Quick wins for a faster PC:
Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →In current Windows 11 releases, use Voice access to choose a speech-recognition language and microphone. Open Settings > Accessibility > Speech, or search Start for “voice access.” Microsoft states: “Voice access replaced Windows Speech Recognition (WSR) for Windows 11 22H2 and later versions in September 2024.” See Microsoft Support’s guide to voice recognition in Windows. The older WSR steps are included below for readers who specifically need that legacy feature.
How to change the speech recognition language in Windows 11
Voice access has its own language setting. You can select a language during setup or change it later without changing the language used for Windows menus.
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- Open Settings > Accessibility > Speech and turn on Voice access, or search Start for voice access.
- During first-time setup, choose a language on the welcome screen and select Agree and continue. Windows downloads the language files needed for on-device recognition, so this initial download requires an internet connection.
- To change it after setup, open Voice access settings and select Languages, then choose a supported language.
Microsoft’s current supported list includes English (US, UK, India, New Zealand, Canada, and Australia), Spanish (Spain and Mexico), German (Germany), French (France and Canada), Simplified Chinese (China), Traditional Chinese (Taiwan), Japanese, and Italian. The list can change; check Microsoft’s Voice access setup and language page for the latest availability. The Windows display language does not have to be one of the supported Voice access languages.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteVoice access language or Windows speech language?
These settings serve related but different purposes. Select Voice access’s language when you want to control or dictate to Voice access. Add a Windows language and its optional speech components when you need language features installed for Windows more generally.
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| Setting | What it changes | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| Voice access language | The language Voice access uses for recognition; it can differ from the Windows display language. | Voice access settings > Languages |
| Windows language and speech features | Windows-installed language features, including speech recognition components where offered. | Settings > Time & language > Language & region |
To add a Windows language, open Settings > Time & language > Language & region, add the language, and select speech recognition from its optional language features if available. Microsoft’s general speech-feature instructions say to set the language where you will use speech as the display language. That is separate from choosing a Voice access language. Changing the display language changes the Windows interface and can also change the keyboard layout; some Windows language editions may restrict display-language changes. Review Microsoft’s language and region settings guidance before switching it.
How to change and test the microphone for speech recognition
Select a microphone in Voice access
During Voice access setup, wait for the language files to download. On the Setup microphone screen, select the microphone you want to use and continue.
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Choose or test a Windows input device
- Open Settings > System > Sound and find the Input section.
- Select the connected microphone you want Windows to use. For a Bluetooth microphone that is not listed, choose Add device and complete pairing.
- Open the selected device’s properties and choose Start test. Speak normally, then choose Stop test and Play to listen to the sample.
- If the recording is too quiet or loud, adjust Input volume and test again.
These controls are for selecting and checking an input device; they do not grant an app permission to use its microphone. You can use a built-in microphone if it works for you. An external or USB microphone is optional, not a requirement for Voice access.
Check microphone privacy permissions if an app cannot hear you
After confirming that the correct input device is selected, check microphone access separately:
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- Open Settings > Privacy & security > Microphone.
- Check that Microphone access is on.
- Check Let apps access your microphone and, where shown, enable access for the specific app.
- For traditional desktop programs, check Let desktop apps access your microphone.
Microsoft describes these permissions in its Windows microphone privacy guidance. Selecting a microphone and allowing an app to access it are separate steps.
Device-based and online speech recognition: what happens to voice data?
Microsoft distinguishes device-based speech recognition from online speech recognition. Its privacy explanation says device-based recognition processes voice locally and does not send voice data to Microsoft. Online speech recognition uses Microsoft cloud services and sends voice data to provide the service and create transcriptions. These descriptions concern Microsoft’s speech-recognition services; third-party apps handle voice data under their own privacy policies.
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Still looking for the old Windows Speech Recognition setup?
If you specifically mean legacy Windows Speech Recognition (WSR), Microsoft documents its setup under Settings > Time & language > Speech > Microphone > Get started. The setup can also be opened with Windows key + Ctrl + S. This is the older WSR experience; for Windows 11 version 22H2 and later, follow the Voice access steps above. See Microsoft’s legacy Windows Speech Recognition instructions.
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