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On Windows 11 version 22H2 and later, use Voice access to control your PC by voice. Open Settings > Accessibility > Speech, turn on Voice access, then follow the prompts to download a language and select a microphone. The older Windows Speech Recognition (WSR) feature is for earlier Windows versions; Microsoft says Voice access replaced it on Windows 11 22H2 and later in September 2024.
Turn on Voice access in Windows 11
- Check your Windows version. Voice access is the current hands-free speech-control feature for Windows 11 version 22H2 and later. To check, open Settings > System > About and look under Windows specifications for the version. Microsoft’s Voice access guide explains its availability and setup.
- Open the setting. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Speech and switch on Voice access. You can also search Windows for “voice access” and open the feature. In Speech settings, you can configure Voice access to start before or after you sign in.
- Choose a language and microphone. For first-time setup, select a supported language and allow Windows to download its language files. An internet connection is required for that download. When prompted, select the microphone you intend to use; no specific headset or microphone model is required by Microsoft’s setup instructions.
- Try the interactive guide. It introduces voice commands and the interface. The Voice access bar shows what the system heard and provides feedback about command execution. Its settings and help menus include microphone selection, command help, and access to the guide.
Microsoft describes Voice access as on-device speech recognition after setup, so it can work without an internet connection once the language files are downloaded. See Microsoft’s setup instructions for the language-download details.
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Use voice commands for apps, typing, and navigation
Voice access supports commands for interacting with apps and controls, using the mouse and keyboard, dictating text, selecting and editing text, applying formatting, and navigating through text. To explore the available phrases, say “What can I say?” or “Show all commands.” You can also open command help from the Voice access interface. For the current command reference, use Microsoft’s Voice access command list.
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Know whether Voice access is listening
Voice access has listening, sleep, and microphone-off states. In sleep mode, it can be woken by voice. If the microphone is off, you must turn it back on yourself before voice commands will work. Check the Voice access bar for its current state and for feedback about what it heard.
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Voice access and Windows Speech Recognition are not the same feature
Windows 11 version 22H2 and later uses Voice access as Microsoft’s current voice-control feature. Windows Speech Recognition is the older option, with separate setup and command instructions for earlier Windows versions. Microsoft announced that Voice access replaced WSR on Windows 11 22H2 and later in September 2024. Do not follow legacy WSR steps to configure a current Windows 11 PC.
| Feature | Windows version | Setup and offline use | Languages and help |
|---|---|---|---|
| Voice access | Windows 11 version 22H2 and later, per Microsoft’s setup guide. | Turn it on in Accessibility > Speech, download language files with internet access, then use on-device recognition offline after setup, according to Microsoft. | Choose a supported setup language; commands and an interactive guide are available in the feature. See the command list. |
| Windows Speech Recognition (WSR) | Legacy instructions apply to older Windows versions; Microsoft identifies Voice access as its replacement on Windows 11 22H2 and later. See Microsoft’s Voice access documentation. | Microsoft’s legacy setup documentation describes a setup wizard and microphone configuration. Offline behavior is not stated in the cited WSR setup and command materials. | The legacy command reference lists English (US, UK, Canada, India, and Australia), French, German, Japanese, Mandarin (Simplified and Traditional Chinese), and Spanish. Consult Microsoft’s current command reference for exact phrases. |
If you need WSR instructions for an older installation, Microsoft provides a legacy setup guide and command reference. Windows 10 reached end of support on October 14, 2025; Microsoft says it no longer provides free Windows Update software updates, technical assistance, or security fixes for Windows 10 after that date. See Microsoft’s Windows end-of-support notice.
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Privacy, recognition, and common problems
Voice access uses downloaded language files for on-device recognition after setup, according to Microsoft. Windows speech features do not all use the same processing: Microsoft’s Windows 10 privacy documentation distinguishes device-based recognition, which processes voice locally, from online speech recognition. The applicable behavior depends on the Windows feature and setting, so do not assume that a legacy speech feature has Voice access’s offline behavior. See Microsoft’s speech and privacy information.
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- Voice access does not respond: Check that it is not in microphone-off state, that the intended microphone is selected, and that the microphone is available to Windows.
- A phrase is not recognized: Read the Voice access bar to see what was heard, then try the exact phrase in command help or the command list. Microsoft’s documentation describes the feature and commands but does not establish recognition accuracy for every room, accent, microphone, or application.
- Setup cannot download a language: Connect to the internet for the initial language-file download, then complete microphone selection. Microsoft describes subsequent Voice access recognition as on-device and offline-capable.
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