Describe the bug
Changing dictation hotkeys between Control+Super and Control+Space on Windows can leave hotkey listener state inconsistent. After switching back to Control+Space, behavior can be unstable/
intermittent and may still appear to involve the Windows-key listener path until restart/state reconciliation.
To Reproduce
- Open OpenWhispr on Windows.
- Go to hotkey settings/capture.
- Set hotkey to Control+Super (modifier-only + Windows key).
- Change it back to Control+Space.
- Use dictation hotkey repeatedly and observe inconsistent trigger behavior.
- Check debug logs for listener transitions (Control+Super Windows listener + later Control+Space restore).
Expected behavior
Only the currently selected hotkey should be active, and old listener paths should be fully unregistered when changing hotkeys.
Screenshots
N/A (can provide if needed).
I can attach log snippets/screenshots of settings if helpful.
Desktop (please complete the following information):
- OS: Windows (win32)
- Browser: N/A (desktop app)
- Version: OpenWhispr 1.5.5 (ProductVersion 1.5.5.0), Electron 36.9.5, Node v22.19.0
Smartphone (please complete the following information):
- Device: N/A
- OS: N/A
- Browser: N/A
- Version: N/A
Additional context
Relevant log evidence:
- debug-2026-03-04T03-33-18-790Z.log
- 2290: Setting up hotkey: "Control+Super"
- 2294: Modifier-only "Control+Super" set - using Windows native listener
- 2297: Restarting Windows key listener for hotkey: Control+Super
- 2310: Windows key listener exited with code null signal SIGTERM
- 2320: Listening for: Control+Super (VK=0x00, Ctrl=1, Alt=0, Shift=0, Win=1, ModOnly=1)
- debug-2026-03-04T03-59-48-297Z.log
- 91: Setting up hotkey: "Control+Space"
- 93: Current hotkey: "Control+Super"
- 97: Restored saved hotkey: "Control+Space"
- 299: Persisted hotkey "Control+Space" to .env file
Current persisted config shows:
- DICTATION_KEY=Control+Space
- ACTIVATION_MODE=tap
Suspected cause is ordering/race between global shortcut registration and Windows native key listener teardown/restart.
Describe the bug
Changing dictation hotkeys between Control+Super and Control+Space on Windows can leave hotkey listener state inconsistent. After switching back to Control+Space, behavior can be unstable/
intermittent and may still appear to involve the Windows-key listener path until restart/state reconciliation.
To Reproduce
Expected behavior
Only the currently selected hotkey should be active, and old listener paths should be fully unregistered when changing hotkeys.
Screenshots
N/A (can provide if needed).
I can attach log snippets/screenshots of settings if helpful.
Desktop (please complete the following information):
Smartphone (please complete the following information):
Additional context
Relevant log evidence:
Current persisted config shows:
Suspected cause is ordering/race between global shortcut registration and Windows native key listener teardown/restart.