Windows 11 has built-in speech to text called voice typing. Click where you want to type, press Windows logo key + H, wait for Listening…, and start talking. It works in almost any app with a text box, and it needs an internet connection and a working microphone.
Applies to: Windows 11.
Start voice typing
- Open the app you want to type in, such as Notepad, Word or an email.
- Click in the text box where you want the words to go.
- Press Windows logo key + H. The voice typing panel opens.
- Wait until you see Listening…, then speak normally.
- To stop, say stop listening, select the microphone button, or press Windows logo key + H again.
On a touch screen, you can also tap the microphone on the touch keyboard.
Add punctuation and fix mistakes
- Say it: “period”, “comma”, “question mark”, “new line” and “new paragraph” work in English.
- Let Windows do it: Turn on Auto punctuation so Windows adds punctuation for you.
- Fix a word: Say “delete that” to remove the last thing you said, or type the fix with your keyboard.
Change voice typing settings
- Press Windows logo key + H.
- Select Settings (the gear) in the voice typing panel.
- Turn on Auto punctuation, and choose other options such as Filter profanity or your Default microphone.
Tips for more accurate dictation
- Use a headset or a close microphone. A laptop’s built-in mic picks up fan noise and room echo, which causes most mistakes.
- Speak in full phrases. Talk at a steady, normal pace rather than word by word. Voice typing uses the words around each word to guess it correctly.
- Pause briefly before a command. A short gap before “delete that” or “new line” helps Windows treat it as a command instead of text.
- Keep going if it stops. Voice typing stops listening after a few seconds of silence. Select the microphone button or press Windows logo key + H to carry on.
- Proofread at the end. Names, technical terms, and homophones such as “their” and “there” are the usual errors.
In the voice typing settings (Windows logo key + H, then the gear), turn on Voice typing launcher. A small microphone button then appears whenever you click in a text box, so you can start dictating with a click instead of the keyboard shortcut. This is handy on a tablet or if your keyboard has no Windows key.
Voice commands you can say
Besides punctuation, voice typing understands simple editing commands in English:
| Say | What it does |
|---|---|
| “Delete that” or “Strike that” | Removes the last thing you said |
| “Select that” | Selects the last thing you said |
| “Clear selection” | Unselects text |
| “Go to the start of the sentence” | Moves the cursor back |
| “Go to the end of the paragraph” | Moves the cursor forward |
| “Spell out” | Lets you spell a name or unusual word letter by letter |
| “Stop voice typing” | Turns off the microphone |
Other punctuation also works, such as “exclamation mark”, “colon”, “semicolon”, “open parenthesis”, and “close parenthesis”.
Want to control the whole PC by voice?
Voice typing is just for dictation. Windows 11 also has Voice access, which lets you open apps, click buttons, and dictate, all by voice, and it works without an internet connection. Turn it on in Settings > Accessibility > Speech.
What happened to Windows Speech Recognition?
Older guides describe Windows Speech Recognition, the separate app with a microphone bar at the top of the screen. Microsoft replaced it with voice access and removed it in Windows 11 version 24H2. On current versions, use voice typing for dictation and voice access for full voice control.
If voice typing doesn’t hear you
- Check that you’re online. Voice typing uses Microsoft’s online speech service.
- Make sure the right microphone is picked in the voice typing settings.
- Test the microphone in Settings > System > Sound > your microphone. Another quick test is to hear yourself on your mic in Windows 11.
- Check that apps can use the microphone in Settings > Privacy & security > Microphone.
If Windows + H doesn’t open voice typing
- Click in a text box first. Voice typing only opens where you can type, such as a document, an email, or a search box.
- Turn on online speech recognition. Go to Settings > Privacy & security > Speech and turn on Online speech recognition. Voice typing needs it.
- Check your language. Voice typing works in a set list of languages. If your keyboard language isn’t supported, the panel tells you. Switch to a supported language with Windows + Spacebar.
- Another app took the shortcut. Some apps assign Windows + H to something else. Close them, or open the touch keyboard and select its microphone button instead.
Frequently asked questions
Can I dictate in another language?
Yes, if Windows supports voice typing for it. Add the language in Settings > Time & language > Language & region, then switch to it with Windows logo key + Spacebar before you speak.
Can Windows read text aloud instead?
Yes. That’s Narrator, which is text to speech, and turning on Narrator takes one setting.
Does voice typing work in Word?
Yes, it works in any app with a text box. Word and Outlook also have their own Dictate button on the Home tab, which offers more languages and works the same way.
Is my voice recorded?
Your speech is sent to Microsoft’s online service to turn it into text. You can review Microsoft’s speech privacy settings in Settings > Privacy & security > Speech.
Why does voice typing stop after a few seconds?
It turns off automatically after a short silence so it doesn’t type background noise. Press Windows logo key + H or select the microphone to start again.
Is there a time limit on dictation?
No. You can keep dictating as long as you keep talking. Breaking long text into paragraphs with “new paragraph” makes it easier to review.
The full list of supported languages and commands is on the Use voice typing to talk instead of type on your PC page.
Working in Word? You can also dictate in Word or have it read your text aloud.
Matt Jacobs has been working as an IT consultant for small businesses since receiving his Master’s degree in 2003. While he still does some consulting work, his primary focus now is on creating technology support content for SupportYourTech.com.
His work can be found on many websites and focuses on topics such as Microsoft Office, Apple devices, Android devices, Photoshop, and more.