Voice typing on Windows:
how to use Win+H, and when to use a dictation app.
Windows 10 and 11 have voice typing built in: press Win+H in a text box and talk. It needs an internet connection and a microphone. A dictation app such as A9 Voice is worth it when you want your own names spelled right, filler words cleaned up, a searchable history, or dictation that works with no internet.
Last checked against Microsoft’s own pages. First published .How to use voice typing (Win+H).
Click in a text box, press Win+H, wait for the “Listening...” alert, then talk. Say “Stop listening” when you’re done.
- Click in the text box where you want the words. Microsoft says your cursor needs to be in a text box.
- Press Win + H on a hardware keyboard, or press the microphone button on the touch keyboard.
- Wait for the “Listening...” alert, then speak.
- To stop, say “Stop listening”, or press the microphone button on the voice typing menu.
What you need
- An internet connection. Microsoft says voice typing uses online speech recognition, powered by Azure Speech services.
- A working microphone, and your cursor in a text box.
- Windows 11 or Windows 10. Microsoft’s page covers both. On Windows 10 it calls the feature dictation, and Win+H opens it too.
- A supported language. To add one, open Settings › Time & language › Language & region and select Add a language. Win+Spacebar switches between the ones you have.
Settings behind the gear icon
Select the gear icon on the voice typing menu to change:
- Voice typing launcher: starts voice typing quickly when you’re in a text box.
- Automatic punctuation: inserts punctuation based on what you say.
- Filter profanity: blocks or allows typing out profanity.
- Default microphone.
- Wait time before acting: how long voice typing waits before it carries out a voice command.
Fluid dictation on Copilot+ PCs
On a Copilot+ PC in an English locale, Microsoft says fluid dictation corrects grammar, punctuation and filler words as you speak, using small language models on the PC. It’s on by default and you can turn it off in the voice typing settings.
It switches itself off in secure fields such as passwords and PINs. Say “Revert” or “Undo that”, or press Ctrl+Z, to get the original words back.
Voice commands and punctuation.
Say “Delete that”, “Select that” or “Undo that” to edit, and say a mark’s name to type it. Microsoft lists commands for each language; these come from its English (United States) tables.
| To do this | Say |
|---|---|
| Stop or pause voice typing | “Stop listening”, “Stop voice typing”, “Stop dictation” or “Pause voice typing” |
| Delete the last spoken word or phrase | “Delete that”, “Erase that” or “Scratch that” |
| Select the last spoken word or phrase | “Select that” |
| Undo the previous change | “Undo that” or “Revert” |
| Press Enter | “Press Enter” |
| Press Backspace | “Backspace” or “Press Backspace” |
| Press Tab | “Tab” or “Press Tab” |
| Press Space | “Insert Space” or “Press Space” |
| To type this | Say |
|---|---|
| . | “period” or “full stop” |
| , | “comma” |
| ? | “question mark” |
| ! | “exclamation mark” or “exclamation point” |
| : | “colon” |
| ; | “semicolon” |
| ... | “ellipsis” or “dot dot dot” |
| A new line | “new line” or “next line” |
| A new paragraph | “new paragraph” |
If voice typing doesn’t work.
Check that the right microphone is selected, that Windows is allowed to use it, and that the right language is on. These are the steps Microsoft documents.
| What you see | What Microsoft says to try |
|---|---|
| Before you start | Open Start › Settings › System › Sound › Input and choose the microphone you want to use. If it’s an external microphone, check that it’s properly connected. |
| “Voice typing needs access to your microphone.” | Open Start › Settings › Privacy & security › Microphone and make sure Microphone access is turned on. |
| “Voice typing isn’t available in the current language.” | Check the list of supported languages and install the one you want. |
| Text doesn’t appear after you speak | Adjust the input level of your microphone. If you’re using a built-in mic, try again with a headset or external mic. |
| Words aren’t entered correctly | Move somewhere quieter. Press Win+Spacebar and choose the right language. If you’re using a built-in mic, try a headset or external mic. |
When a dictation app is worth installing.
A9 Voice’s Transcribe is a free dictation app for Windows 10 and 11. If Win+H already does the job, keep using it. Here’s what Transcribe adds when you dictate a lot.
A dictionary for names and jargon
Names and jargon come out spelled your way, and fixes you set apply every time you dictate. How the Dictionary works.
