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Quick Answer

Click into any text box (Word, an email, or a web browser) and press Windows Key + H. A small microphone icon will appear at the top of your screen; start speaking, and Windows will type your words.

How to Use Voice Typing (Dictation) on Windows ​

Applies to: Windows 11, Windows 10
Article Type: How-To
Last Updated: 2026-03-09

Summary ​

Voice Typing lets you dictate text instead of typing it — in any text field across Windows. Activate it with a keyboard shortcut, speak naturally, and Windows converts your speech to text in real time. This article explains how to start, use punctuation commands, and configure settings.

Prerequisites ​

  • Windows 10 or Windows 11.
  • A working microphone (built-in or external).
  • An active internet connection (required for voice recognition).

Instructions ​

1. Start Voice Typing ​

Activate dictation with a keyboard shortcut.

  1. Click into any text field where you want to type (e.g., an email, document, or search box).
  2. Press Win+H.
  3. A microphone toolbar appears at the top of the screen.
  4. Start speaking — your words appear as text in real time.
  5. Press Win+H again or click the microphone icon to stop.

2. Use Punctuation Commands ​

Speak punctuation marks naturally while dictating.

Say this...To insert...
"Period".
"Comma",
"Question mark"?
"Exclamation mark"!
"New line"Line break
"New paragraph"Paragraph break
"Open quotes" / "Close quotes"" "
"Colon":
"Semicolon";
"Hyphen"-

3. Use Editing Commands ​

Correct and format text with voice commands.

Say this...To do this...
"Delete that"Delete the last dictated text
"Undo that"Undo the last action
"Select that"Select the last dictated phrase
"Select all"Select all text
"Stop dictation"Turn off Voice Typing

Note: Voice Typing stops at the edge of the text box — it types words, and that is all. To open apps, click buttons, and move around Windows by voice, you need Voice Access, a separate Windows 11 feature covered in How to Use Voice Access to Control Windows.

4. Enable Auto-Punctuation ​

Let Windows add punctuation automatically based on your speech patterns.

  1. Press Win+H to open Voice Typing.
  2. Click the Settings gear icon on the Voice Typing toolbar.
  3. Toggle Auto-punctuation on.
  4. Windows will now automatically insert periods, commas, and question marks based on your tone and pauses.

5. Change the Dictation Language ​

Switch to a different language for voice recognition.

  1. Open Settings (Win+I).
  2. Go to Time & language > Speech.
  3. Under Speech language, select your preferred language.
  4. Close Settings and press Win+H to start dictating in the new language.

Note: Speech language controls what Windows listens for, and nothing else. The language of your menus and dialogs, and the way dates and numbers are written, are separate settings on the neighbouring Language & region page — see How to Change the Display Language and Region on Windows.

Troubleshooting ​

INFO

Voice Typing requires an internet connection because speech recognition is processed in the cloud. If you lose connectivity, dictation will pause until the connection is restored.

Symptom / ErrorPotential CauseSolution
Microphone toolbar does not appearMicrophone not connected or disabledCheck that your microphone is plugged in and enabled in Settings > System > Sound > Input.
Voice Typing produces incorrect textBackground noise or quiet voiceMove to a quieter environment and speak at a steady pace and normal volume.
"Can't hear you" messageMicrophone access blockedGo to Settings > Privacy & security > Microphone and enable microphone access for desktop apps.