Why this happens
Willow is different from most dictation apps. Most apps only let you dictate inside their own app, or they offer clunky copy/paste workflows to use that text elsewhere.
Willow lets you talk anywhere on your iPhone, such as:
Gmail
Messages
Slack
Notes
Any other text box on your iPhone
To make this possible, Willow uses a safe and approved workaround that follows Apple’s rules. The workaround is needed because Apple does not allow third-party apps or keyboards to use your microphone in the background unless the app is first activated. This is why Willow sometimes takes you back into the Willow app for a moment.
Apple’s microphone rules
Here is the key part to understand: Apple does not allow any third-party app or keyboard to start using the microphone in the background unless the app is active first. So before Willow can power dictation inside another app, it must quickly:
Open Willow
Turn on the background microphone session
Then let you return to the app you want to write in
Once the background microphone session is active, Willow can work anywhere on your phone.
What background microphone access does
Background microphone access lets you:
Dictate in other apps
Keep using Willow without switching apps
Start new dictation sessions quickly
Use long dictation sessions without interruption
When this mode is active, Willow can keep listening while you move between apps.
When you will not be pulled back into Willow
You only get pulled back into Willow when background microphone access is first being turned on. After it is already active, you can:
Keep dictating in any app
Press the Willow microphone button from the keyboard
Move between apps freely
In these cases, Willow will not force you back into the app again. If the background microphone session is turned off or automatically timed out, you will have to re-enable it by activating Willow.
How to stop or disable background microphone access
There are three ways to turn it off:
Option 1: From the live activity bar
Tap the live activity at the top of your screen and turn off the active microphone session.
Option 2: From the Willow app
Open Willow and tap the green microphone toggle in the top right corner.
Option 3: Force-quit Willow
Swipe up to close the app. This fully ends the background microphone session.
Once the background session is turned off, Willow may need to bring you back into the app the next time you start dictation.
Why Willow uses this system
Willow uses this method because:
It is required by Apple’s microphone and background audio rules
It allows Willow to function anywhere on your iPhone
It enables a smoother and more powerful dictation experience
It gives you long, uninterrupted dictation sessions
It keeps your microphone access clearly visible and under your control
Without this step, Willow would only work inside the Willow app, which would remove most of the value.