation, and allows shortcuts to be customized.
- PressCtrl + Space
- SpeakSpeak
- Press againCtrl + Space
Does Wispr Flow work on Windows in 2026?
Yes. Wispr Flow officially supports Windows.
- Windows 10 and Windows 11 on compatible x64 PCs
- Controls available through the Windows system tray
- Keyboard shortcuts across the desktop workflow
- Push-to-talk and hands-free dictation
- Configurable shortcuts in Flow settings
- Also available on Mac, iPhone, and Android
What is the Wispr Flow Windows hotkey?
Wispr Flow currently documents Ctrl + Win as its default Windows push-to-talk shortcut.
For normal push-to-talk dictation, hold the shortcut while speaking and release it when you're finished. Flow then transcribes the recording and inserts the resulting text. Shortcuts can be customized in Settings.
Push-to-talk
Ctrl + Win · hold · speak · release · transcription
This is Flow's default Windows dictation workflow.
Hands-free dictation
Ctrl + Win + Space is the documented default.
Enter hands-free mode by double-tapping the push-to-talk shortcut or using the dedicated hands-free shortcut. All shortcuts can be changed.
Official reference: Wispr Flow keyboard hotkey shortcuts.
Does Wispr Flow work offline?
No. Wispr Flow's standard voice transcription requires an internet connection.
Wispr's official documentation explicitly states that Flow cannot be used for voice transcription offline. Sonavi takes a different approach: its WhisperCpp speech-recognition engine runs locally on the Windows machine after the necessary model has been downloaded.
Sonavi provides local WhisperCpp transcription, whereas Wispr Flow states that Flow requires an internet connection for voice transcription.
Official Wispr source: What is Flow?
Specific distinction
Local speech recognition is the comparison here—not a broader claim that one product is categorically more private.
Wispr Flow vs Sonavi on Windows
Both products provide Windows voice dictation, but their default workflows and speech-recognition architecture differ.
| Feature | Wispr Flow | Sonavi |
|---|---|---|
| Windows app | Yes | Yes |
| Global shortcut | Yes | Yes |
| Default dictation workflow | Push-to-talk | Start/stop toggle |
| Push-to-talk | Yes | Not the primary workflow on this page |
| Start/stop without continuously holding a key | Hands-free mode available | Yes |
| Default Windows shortcut | Ctrl + Win for push-to-talk | Ctrl + Space |
| Local/offline ASR | No — internet required for voice transcription | Yes — local WhisperCpp ASR after model download |
| Inserts text into the active application | Yes | Yes |
| Local transcript history | Not compared | Encrypted SQLite + Windows DPAPI |
| Local usage dashboard | Not compared | Yes |
| Privacy controls | Wispr Flow provides its own data/privacy controls | Sonavi Private Mode + explicit opt-ins |
The main workflow difference
Wispr Flow's default Windows workflow
Ctrl + Win · hold · speak · release · text
Sonavi's default workflow
Ctrl + Space · speak · Ctrl + Space · text
For users deciding between the two, this interaction model can matter as much as the transcription engine itself.
When Sonavi may be a better fit
Sonavi is worth considering if you specifically want:
- A Windows-focused dictation application
- A press once, speak, press again workflow
- Ctrl + Space as the default toggle
- Local WhisperCpp recognition after model download
- Encrypted local history with SQLite and Windows DPAPI
- Local productivity and usage information
- Private Mode and explicit privacy opt-ins
Sonavi's core Windows workflow
- PressCtrl + Space
- SpeakSpeak
- Press againCtrl + Space
- ResultText appears in the active application
Why local speech recognition may matter
A local recognition workflow can be useful when you specifically want the speech-recognition step to run on your own Windows machine instead of depending on a cloud transcription request. With Sonavi, the WhisperCpp model is downloaded to the computer and speech recognition can then run locally.
Wispr Flow Windows FAQ
Does Wispr Flow work on Windows?
Yes. Wispr Flow officially supports Windows. Wispr's current system requirements list Windows 10 and Windows 11 on x64 hardware.
What is the Wispr Flow shortcut on Windows?
The currently documented default Windows push-to-talk shortcut is Ctrl + Win. Hold the shortcut while speaking, then release it to stop dictation.
Can the Wispr Flow shortcut be changed?
Yes. Wispr Flow supports customizable shortcuts. Users can change shortcut bindings from Flow's settings.
Does Wispr Flow have hands-free dictation on Windows?
Yes. Flow supports hands-free dictation. Wispr documents both double-tapping the dictation shortcut and using a dedicated hands-free shortcut. The currently documented default Windows hands-free shortcut is Ctrl + Win + Space.
Does Wispr Flow work offline?
No. Wispr's official documentation says Flow requires an internet connection for voice transcription.
Is there an offline Wispr Flow alternative for Windows?
If your specific requirement is local speech recognition on Windows, Sonavi is an alternative to consider. Sonavi uses WhisperCpp locally after the required model has been downloaded, with a Ctrl + Space start/stop workflow. This is a product distinction, not a claim that Sonavi is universally better than Wispr Flow.
Is “Whisper Flow” the same as “Wispr Flow”?
If you're searching for “Whisper Flow,” you probably mean Wispr Flow, the AI dictation application from Wispr. Whisper is also associated with a family of speech-recognition models, so the names can be easy to mix up.
Try Sonavi for Windows
If you want a Windows dictation workflow built around a simple keyboard toggle and local WhisperCpp speech recognition, try Sonavi.