Fact · Dictation on Windows
Voice access can be started at any time, while voice typing can only be started when the cursor is in a text box.
Checked against its source on October 16, 2026
In the source's own words
“Voice access can be started at any time. ... Voice typing can only be started if the cursor is in a text box.”
Voice access frequently asked questions (FAQs), Microsoft, Microsoft Support, 2026, FAQ: What is the difference between voice access and voice typing? (table, Criteria for starting).
Open the original- What it measures
- Microsoft's comparison table for the two Windows dictation tools.
- What it does not show
- Microsoft's table covers starting conditions only; it does not compare accuracy.