Optional AI cleanup
Enhance with AI removes “um” and “uh” and fixes punctuation and capitals, and never rewrites what you said. It’s off until you turn it on, and it sends each dictation’s text to the language model you choose. How it works.
Speech models on your PC
Download a speech model once and dictate with no key and no internet. If your connection drops, a downloaded model answers by itself. Speech models.
A searchable history
Every dictation is a row with its text, the time, the app it went into and how long it took. Type in Search dictations to find one. The Transcribe screen.
One key in any app
Hold Ctrl+Space in any text box, talk, and let go: the text appears at your cursor. Hands-free mode has its own key. How dictation works.
What it asks of you
Transcribe needs a speech service: your own key from a provider you pay directly, or a model you download to your PC. Windows voice typing asks for an internet connection and a microphone. A9 Voice runs on Windows 10 and 11, 64-bit.
Windows voice typing and A9 Voice Transcribe.
Both type what you say into a text box. This table uses only what Microsoft’s pages and our own pages say.
| Windows voice typing (Win+H) | A9 Voice Transcribe | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Built into Windows 10 and 11. Microsoft’s voice typing pages list no price. Source | Free, with no word limit and no account. Cloud speech services you add with your own key bill you directly; models on your PC cost nothing per use. Pricing |
| Works in any app | Any text box: Microsoft says your cursor needs to be in one, and describes writing “anywhere you see a textbox”. Source | Any app with a text box. In a program running as administrator Windows blocks it, so the text is copied for you to paste. Details |
| Custom words | Not listed on Microsoft’s pages | Yes: the Dictionary, for names, jargon and fixes |
| Works offline | No: Microsoft says you need to be connected to the internet. Source | Yes, with a speech model downloaded to your PC |
| Filler-word cleanup | On Copilot+ PCs in English locales: fluid dictation corrects grammar, punctuation and filler words. Source | Optional: Enhance with AI removes “um” and “uh” and fixes punctuation. Off by default |
| History | Not listed on Microsoft’s pages | Yes: every dictation in a list you can search, on your PC |
| Meeting notes | Not listed on Microsoft’s pages | In Notes, a separate part of A9 Voice: free for 30 days, then $49 once |
| What you need to start | An internet connection, a working microphone and your cursor in a text box. Source | A speech service: your own key, or a model you download. Getting started |
Other dictation software for Windows.
Two more you’ll see recommended, each described from its own pages.
Dragon Professional
From Nuance. A Windows product: version 16 is optimized for Windows 11 and backwards-compatible with Windows 10. Its page lists no price and points to “Contact us”. Source
Wispr Flow
Dictation on Mac, Windows, iOS and Android. Free plan: 2,000 words a week on desktop. Pro: $15 a month, or $12 a month on the annual plan. Source. Full comparison with A9 Voice →
Questions
Is there free dictation in Windows?
Yes. Windows 10 and 11 have voice typing built in: click in a text box and press Win+H. Microsoft’s voice typing pages list no price, and its Windows 10 text says there’s nothing to download or install. It needs an internet connection and a microphone. A9 Voice’s Transcribe is another free option, with no word limit.
How do I turn on voice typing in Windows 11?
Click in a text box and press the Windows key + H, then wait for the “Listening...” alert and speak. To stop, say “Stop listening” or press the microphone button on the voice typing menu. The gear icon on that menu has a Voice typing launcher setting that starts voice typing when you’re in a text box.
Does Windows voice typing work offline?
No. Microsoft’s page says you need to be connected to the internet: voice typing uses online speech recognition powered by Azure Speech services. For dictation with no internet you need an app that runs speech models on your PC, such as A9 Voice with a downloaded model.
What is the best free dictation software for Windows?
Start with Win+H: it’s built into Windows, so you can try it right now. Choose A9 Voice’s Transcribe if you want a dictionary for names and jargon, optional filler-word cleanup, speech models that run on your PC with no internet, or a searchable history. It needs a speech service set up first: your own key, or a model you download.
Can I dictate into any app on Windows?
Into any app where you can put the cursor in a text box. Microsoft’s page says that’s what voice typing needs. A9 Voice works the same way on one key, with one exception: Windows doesn’t let a normal app send keystrokes to a program running as administrator, so there A9 Voice copies the text and you paste it yourself.
Try it next to Win+H.
Transcribe is free. Notes is free for 30 days, then $49 once. One small installer, no admin rights needed.
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