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Keyboard Shortcuts

Complete reference for all FloWords keyboard shortcuts. Customize these in Settings > Trigger Keys.


ActionDefault ShortcutCustomizable
Start/Stop RecordingF5✓ Yes
Cancel RecordingEscape✗ No
Recording Trigger 2(Not set)✓ Yes
Recording Trigger 3(Not set)✓ Yes
Recording Trigger 4(Not set)✓ Yes
Recording Trigger 5(Not set)✓ Yes

ActionDefault ShortcutCustomizable
Open Settings⌘ ,✗ No
Quit FloWords⌘ Q✗ No
Hide FloWords⌘ H✗ No
View History⌘ H✓ Yes

ActionDefault ShortcutNotes
Toggle Enhancement(Configurable)On/off current recording
Quick Switch Prompt(Configurable)Cycle through prompts

Access via the FloWords menu bar icon:

ActionAccess
Start RecordingClick icon or use trigger
SettingsRight-click > Settings
HistoryRight-click > History
QuitRight-click > Quit

While recording, these macOS shortcuts still work:

ActionShortcut
Copy⌘ C
Paste⌘ V
Undo⌘ Z
Select All⌘ A

ActionSuggested Shortcut
General dictationF5 (toggle)
Quick noteMouse Button 4 (hold)
Formal writing⌃⌥P (toggle + Professional)
ActionSuggested Shortcut
Code commentsF5 (toggle)
Quick commit messageMouse Button 4 (hold)
Documentation⌘⇧D (toggle)
ActionSuggested Shortcut
EmailF5 (toggle)
Quick chatMouse Button 4 (hold)
Professional responseF6 (with Professional prompt)

FloWords supports mouse buttons as triggers:

ButtonDescription
Button 4Side button (back)
Button 5Side button (forward)
Middle ClickScroll wheel click

Use with letter/number keys for custom shortcuts:

ModifierSymbolmacOS Name
CommandCmd
OptionOpt/Alt
ControlCtrl
ShiftShift
  • ⌘⇧D - Command + Shift + D
  • ⌃⌥R - Control + Option + R
  • ⌥F1 - Option + F1

  1. Open Settings > Trigger Keys
  2. Click Add Trigger or edit existing
  3. Press your desired key/combination
  4. Configure mode (toggle/hold)
  5. Set additional options
  6. Save

If a shortcut conflicts with another app:

  1. FloWords shows a warning
  2. Choose:
    • Override (FloWords takes priority)
    • Change trigger
    • Accept conflict (app-specific)
ShortcutCommon UseSuggestion
F1Help in many appsUse F5 instead
F3Spotlight/FinderUse F5 instead
F4LaunchpadUse F5 instead
⌘SpaceSpotlightAvoid
⌃SpaceInput switchingAvoid

  • All shortcuts work with VoiceOver active
  • Recording status is announced
  • Menu bar accessible via standard navigation

Configure for single-hand use:

OptionSetup
Left handF1-F5 or Caps Lock
Right handF9-F12 or mouse buttons
EitherMouse buttons only

Print or save this quick reference:

═══════════════════════════════════════
FloWords Quick Reference
═══════════════════════════════════════
RECORDING
Start/Stop: F5
Cancel: Escape
APPLICATION
Settings: ⌘ ,
History: ⌘ H
Quit: ⌘ Q
TRIGGER MODES
Toggle: Press once to start, again to stop
Hold: Hold to record, release to stop
═══════════════════════════════════════

To reset to defaults:

  1. Open Settings > Trigger Keys
  2. Click Reset to Defaults
  3. Confirm the reset
  4. All triggers return to factory settings