If you’re sick of playing meeting secretary and scrambling to jot down action items before they vanish into thin air, you’re not alone. AI notetakers are everywhere, but most are just glorified transcription bots. Fireflies’ voice commands promise to actually help you run meetings, not just record them. If you want to get the most out of these commands—without wasting time on features that sound cool but rarely work—this guide is for you.
What Are Fireflies Voice Commands, Really?
Fireflies is an AI tool that joins your meetings, records, and transcribes them. Its “voice commands” let you talk directly to the bot during a meeting—think “Hey Fireflies, mark that as an action item,” or “Summarize this section.” The goal: make it easier to capture decisions and tasks in real time.
Are they magic? No. But used right, they’ll save you a lot of typing and cut down the post-meeting chaos.
Step 1: Set Up Fireflies and Connect Your Calendar
Before you even touch voice commands, you’ll need Fireflies up and running. Here’s what actually matters:
- Sign Up and Log In
- Go to the Fireflies website and create an account (Google login is fastest).
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Choose the plan that fits. The free version works for basic meeting capture, but voice commands are a paid perk.
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Connect Your Calendar
- Link your Google or Outlook calendar. This lets Fireflies automatically join your meetings.
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Double-check permissions—Fireflies needs access, or it won’t show up.
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Add Fireflies to Your Meeting Platform
- For Zoom, Teams, or Google Meet, follow the specific integration steps in Fireflies’ docs. Usually it’s a few clicks.
- Test it: Schedule a dummy meeting and make sure “Fireflies Notetaker” joins.
Pro Tip: Don’t mess with manual invites unless you have to. Auto-join is way less hassle.
Step 2: Enable and Understand Voice Commands
Voice commands aren’t always on by default. Here’s how to get started:
- Check Your Plan
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You’ll need a Pro or higher plan. If you’re on the free tier, upgrade first.
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Turn On Voice Commands
- In your Fireflies dashboard, go to Settings → Voice Commands. Flip the toggle to “on.”
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You might have to grant extra mic permissions. If you’re getting blocked, check your browser or app settings.
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Know the Command Phrases
- Fireflies listens for specific phrases, usually starting with “Hey Fireflies.” Some examples:
- “Hey Fireflies, action item: Follow up with marketing.”
- “Hey Fireflies, decision: Launch is next Friday.”
- “Hey Fireflies, highlight this.”
- There’s a cheat sheet in the app—keep it open until you get the hang of it.
Heads Up: If you mumble, talk over others, or have lots of background noise, Fireflies might miss your command. Speak clearly and wait a second before and after saying “Hey Fireflies.”
Step 3: Use Voice Commands in Real Meetings
Now for the real test: using voice commands without derailing your meeting or annoying your team.
The Basics
- Start talking. During a meeting, simply say “Hey Fireflies” plus your command.
- Be specific. The bot works best with clear instructions. “Hey Fireflies, action item: Schedule next call on Monday.”
- Don’t overdo it. Use commands for important moments, not every random thought.
Common Commands That Actually Work
- Action Items: "Hey Fireflies, action item: [task]."
- Decisions: "Hey Fireflies, decision: [summary]."
- Highlights: "Hey Fireflies, highlight this."
- Tasks: "Hey Fireflies, task: [description]."
What’s Worth Ignoring
- Natural Language Q&A: If you ask it to “summarize what just happened” or “what did Sarah say earlier?”—prepare to be underwhelmed. The tech just isn’t there yet.
- Jokes or Sarcasm: Fireflies is literal. Humor and nuance will probably trip it up.
Etiquette Tips
- Don’t make it weird. If you’re the only one using voice commands, give your team a heads-up. Otherwise, it can feel like you’re talking to an imaginary friend.
- Keep it short. Long-winded commands get cut off or misinterpreted.
Pro Tip: If you’re in a big group, use the chat command option instead (type “/action” in the meeting chat if supported). Less awkward, same result.
Step 4: Review and Edit the Meeting Notes
AI is getting better, but it’s not magic. Always check the output.
- Find Your Meeting Notes
- After the meeting, Fireflies will email you a link to the transcript and notes.
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Or, log into your Fireflies dashboard and find the meeting in your history.
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Review the Action Items and Decisions
- Voice commands should show up as labeled sections (“Action Item,” “Decision,” etc.).
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Skim for accuracy. Sometimes it’ll miss context or mishear names.
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Edit Mistakes
- Click to edit any item—fix typos, clarify vague points, or delete junk.
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If you need to, re-label sections that Fireflies miscategorized.
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Share or Export
- You can share notes directly with your team, or export to Slack, email, or your project management tool.
- Don’t just dump the whole transcript—curate what matters.
Reality Check: You’ll still need a quick review after every meeting. No tool gets everything right, especially with complex discussions or lots of cross-talk.
Step 5: Automate (But Don’t Over-Automate)
Fireflies integrates with a pile of other tools—Trello, Asana, Notion, Slack, and more. This sounds great, but a little goes a long way.
- Connect Only What You Use. Don’t link every app under the sun. Start with your main workflow tool.
- Test the Integration. Send a test action item and see where it lands. Sometimes formatting gets weird.
- Disable What You Don’t Need. If you’re getting flooded with notifications, trim back the integrations.
Pro Tip: Automation works best for recurring tasks (like follow-ups or scheduling). Still, a human touch is best for nuanced or sensitive info.
Troubleshooting: When Voice Commands Fall Short
Here’s where things get real. Voice commands aren’t bulletproof. Here are the most common headaches and what to do:
- Fireflies Misses Commands: Speak clearly, pause before and after “Hey Fireflies.” If it’s still flaky, check your mic and the meeting audio quality.
- Background Noise Throws It Off: If you’re in a loud office or coffee shop, just type commands instead.
- Not Capturing Everything: Don’t expect 100% hands-free. Use voice commands for key moments; type or edit the rest.
- Privacy Concerns: Let your team know Fireflies is recording. Some people aren’t comfortable, and legal requirements differ by location.
What Works, What Doesn’t, and What to Ignore
Works Well: - Capturing action items as you go, without breaking your flow. - Marking decisions in real time so you don’t forget them. - Keeping meetings moving, since you’re not scrambling for notes.
Doesn’t Work So Well: - Complex commands or follow-up questions. - Picking up commands in noisy or chaotic meetings. - Handling “read my mind” requests—Fireflies is not a meeting psychic.
Ignore: - Overly fancy features like “auto-summary by topic” unless you really need them. - Integrations you don’t use—more isn’t always better.
Wrapping Up: Keep It Simple, Iterate as You Go
Fireflies voice commands can take some of the grunt work out of meetings, but they’re not a set-and-forget solution. Start with the basics—action items, decisions, highlights. Don’t get bogged down by every shiny feature. Review what Fireflies captures, tweak your process, and skip what doesn’t add value.
In the end, the best meeting management system is the one you’ll actually use—so keep it simple, and let the tech help (not hinder) your workflow.