How to use voice typing and dictation on Windows
4 minute read · updated October 28, 2026
3 sources: 3 product documentation
Click in a text box and press the Windows logo key + H. Wait for "Listening...", then speak. Say "Stop listening" or press the microphone button to stop. Voice typing needs an internet connection and a working microphone. Windows 11 also has voice access, which Microsoft says works without an internet connection.
Voice typing lets you enter text on a PC by speaking, in almost any app with a text box. Microsoft says it uses online speech recognition powered by Azure Speech services.[1] It suits emails, notes and rough drafts, and any time your hands are busy or typing is slow going.
Start voice typing
Voice typing in Windows 11
- Check that you are online and that a microphone is connected.[1]
- Click in the text box where you want the words.
- Press the Windows logo key + H. On a touch keyboard, press the Microphone button instead.
- Wait for the "Listening..." alert, then speak.[1]
- To stop, say "Stop listening" or press the microphone button on the voice typing menu.[1]
| Say | What happens |
|---|---|
| "Period," "comma," "question mark," "colon" | Inserts that punctuation mark[1] |
| "Delete that" or "Scratch that" | Deletes the last word or phrase you spoke |
| "Select that" | Selects the last word or phrase you spoke |
| "Press Enter" or "Press Backspace" | Presses that key |
| "Undo that" | Undoes the previous change |
| "Pause voice typing" or "Stop dictation" | Stops listening[1] |
Settings worth trying
Select the gear icon on the voice typing flyout. Microsoft lists these settings:[1]
- Voice typing launcher: shows a quick button when you are in a text box.
- Automatic punctuation: adds punctuation based on what you say.
- Filter profanity: blocks or allows profanity.
- Default microphone: picks the microphone voice typing uses.
- Wait time before acting: sets how long voice typing waits before carrying out a command, which helps if you speak slowly or quickly.[1]
On Copilot+ PCs in English, Microsoft adds Fluid dictation, which corrects grammar, punctuation and filler words as you speak using models that run on the device. Say "Undo that" or press Ctrl + Z to get your original wording back.[1]
Other ways to dictate on a PC
Voice access is a Windows 11 feature, version 22H2 and later, for controlling the PC and writing text by voice. Microsoft says it works without an internet connection. To dictate, move the focus to a text box and say the text; say "Caps" before a word to capitalize it, or "No space" to join words.[2] You can add hard-to-recognize words through Voice access settings > Add to vocabulary.[2]
In Word, go to Home > Dictate while signed in to Microsoft 365 on a device with a microphone. Microsoft says this needs a Microsoft 365 subscription and a reliable internet connection, and Word lists spoken commands such as "new line," "delete that" and "bold that."[3]
Troubleshooting
- Nothing happens when you press Windows logo key + H. Make sure the cursor is inside a text box, the PC is online, and a microphone is working.[1]
- Your grammar or wording changed by itself. On Copilot+ PCs, Fluid dictation is on by default. Say "Revert" or "Undo that," or turn Fluid dictation off in voice typing settings.[1]
- You need another language. Go to Start > Settings > Time & language > Language & region, select Add a language, then switch input language with the Windows logo key + Spacebar.[1]
- You want to move around the voice typing menu by keyboard. Press the Windows logo key + Alt + H.[1]
For names and terms that voice typing and spell check both miss, the word list tool keeps a record you can paste into AutoCorrect, one entry per word.
Quick answers
What is the shortcut for voice typing on Windows?
Press the Windows logo key + H with the cursor in a text box.[1]
Does Windows voice typing work offline?
No. Microsoft says voice typing needs an internet connection. Voice access in Windows 11, version 22H2 and later, works without one.[1][2]
How do I add punctuation with Windows voice typing?
Say the mark, such as "comma" or "period," or turn on Automatic punctuation from the gear icon on the voice typing flyout.[1]
Review status
Source-checked, not expert-reviewed
Drafted with AI assistance. Each factual claim was checked against the source it links to on 2026-10-28. No clinician, psychologist or dyslexia specialist has reviewed this page. See the claims register.
Sources
- [1]Use voice typing to talk instead of type on your PC. Microsoft Support. Accessed 2026-10-28. Product documentation
- [2]Dictate text with voice (voice access). Microsoft Support. Accessed 2026-10-28. Product documentation
- [3]Dictate your documents in Word. Microsoft Support. Accessed 2026-10-28. Product documentation
Related reading
- How to use dictation on a MacTurn on Dictation in Mac Keyboard settings, start it with the Microphone key or a shortcut, add punctuation by voice, and fix words underlined in blue.
- How to use text to speech on Windows 11 and Windows 10Three ways to have a Windows PC read text aloud: Read aloud in Edge, Read Aloud in Word, and Narrator. Shortcuts, voice and speed settings, and fixes.
- How to use Read Aloud in Microsoft WordTurn on Read Aloud from the Review tab in Word, change the reading speed and voice, use keyboard shortcuts, and try Immersive Reader with Line Focus.
- How to set up text replacement shortcuts for words you often misspellMake a short code expand to a word you often misspell: Text Replacement on iPhone and Mac, Office AutoCorrect on Windows, and the Gboard dictionary.