Keyboard shortcuts on macOS and Windows
Updated September 4, 2026
Flow Keyboard lets you customize the shortcuts you use for voice input, hands-free dictation, translation, and Voice Edit. The available shortcuts differ slightly between macOS and Windows, so this guide explains both.
macOS defaults
Designed around the Fn / Globe key on Apple keyboards.
- Voice InputFn
- Hands-free ModeFn + Space
- Translation ModeFn + Shift
- Voice EditVoice Input shortcut
- CancelEsc
Windows defaults
Uses the right-side Alt key to avoid common left-side shortcuts.
- Push-to-talkRight Alt
- Hands-free ModeRight Alt + Space
- Translation ModeRight Alt + Right Shift
- Voice EditRight Alt + E
- CancelEsc
Windows: use a single key for hands-free mode
On Windows, Hands-free Mode can use either Right Ctrl or Right Alt as a single-key shortcut.
To set it up, open Settings → Keyboard Shortcuts → Hands-free Mode, click the current shortcut, and press Right Ctrl.
If you assign Hands-free Mode to Right Alt while Right Alt is already used for push-to-talk, Flow automatically reassigns the conflicting shortcut instead of letting two actions own the same key.
Windows shortcut rules
- Push-to-talk can use Left Alt or Right Alt as a single key.
- Hands-free Mode can use Right Alt or Right Ctrl as a single key.
- Letters, numbers, Space, Enter, Shift, Win, Left Alt, and Left Ctrl are not accepted as single-key hands-free shortcuts.
- Recording shortcuts containing the Windows key are not supported.
- Ctrl + Space is not supported for Flow recording shortcuts on Windows because it commonly conflicts with Windows and input-method behavior.
How the recording shortcuts work
Voice Input / Push-to-talk: hold the shortcut while speaking, then release it to finish and insert the text.
Hands-free Mode: press once to start recording without holding a key. Press the hands-free shortcut again to finish. On macOS, pressing the primary Voice Input key while hands-free is active also finishes recording.
Translation Mode: press once to start a hands-free recording that outputs text in your selected target language.
Voice Edit: select text first, then use the Voice Edit shortcut and say how you want the selected text changed.
macOS: primary and backup shortcuts
macOS supports both a primary shortcut and an optional backup shortcut for each voice action. Backup shortcuts are disabled by default and are useful with external keyboards or setups where Fn is inconvenient.
| Action | Primary | Built-in backup |
|---|---|---|
| Voice Input | Fn | Control + Option |
| Hands-free Mode | Fn + Space | Control + Option + Space |
| Translation Mode | Fn + Shift | Control + Shift |
Turn on Enable Backup Shortcuts in Keyboard Shortcuts to use both columns at the same time. You can also record your own combinations. Flow supports modifier-only shortcuts and can distinguish left and right Control, Option, and Command when you record a side-specific shortcut.
Another way to enter hands-free mode on macOS
You can also double-press your primary Voice Input shortcut to enter hands-free mode. With the default setup, that means double-pressing Fn.
Conflicts and restoring defaults
Flow checks for conflicts while you record shortcuts. On macOS, conflicts between Flow actions are blocked and common macOS system shortcuts can trigger a warning. On Windows, unsafe or unsupported global shortcuts are rejected.
If your shortcut setup becomes confusing, use Restore Defaults in the Keyboard Shortcuts section. The defaults are the combinations we test most extensively.