# Hotkey trigger

**Source:** https://promtable.com/glossary/hotkey-trigger

> A hotkey trigger is the always-listening dictation pattern where a keyboard shortcut (fn key, ctrl-space, etc.) activates voice capture — the UX shortcut behind Wispr Flow, Superwhisper, and macOS / Windows system dictation in 2026.

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A hotkey trigger is the always-listening dictation pattern where a keyboard shortcut (fn key, ctrl-space, etc.) activates voice capture — the UX shortcut behind Wispr Flow, Superwhisper, and macOS / Windows system dictation in 2026.

Voice dictation only feels natural if activation is frictionless. Hotkey triggers solve this: hold the key, speak, release; text inserts in the focused field. Common patterns: hold-to-talk (fn key, ctrl-space — releases when you stop), push-to-toggle (one tap on / next tap off), wake-word (less popular for dictation, more for assistants). Engineering: global keyboard hook (macOS accessibility permission, Windows raw input, X11 in Linux), audio capture during press, dispatch to STT pipeline on release. Trade-offs: hold-to-talk can hurt long captures (cramp), push-to-toggle requires explicit stop. UI cues during capture (waveform, recording indicator) reduce uncertainty.

## When to use

- Any voice dictation UX.

## Common mistakes

- Hotkey conflicts with existing app shortcuts — users disable the app.
- No visual capture indicator — users wonder if it's listening.

## Related terms

- [voice-dictation](https://promtable.com/glossary/voice-dictation)
- [barge-in](https://promtable.com/glossary/barge-in)

*Last updated: 2026-06-01*
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Original page: https://promtable.com/glossary/hotkey-trigger
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