Skip to main content
Superwhisper Custom Mode

​
Key features

Custom Mode gives you:
  • Full control over the AI processing instructions
  • Context awareness
  • Flexible processing for any workflow

​
Additional settings

​
Custom instructions

The mode editor has a Custom instructions field. Describe the transformation you want in natural language; the AI applies it to every dictation in this mode.
Instructions are empty by default. If left blank, the AI doesn’t know what task to perform and may give unexpected results.

​
Context awareness

The Context row in the editor has three checkboxes: Superwhisper Custom Mode editor with the Selected text context enabled
  • Application
  • Copied text
  • Selected text
These toggles work identically to Super Mode context awareness features.

​
Prompting tips

When writing AI instructions for use in Superwhisper, you can direct AI’s attention to specific content using these naming conventions:
  • User Message
    • Contains your dictated text
  • Application Context
    • Includes the data from your active application window
  • Selected Text
    • Text you have selected when triggering your dictation
  • Clipboard Context
    • Contains the text you’ve copied
These titles let you create targeted instructions for AI. For example:
  • “Translate the User Message to Spanish”
  • “Based on the Application Context, suggest relevant code comments”
  • “Format the User Message accordingly based on the content found in Clipboard Context”
If you want AI to know your input is dictated speech, include it explicitly. For example: “The User Message contains dictated text. Please format it into proper paragraphs.”
Instruct AI exactly which content to focus on and what to do with it. You can combine them in your instructions to create powerful workflows:
1

Clear Purpose

Define your AI instructions by starting with a clear role or purpose statement. This sets the foundation for how the AI will process your content.
2

Requirements

Create a detailed list of specific requirements and expectations. Being explicit helps ensure the AI understands exactly what you need.
3

Structure

Organize your instructions using separate sections for different components. This modular approach makes your instructions easier to understand and modify.
4

Keep Simple

Write direct, straightforward instructions without unnecessary complexity. Clear communication leads to better results.
For complex, multi-step instructions, structuring your prompt with XML tags can help communicate clearly with the AI:
XML tags are optional in Superwhisper prompts. In many cases, using XML tags improves clarity and output quality, especially with advanced models. However, some less capable or local AI models may misinterpret or be confused by XML tags. Use them thoughtfully and test your results for best compatibility.
Basic Tag Structure
  • Set a role and instructions:
  • Define specific requirements:
  • Provide context and style:
Adjust and expand your XML tags to fit your needs. More detailed instructions usually give better results.
Examples help you teach AI exactly how to process your input and what kind of output you expect. You can add these directly in the Advanced Settings sidebar of your selected mode.Each example consists of two parts:
  • Input field: Shows how you’ll phrase your requests
  • Output field: Demonstrates your expected AI response
How to set:
  • Click “Add Example” to create your first example pair
  • Fill in both the input and output fields
  • Add more examples by clicking “Add Example” again
Adding 2-3 examples significantly improves AI’s understanding of your needs and leads to more accurate responses.
Unlike other modes, Custom Mode isn’t limited to text formatting. Combine context awareness with your instructions to build specialized workflows.