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Defaults

The pattern is the same on every platform: add Shift to the dictation keys to dictate and clean up, and add C to the ask keys to start a conversation. The “Dictate and clean up” shortcut only appears while AI cleanup is on and set to its own shortcut (rather than running on every dictation).

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Hold to talk vs Tap to toggle

One setting controls all recording shortcuts (dictation, dictation with cleanup, and the assistant). You will find it on the Home page and in Settings → Shortcuts.
  • Hold to talk (the default). Records while you hold the keys. Let go to stop.
  • Tap to toggle. One press starts recording. The next press stops it. This is how you record hands-free.
The conversation shortcut always works by pressing to start and pressing again to end, regardless of this setting.

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Changing a shortcut

Click the keys shown for any shortcut. An editor opens where you can record a new key combination. From the editor you can also:
  • Use default to go back to the original keys.
  • Turn off (Cancel and the conversation shortcut only) to remove the binding entirely. Dictation and the assistant always keep a key.
Clicking outside the editor closes it without changes. Esc is not used to close, because Esc itself is a key you might want to record.

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How Cancel and Esc work

Cancel (bound to Esc by default on Windows and macOS) only acts while something is running: an active recording, a streaming assistant reply, or a Flow generation. The rest of the time, Esc passes through to other apps. During a conversation, Esc stops the current reply without ending the conversation. It only hangs up when the assistant is idle. Cancel is not available on Linux.

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Shared-prefix shortcuts

Shortcuts that start with the same keys work together. For example, Left Ctrl + Left Alt (ask) and Left Ctrl + Left Alt + C (conversation) share the first two keys. In Hold to talk mode, the ask waits to see if C follows before showing the panel. In Tap to toggle mode, modifier-only shortcuts fire on release, so letting go without pressing C triggers the ask.

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macOS globe key

The default macOS shortcuts use the Fn (🌐) key. For them to work, set System Settings → Keyboard → Press 🌐 key to to Do Nothing. Otherwise the globe key opens the emoji picker as well. The Home shortcuts card says so when this setting needs changing. Macs that were on the older Option-based defaults (Option + Space for dictation, Option + Ctrl + Space for the assistant) keep them after updating. The new Fn defaults only apply to fresh installs.

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Linux notes

Linux defaults include a letter or Space in every combo because the default keyboard engine (Tauri’s plugin) cannot register a modifier-only shortcut. Cancel is not available on Linux.

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Debug mode

Ctrl + Shift + D (Windows/Linux) or Cmd + Shift + D (macOS) toggles debug mode. This is not a global shortcut. It only works while the main SpeakoFlow window is focused. Turning it on reveals the Debug tab in Settings.

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CLI flags

Scripts and window managers can control SpeakoFlow without keyboard shortcuts. See CLI flags for the full list, including --toggle-transcription, --toggle-post-process, and --cancel.
On Linux Wayland, a shortcut owned by your desktop (a custom shortcut in GNOME or KDE settings, or a bind line in Sway or Hyprland) calling speakoflow --toggle-transcription works more reliably than the in-app engine.
Last modified on August 30, 2026